Pack ‘n Go Foods for Summer Hikes

Enjoy August with a few hikes in our gorgeous mountains, meadows and lakes. Lace up
your hiking shoes and fill your picnic backpack with some of these easy, sure-not-to-spoil
foods from the good people at Picnic Foods!

Cold grain salads
Skip over the typical greens and make a salad with a bit more punch. Because they are
packed with protein and will give you a great energy boost, couscous and quinoa are
both excellent options. Both grains cook by boiling in salted water. When cooked
through, spread the grain out flat on a baking sheet and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
During that time, prepare the rest of the salad. Try chopping a bell pepper and rinsing
canned black beans as easy addition to the salad that add lots of vitamins and protein.
For the dressing, mix some lime or lemon juice with a bit of olive oil. This salad won’t
wilt so the dressing can be added at home. Prepare the dish the night before and
store it in a lightweight plastic container.

Panini
Substitute deli meat for a Portobello mushroom which have a high amount of protein to
help re-energize you and you don’t have to worry about them spoiling on your hike.
Grill the Portobello before putting it on your sandwich. Opt for Parmesan or Swiss
cheese, since hard cheeses do not have to be refrigerated. Put a cheese slice on each
piece of bread; as the cheese melts in the Panini, it will act as “glue” so your
sandwich won’t fall apart while you are hiking. Wrap the sandwich in foil and pack it to
go!

Grapes
Grapes are a great treat for after lunch. They don’t require refrigeration, and there’s no
peel or core to worry about after you eat. Plus, they are mostly water, so you’ll be
rehydrating yourself by snacking.

Trail mix
If you make your own trail mix, you can throw in any of your favorite treats. Sunflower
seeds, walnuts, cashews, almonds, and pecans are all typical stables of trail mix.
Think about adding dried versions of some of your favorites fruits, like banana chips,
dried cranberries, or sweetened dried blueberries. If you know a sugar craving could
hit you on the trail, add M&M’s rather than chocolate pieces, which are more likely to
melt.
Happy Hiking!