A staple on the trail, granola bars are easy to consume while still maintaining your hiking pace, and they also provide a quick boost of carbohydrates to keep energy levels at their peak. And, even better, granola is a whole grain that will help sate your appetite for longer than processed carbs. Granola bars can be quickly stashed in a trail pack, and their packaging helps keep your bars fresh during overnight excursions.
Any vigorous exercise that breaks a sweat will begin to flush electrolytes out of your system. Beef jerky is an easily consumed snack whose high sodium content works to replenish the body's electrolytes and will help stave off dehydration and excessive water loss while hiking. Additionally, the high protein levels and complete amino acid profile of beef jerky work to provide valuable fuel for your muscles and will keep your stomach fuller for longer during overnight trips.
As fuel specifically designed for hiking and other outdoor activities, trail mix is a quick-to-consume snack or meal that can provide optimum nutrition for an overnight trek. Hikers can purchase premade bags of trail mix or, if time allows, build their own with a combination of dried fruit, nuts and--if desired--chocolate. The fruit provides a boost of vitamins and minerals, the fat content and protein in nuts offers a feeling of fullness and lasting energy and the sugar in chocolate gives a quick boost of energy.
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While the granola bars, jerky and trail mix are adaptable to both day or night hikes, overnight trekkers might desire nutrition that more resembles a full meal. Canned tuna is easy to store and stays fresh throughout a hike, while bagels are space-effective and are unlikely to be crushed by other gear. Put together, tuna on a bagel is an ideal mix of energizing carbohydrates from the bagel and muscle-healing protein provided by the tuna. This sandwich can be eaten for lunch or dinner or just as a snack when lasting nutrition is required.
