Gails's Question:
What are good foods to take on dayhikes?
— GailDorcas' Answer:
With day hikes, you can take almost anything you want, from a thermos of hot chicken soup to a cold tomato and avocado sandwich. Some hikers don't even stop for lunch proper but munch throughout the day. As long as you get enough calories and enough water (and, if you are going to be sweating a lot, some salty food), you can choose from an endless array. Here are some of my favorite choices:
Bagels
Crusty bread (such as French bread)
Crackers
Flat bread, pita bread, or tortillas
Nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew)
Tahini (sesame butter)
Jelly
Hummus (can be made fresh at home or from a mix on trail)
Black bean spread (also fresh or from a mix)
Cheese
Beef jerky
Pepperoni
Sardines
Smoked oysters
Filled pita pockets (filling of your choice)
Good leftovers (put 'em in a plastic container)
Salads (pasta, taboulli, couscous)
Roasted nuts
Soy nuts
GORP (a mixture of nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate)
Fish crackers
Dried fruit
Fruit leather
Fresh fruit
Carrots
Energy bars (but don't over-do)
Fig bars
Chocolate
Hard candy
Candy of the season (candy canes, candy corn, valentine hearts, jelly beans)
Other cookies
Water, lemonade, or other cold drink
Tea, hot chocolate, or soup (in a thermos)
