I am an avid hiker, love to hike in almost any season. Last year, I did 300+ miles in 3–4 months. I learned what works best to eat before, during, and after hikes by trial and error.
After all these years of hiking, I learned that it doesn’t matter if you are doing a long or short hike; you should prioritize food and safety. Here I am going to break down what kind of food you need to take to enjoy the hike.
I call it pre and post-workout meals as you go to the gym and sip on that BCAAs during exercise. Here I am going to use the same analogy.
What should you eat the day before the hike
i) Water
Drink plenty of water! I know everyone says you need plenty of water during a hike, that is true. But believe me, when I tell you, you need to drink a lot of water a day before your hike.
ii) Food
Start with a healthy breakfast full of healthy carbs, for example, oats with fresh fruits, and if the hike is pretty long, you can take some good protein sources like lean meat, chicken with vegetables.
What should you eat the night before hike
Yes, water is the primary source to sip while hiking. I usually munch every 90 minutes. I wrote another article on the best snacks to take on your next hike. Here is the article for your further read.13 Healthy Hiking Snacks for Your Next Hiking
Pro tip: Avoid taking plastic containers to save some space in your hiking bag; instead, take plenty of water bottles.
What to eat after your hike
It’s the same thing as what you should eat after the gym. Your brain will not even think to go for pizza or anything unhealthy. After a great hike, I love to have a big meal if I am not far from the town, usually lean meat to get my energy back. If I am hiking for more than 4 hours a day, I typically carry a portable cooler and leave some healthy sandwiches with fruit in the cooler. Enjoy your next hike!
Thank you for reading.
