6 Healthy Hunting Snacks to Try Before Your Next Hunt
Whether you’re an experienced hunter or just getting started, there’s one thing that every hunter should do to ensure a successful trip.
Food.
Having the correct fuel on hand might mean the difference between a disappointing hunt and a world-record-breaking hunt.
While there is no one-size-fits-all diet for hunting, there are some general guidelines to follow that will make packing for your next hunting trip a snap.
Quick Picks: Healthy Hunting Snacks to Try Before Your Next Hunt
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Hunting Calories Burned
On an active day of trekking and hunting, you’ll burn many calories, so you’ll need to eat more than usual to maintain a deficit.
Hunting for deer or elk can result in an energy expenditure of anywhere from 6,500 to 9,500 calories in a single day, depending on the individual’s metabolism. Sheep hunters should anticipate burning anything from 8,000 to 11,000 calories throughout their hunt.
Going on a hunt on an empty stomach is not a good idea because you’ll need more calories than the ordinary person. There should be enough food for the rest of today, so be sure to stock up on snacks.
Table Of Contents
6 Healthy Hunting Snacks to Try Before Your Next Hunt
What Should You Look for in the Ideal Hunting Snacks?
Carbohydrates as a Source of Energy for Hunters
Hunting Snacks: The 6 Best Options
Guide for the Best Food to Take Hunting
Other Considerations Regarding Menu Selection
For Morning Lunch and Evening Meals:
Stay Hydrated and Add a Few More Calories
Frequently Asked Questions About Healthy Hunting Snacks
What Should You Look for in the Ideal Hunting Snacks?
A calorie is a calorie, yet fat has the highest calorie density per gram of any macronutrient. The calories per gram of fat are nine, while the calories per gram of carbohydrate or protein are only four.
As a result, high-fat snacks are ideal for hunting! Choosing rich foods and snacks will allow you to save room in your pack and carry less weight while still giving you the calorie-dense sustenance you need to keep going throughout the day.
Examples are nuts and nut butter, sausage sticks, snack bars, and other portable high-fat snacks.
Carbohydrates as a Source of Energy for Hunters
Carbohydrates are no longer universally considered the optimum type of fuel for your body. Carbs are to blame for many people’s significant energy changes since they are broken down so quickly in the digestive tract.
On the other hand, a hunting expedition is the best time to eat a lot of carbs.
You can keep to a low-carb, high-fat diet if your body is already fat-adapted. However, a hunting trip is not the time to experiment with keto or low-carb for the first time!
Your body will use glucose right away, giving you a burst of energy. Many hunters carry both high fat and high carbohydrate alternatives in their packs.
Hunting Snacks: The 6 Best Options
The following snack options are ideal for hunting because they are healthful, portable, and non-perishable. That means you’ll be able to take a vacation from the freeze-dried camp dinners!
Macadamia Nut Butter
Because of its high-fat content and satiety, nut butter, particularly from macadamia nuts, is ideal for hunting due to its quality fats and vitamins.
However, bringing a jar of nut butter with you isn’t practical, and you can’t just slip it into your pocket. FBOMB Nut Butter sachets are ideal for any hunting expedition because of this. Not only are they highly portable and easy to eat without utensils, but the macadamia nuts are used to make them thicker than practically any other nut butter. They’re also excellent.
Each FBOMB contains roughly 220 calories and 22 grams of fat in one light packet. FBOMBs are the snack of choice for seasoned hunter Jared Thomas.
“When I’m up the mountain, FBOMB is my go-to snack. It’s a quick and easy food that gives me enough energy for the 10-plus-mile hikes, doesn’t make me jittery to stay steady in the spotting scope, and doesn’t make me collapse afterward. Every day I’m out hunting, I eat at least two.”
Meat Sticks / Jerky
Jerky is another popular snack among hunters all over the world. On the other hand, many convenient meat sticks are loaded with preservatives, fillers, and artificial additives, which are never a brilliant idea!
It can also be challenging to find a dense enough jerky to carry easily.
FBOMB Pork Sticks are ideal for hunting because of this. They’re the greatest meat stick on the market, created from crate-free hogs with naturally high-fat content—furthermore, high-fat and high-quality meat results in a delectable meat stick.
Nuts & Trail Mix
Nuts heavy in fat, such as almonds, macadamia nuts, and cashews, are easy to consume by the handful. We think FBOMB Nut Butter packets are even more convenient, but having nuts on hand when you need something to chew is never a bad idea.
Add some dried fruit, chocolates, and granola to your nut combination to make trail mix bags with more carbs.
Protein Bars
Hunters worldwide like to eat protein snacks and high-fat candy bars. They’re simple to prepare and eat at any time.
Because hunting necessitates optimal physical performance, check the nutrition label of any bar you’re considering bringing on your hunt. Many traditional snack food alternatives are high in soy ingredients, corn syrup, sugar, and low-quality fillers and binders, which will make you feel bloated.
Check out Wildnerness Athlete’s Pack Out Bar if you’re looking for calorie-dense rapid nourishment without artificial additives that’s better for you than a candy bar. With only 4 grams of sugar, each bar is heavy in fat and a good source of carbs.
Cheese Crisps
You’re not limited to nuts and meat when you’re out hunting. Cheese is a high-fat, calorie-dense alternative. It becomes portable and superlight in the shape of cheese chips like FBOMB Krunch Cheese Crisps.
Keto Krunch delivers delightful cheese flavor and 170 calories in just seven crisps per serving. They’re an excellent method to broaden your snack alternatives.
Water & Sports Drinks
Nothing is more crucial than staying hydrated during your hunting day. Ensure you have enough water on your hike; many hunters say they carry 100 oz each day, depending on how far they travel.
Sports drinks are another option to increase your calorie intake while also hydrating. Have single-serving sachets of electrolytes on hand to mix in with your water.
You can find the post to be informative and valuable. Your next hunt will be much more fun if you bring some FBOMB snacks.
Guide for the Best Food to Take Hunting
Backpacking into distant areas across hilly terrain can be very energy-intensive. Therefore, you must consume more calories. This article will identify the ideal foods for hunting and explain why. Please read on:
The following snack options are ideal for hunting because they are healthful, portable, and non-perishable. That means you’ll be able to take a vacation from the freeze-dried camp dinners!
How Many Calories Are Burned by Hunters?
- Deer and elk hunters might burn anywhere between 6,000 and 9,000 calories on an active day.
- The hunting range for sheep expands to about 8,000 and 11,000.
- The actual amount is dependent on the types and levels of physical exertion.
What Can Occur If Extra Calories Are Not Consumed?
The general rule for maintaining body weight is to consume the same number of calories as you expend.
When you are out walking, climbing, dressing, and transporting an animal, you expend a great deal of physical energy, resulting in an item of higher caloric expenditure.
If you do not replace them, you will not have enough fuel to generate further energy, and you will tire more readily.
You will likely lose weight while hunting.
It is challenging to consume enough calories to prevent it.
It is essential to consume nutritious foods abundant in calories and nutrients.
Why Are High-calorie Foods Recommended?
Most hunters carry a backpack to hold daily food and other necessities.
Try to choose things with 100 calories per ounce of weight to make the bag light.
Why Is This Important?
This will help you compensate for the calories you will burn.
What Food to Avoid?
Avoid foods with empty calories, such as high in sugar or starch.
The sugar may temporarily increase your energy levels, but it will quickly deplete them.
You must consume nutritious foods that provide your body with the fuel to produce energy.
What Food Should You Take?
Foods with a high protein, fat, and carbohydrate content are optimal for physically active people.
Other Considerations Regarding Menu Selection
A. Package in containers
You should select food items that are packaged in containers. They will fit comfortably inside a backpack.
B. You enjoy eating them
C. Choose lighter options with high calories
For instance, an apple is dense and low in calories. They should be left at home.
D. Easy to open
Ensure that the items you carry in your backpack are easy to open and already prepared for consumption.
E. Ready to eat
You can bring the heavier things and those that require preparing back to camp in the evening.
Some hunters intend to consume a hearty breakfast before setting out. In contrast, others choose to forego breakfast and snacks until supper.
If feasible, it is recommended to begin the day with a nutritious lunch.
This, coupled with the snacks you take, can help sustain you until the evening meal.
For Morning Lunch and Evening Meals:
Some hunters go all out on meal prep in camp. Others rely on snacks and a single meal in the evening.
The best advice is to avoid skipping meals.
You need to eat more, not less.
Here are some nutrient-dense meals for a fantastic hunting trip.
These foods are perfect for hunters who have set up camp and have cooking and storage equipment.
1. Scrambled eggs:
- 4.5 grams fat and approximately 4 grams protein per ounce.
- A 4 oz serving has 240 calories.
2. Bacon:
- Bacon includes 151 calories, fat, and protein.
- They burn all day gently.
3. Dehydrated Whole Milk:
The benefits of dehydrated whole milk are numerous:
- Compatible with a backpack
- Utilizable when making meals
- Drinking to stay hydrated
- Contributes 150 calories per ounce
- It can also add 100 calories per ounce to granola cereal.
4. Maple and Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal:
- Oatmeal is a cereal rich in carbs and simple sugars.
- It has 107 calories/oz.
- Adding a couple of ounces of dried powdered milk boosts the caloric count.
5. Boxed Macaroni and Cheese:
- This is a quick side dish to make for dinner in camp.
- Macaroni and cheese has 108 calories per ounce and is heavy in carbs
- This classic comfort dish can help you sleep better when eaten at night. It is calming due to the high carb content.
6. Olive Oil
- Bring a little bottle of olive oil for use in cooking.
- It contributes 238 calories per ounce.
- It can be used to fry foods and create pasta dishes.
7. Tuna
- Tuna is being marketed in pouches that are accessible without a can opener.
- Tuna is utilized for the protein it contains.
- There are only 25 calories per ounce.
- Additionally, it can be blended with dishes such as macaroni and cheese. Including them in a sandwich or on crackers is a terrific addition to your hunting diet.
- Use it to plan your lunch and dinner menus.
8. Powdered Cocoa Beverage
- Cocoa powder is simple to transport. Only a cup of boiling water is required for 112 calories per ounce of pure delight.
- Excellent for drinking after a day of hunting when it’s time to unwind after dinner.
9. Mountain House Breakfast Skillet
- This dehydrated meal is an excellent breakfast or dinner substitute.
- It provides 145 calories per ounce and is an ideal filling for tortillas.
10. Canned Chicken
- White chicken meat in a can contributes only 45 calories per ounce but a substantial amount of protein.
- It may be readily included in any pasta side dish and is portable due to the container’s small size.
- A substitute for canned chicken (if you have a cooler at base camp or in your pickup).
- Take chicken breasts, which can be cooked in olive oil to boost their calorie value, and served with a side dish.
Stay Hydrated and Add a Few More Calories
Powdered Gatorade added to water adds 100 calories per ounce.
This is an excellent strategy to stay hydrated and increase your daily caloric intake.
It can also improve the taste of plain water, urging you to drink more to prevent dehydration.
Final Thoughts
These foods are the greatest option for maintaining your energy and calorie intake while hunting.
Due to their minimal weight and ease of preparation, dehydrated foods are typically a wise choice.
When planning meals for a hunting trip, pay special attention to:
- calorie-rich foods
- Pack nutritionally dense
- Provide protein, carbs, and fats
- Favorite dish
Being resourceful and organized might make a difference in how much you enjoy the trip.
Learn more: What Are Your Thoughts About Hunting Animals?
Frequently Asked Questions About Healthy Hunting Snacks
Even if you’re 20 feet in the air in a tree stand, a deer will be able to scent your meal even if you’re not there. In a tree stand, apples are an excellent snack. When you get to the apple’s core, toss it on the ground.
Snack a Jacks come in various flavors, but our favorite is the salt and vinegar variety since it’s so vinegary and tingly on your tongue.
What is a healthy snack? A nutritious snack is low in calories, total fat, saturated fat (no trans fat), sugar, and salt yet rich in nutritional content (protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber).