Whether you’re hitting the trail for a long-term backpacking trip or a short day hike, you’re going to want some snacks to eat along the way. Though there’s tons of recipes out there to cook yourself up a delicious dessert, sometimes you just want something you can grab quick and be on the go. With so many foods out there, it’s hard to know what’s good and not too bad for you, either. This is a good place to start:

Clif Bars

Coming in a variety of flavors, Clif Bars will give you multiple options when it comes to choosing something you like. Seriously…they have everything, from hot chocolate bars to spiced pumpkin pie bars. They also have an organic line if you prefer, and many of the bars are vegan, gluten-free, and kosher. Clif also makes bars for kids as well as drinks.

Brownie Brittle

If you’re the type of person who loved to eat the brown, crispy parts after your mom made brownies, then this is the perfect treat for you. Sheila G’s Brownie Brittle is hard, broken pieces of brownie mix, that come in delicious flavors like chocolate chip, mint chocolate chip, salted caramel, and toffee crunch. It comes in a resealable bag so you can easily bring it along.

Nuts

Not only are nuts a great thing to snack on, they’re also highly nutritious and good for your heart. Whether you prefer a bag of salted, roasted cashews or a can of mixed variety, they stay good for quite a long time and they can pretty much curb any craving.

Dried fruit

Like nuts, dried fruit is a yummy treat that you can find usually alongside the same aisle as nuts. Mix a bag up yourself, or buy a bag that’s already prepared. Even a bag of raisins or Craisins will do the trick. Whatever you do, don’t skip out on the dried apricots, which are easily the most delicious dried fruit there is.

Fig Newtons

They may be ancient, but Fig Newtons are a sweet treat that are even better while hiking. For a while, fig rolls were believed to help digestion, since they have a decent amount of fiber. For anyone who’s been hiking a lot, it’s definitely good to have something to help the bowels get moving while on the trail. Flaky on the outside and sweet on the inside, every backpacker should bring this along.

Lara Bars

Lara Bars are another popular bar that’s up there with Clif Bars, and worth trying out. The company prides themselves on using the simplest non-GMO ingredients, which is very important for the hiker who cares about the environment just as much as what they put in their own bodies. Like Clif Bars, they come in great flavors that are vegan and gluten-free.

Honey Mustard & Onion Pretzels

Any kind of pretzels are a tasty and overall healthy snack to have while on the trail, but Snyder’s Honey Mustard & Onion Pretzels take this basic treat to a whole new level. These little bite-sized pieces even come in small bags so you can take a few of them on the road, completely hassle free.

Wheat Thins

Wheat thins are amazingly delicious and easy to pack in your bag. They come in a variety of flavors, and this little snack is made with 100% whole grain. Like pretzels, they come in individual-sized bag for your convenience. If you can manage it, pack along a little thing of cream cheese to dip these babies into. 

Sunflower Seeds

What’s better than sunflower seeds? Whether you prefer them with or without the shells, you can go for the original kind or be adventurous with ranch or barbecue flavor. Not only are they tasty, they can help lower the risk of cardiovascular problems. This is the almighty trail food that deserves to tag along for the trip.

Honey-Nut Cheerios

Honey-Nut Cheerios are good for your heart and your soul, and you don’t need milk to make them taste good. Just throw a few handfuls of them into a little container or Ziploc bag, and they’ll be a nice energetic boost to snack on while you’re hiking. Of course, you can always opt for the plain or almond flavor if you prefer.

Oriental Rice Crackers

Oriental Rice Crackers are just as crunchy as a bag of salty potato chips, but healthier and more flavorful. A bag of these contains a variety of different rice crackers, some of which are spicy, and others which are salty. Try not to get too addicted to these.

Macadamia Nut Cookies

Out of all the cookies that are out there, these are by far the best. Though many trail goers tend to go for the healthier cookies; oatmeal raisin, gluten-free, whatever…if you’re going to eat cookies, you might as well go all the way. Pepperidge Farm makes a bag of these called Milk Chocolate Macadamia, and you’ll be glad you brought them.

Nature Valley Bars

You can never go wrong with good, old-fashioned Nature Valley Bars. They come in so many scrumptious flavors which are all very good…especially the peanut butter ones. Throw them in your bag and whip them out whenever you’re feeling hungry.

Any of these easy snacks will make a tasty companion on the trail!