Best Snowshoeing Food:
How To Fuel Up For Winter Hiking

By Diane Spicer

The best snowshoeing food tastes great, doesn't weigh a lot, and provides bountiful, easy to digest calories to fuel your winter adventure.

Can all of this be achieved in one little snowshoeing lunch?

Yes!

And here's the fun part...

Calories count! But don't count them

The best snowshoeing food is nutrient dense, providing lots of winter hiking fuel.

Calories, in other words.

If you're in the habit of counting calories for weight loss or maintenance, a snowshoeing hike is an exception to your rule.

Your body is doing a lot of important work when you snowshoe:

• Keeping your core body temperature in a normal range
• Giving your big muscle groups in your legs, arms and back all of the fuel needed to get you where you're going - and back
  
• Sending lots of energy to your brain so you can make good decisions about turn around time, handling weather changes, and route finding
  

So read up on hiking calories, and embrace the fact that all of your winter exertions are burning A LOT OF THEM!!

• For an exact calculation, go here and be surprised, really surprised.
  

The best snowshoeing food
doesn't freeze solid in your backpack!

So what are the best foods for winter hiking?

Think freeze-ability.

Even on a mild winter day, the temperature is low enough to damage watery or fragile food in your backpack.

Avoid these foods:

• Juicy fruit: oranges, apples, grapes
  
• Watery veggies: slices of celery, carrots, tomatoes
  
• Lettuce or sprouts on sandwiches
  
• Fresh berries

In addition to being filled with water, these foods are low calorie and not giving you much in the way of carbohydrates. They tend to get soggy, crushed, mushy and unpalatable in your backpack.

Not sure why carbohydrates are your friend during strenuous workouts like snowshoeing?

• Read up on carbs here

So what should a snowshoer bring for lunch?

Short answer: Something that doesn't take any prep after you pull it out of your pack, won't freeze quickly, and gives you fast energy.

Here's what is in my backpack on a snowshoe hike, each and every time:

• Sandwiches packed full of energy: high quality nut butter & jam, turkey or tuna with cheese and mayo, hummus on a wrap
  
• Soft cheeses wrapped in wax, like the BabyBel brand
  
• High quality chocolate (and plenty of it!)
  
• Nuts and dried fruit: trail mix combos for energy
  
• Trail snacks that can stand up to the cold
  

Lots of options for the best snowshoeing food!

Bring a piping hot beverage, too

 While water and sports drinks are great on hot summer day hikes, you might come to appreciate the lift to your spirits associated with a piping hot beverage.

When you pull it out of your pack, watch the appreciation wash over your trail buddy's face, too.

You'll need to find a suitable insulated container for your beverage.

I use a Hydro Flask like this one for this purpose. It has a closeable lid and will keep your tea or coffee hot for up to 12 hours, more than long enough to be out in the snow on your snowshoes.

While it is marketed as a leak proof lid, I never take a chance and always put it in a ziplock bag before stowing it in my backpack.

If I'm hiking with other folks, I bring something a bit beefier with a detachable stainless steel cup, this Thermos.

You could also use a larger Hydro Flask and remember to bring several cups.

What to drink while snowshoeing

Wondering what kind of beverage should you bring along to warm yourself up when you stop for lunch?

Skip anything with alcohol in it, because alcoholic beverages will cause your body temperature to drop. Sounds weird, I know, because you might feel warmer at first after a few sips of the hard stuff.

That's your brain saying "Hey, party time!" Not what you want if you snowshoe...

Instead, go back to the idea of calories as your friends on a snowshoe hike.

Put these hot combos into your body, and you'll feel warm and have lots of stamina to get back to the trail head, too:

• Oat milk and chai tea
  
• Hot chocolate made with any type of milk you enjoy
  
• Lemonade, ginger and green tea
  

Or use my simple favorite: piping hot chocolate almond milk. Yum!

My favorite teas might also be a good idea if you're into finding the best teas for hiking.

Grab lunch and get outside

If the idea of snowshoeing appeals to you, and you've never tried it, now you know what to eat and drink when you snowshoe.

To get started with this great winter sport, try these snowshoeing tips.

If you're an experienced snowshoer, don't forget how to stay safe out there.

And for everyone having fun in the snow, here's my best tip:

Eat well and often!

Save these on your Pinterest hiking boards for later.

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Best Snowshoeing Food