Backpacking Food Ideas

Ideas for quick and easy meals while backpacking

There are many easy and cheap food items you can make or buy if you don't have time to put together recipes for your backpacking meals. Below is list of items that can be taken backpacking and hiking with little preparation, most of which can be bought at any grocery store. When you use energy backpacking or hiking, you need calories to help give you energy, so food with a significant amount of calories will be better. If you are going on a longer trip or want more gourmet meals you can use Wild Backpacker's backpacking recipes. Backpacking meal ideas

It may be a good idea to repackable the items below in a zip lock bag to get rid of weight and space. Fresh foods are always heavier, but less expensive.



Breakfast Backpacking Foods

  • Cereal (available in travel sizes)
  • Granola (with dried milk)
  • Fruit cocktail (small cans)
  • Instant oatmeal
  • Pop Tarts
  • Cereal
  • Peanut Butter and Jelly
  • MREs (Meals Ready to Eat)

Lunch Backpacking Foods

  • Bagels, with cream cheese
  • Granola bars
  • Candy bars
  • Dried fruit
  • Nuts
  • Crackers
  • Chips
  • GORP (nuts, M&M’s raisins, crackers, dried fruit)
    • Beef Jerky
  • Cheeses, like string cheese
  • Beef or turkey jerky, or other preserved meats

Dinner Backpacking Foods

  • Cup O Soup
  • Cup Noodles/Top Ramen
  • Lipton Rice or Noodles
  • Chili
  • Stew
  • Stuffing
  • Instant Rice
  • Instant Potatoes
  • MREs (Meals Ready to Eat)

Premade Drinks

  • Hot chocolate
  • Gatorade/Powerade
  • Apple cider
  • Teas
  • Lemonade or Crystal Lite (masks bad-tasting or iodine-treated water)
  • Tang




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