Paleo Backpacking Meals: The Best Real Food Options for Your Next Adventure ⛰️
Looking for a healthier food for your next backpacking trip?
Here is what I look for in a backpacking meal, plus my favorite go to brand or convenience and nutrition!
Whether you're planning a weekend camping getaway or a multi-day trek through the mountains, one thing becomes clear pretty quickly: food can make or break your trip.
For years, backpacking meals had a reputation for being loaded with questionable ingredients, extra preservatives, and enough sodium to leave you reaching for your water bottle all evening. Thankfully, that's beginning to change. Today, there are several companies creating paleo meals made with real ingredients, quality proteins, and vegetables you can actually recognize.
As someone who generally prioritizes whole foods at home, I don't expect perfection on the trail—but I do want meals that leave me feeling energized instead of sluggish. Fortunately, there are now plenty of healthy meals designed specifically for life in the great outdoors.
If you're looking for the best foods to fuel your next adventure, here's everything you need to know.
Why Choose Paleo Backpacking Meals?
Personally, I don’t really follow any particular diet at home. But it is generally a paleo/ ancestral/ real food based approach to nutrition— without any labels or stress. That said, when buying packaged or processed foods, sometimes those labels can be helpful to quickly see what values or intentions a company has with their ingredients.
The paleo diet emphasizes foods that are minimally processed and focuses on:
High-quality meat
Vegetables and fruits
Nuts and seeds
Healthy fats
While you certainly don't need to follow a strict paleo lifestyle to enjoy these meals, many hikers appreciate them because they're typically made with real food instead of highly processed fillers.
Benefits include:
Better sustained energy levels
Higher protein intake
Fewer artificial additives
More recognizable list of ingredients
Less reliance on refined grains and sugars
After long days on the trail, many hikers find these meals more satisfying than traditional instant camping foods.
What Makes a Great Paleo Backpacking Meal?
Not every freeze-dried meal is created equal. I would love to make my own one day, but the reality is that is just not something I can take on right now. That means I like to turn towards convenient options from high-quality companies.
Here's what I look for before packing one in my backpack.
Real Ingredients
When I am reading an ingredient list, here is what I look for:
Vegetables
Herbs, sea salt, and healthy spices
High-quality meats
And really... nothing else 🤷🏻♀️ The simpler the better in my opinion. When I opt for meals with whole food ingredients, I can be confident that I will feel better.
High Protein
Protein helps support recovery after long hiking days. Many paleo meals include freeze-dried meat options (either grass-fed beef, chicken, turkey, or bison)
These options generally keep you feeling fuller longer than carb-heavy alternatives. They also help support healthy blood sugar levels and help to prevent that inevitable blood sugar crash that follows an unbalanced meal.
Healthy Fats
Healthy fats can make a huge difference for satiety. Some of my favorite healthier fat options are olive oil, coconut oil, or an animal fat like tallow.
Shelf Stability
Backpacking food needs to survive being tossed around in your pack.
The best options use shelf-stable ingredients and include an oxygen absorber packet inside the pouch to maximize freshness.
Just remember to remove the packet before adding water!
My Top Pick: Wild Zora
If you're searching for the closest thing to homemade food on the trail, Wild Zora is my top pick.
Unlike many competitors, they're one of the only company options focused almost entirely on clean, paleo-inspired backpacking meals made with recognizable ingredients. They even have an AIP diet label, gluten-free options, or plant-based meal options!
I've been consistently impressed with the flavor, quality, and thoughtful recipes. While they aren't the cheapest option, I think they do an excellent job balancing nutrition with convenience.
My only gripe is that I wish the portion sizes were slightly larger, especially after extremely demanding hiking days. If you're covering lots of elevation or hiking a long distance, consider packing an extra snack alongside dinner.
Favorite Wild Zora Paleo Meals
One of the fun parts of trying dehydrated meals is discovering your favorites.
Here are several of our faves that are worth checking out!
Mountain Beef Stew
Mountain Beef Stew is hearty, comforting, and exactly what sounds appealing after a cold day on the trail.
It has a rich savory broth, tender beef, vegetables, and herbs. If you're hiking during cooler weather, this is hard to beat.
Each packet has 350 calories, 25 grams of protein, 46 grams of carbs, and 9 grams of fiber— all whole food nutrition.
Bedrock Beef Chili
Bedrock Beef Chili delivers classic chili flavors while staying grain-free.
It's packed with protein and makes a satisfying dinner after a long day of hiking. This is my husband's personal fave from what we have tried!
Summit Savory Chicken
If you're looking for a lighter dinner, Summit Savory Chicken is another great option.
The vegetables hold their texture surprisingly well, and the seasoning is flavorful without being overpowering.
Cliffside Coconut Berry
Breakfast often gets overlooked when planning backpacking meals. Historically, I've just thrown a protein bar in my bag or an instant oatmeal packet.
Cliffside Coconut Berry is a naturally sweet option featuring berries, coconut, and wholesome ingredients without relying on artificial flavors. I love coconut-- so i'm not sure why it seemed unique for a breakfast option? Either way, I love this so much that I want to try to recreate it in a larger serving at home.
We have also tried the Palisade Pineapple Mango breakfast, and while it’s good, it’s a little sweeter than I typically like my breakfasts to be.
Continental Paleo 3-Pack
If you're trying Wild Zora for the first time, the Continental Paleo 3-Pack is an easy way to try out a few different options before committing to larger orders.
Other Paleo-Friendly Backpacking Foods
While freeze-dried meals are convenient, I like packing a variety of snacks throughout the day.
Some of my favorites include:
Beef jerky
Homemade trail mix
Individual packets of nut butter
Fresh or dehydrated fruit
tuna packets
Mixed nuts
Roasted pumpkin seeds
Sweet potatoes dehydrated chips
Dried apples
These snacks help keep energy levels steady between meals.
Don't Forget Drinks
After hiking all day, a warm drink can be surprisingly comforting.
In addition to water, I usually bring:
Herbal tea
Coffee
Electrolytes
Hot drinks like bone broth packets or nourishing hot chocolate
They're lightweight and make evenings around camp even more enjoyable.
FAQ’S
A couple of common questions about backpacking meals!
Are Freeze-Dried Meals Healthy?
Not all freeze-dried meals are created equal. The most delicious freeze-dried options also tend to use better ingredients.
Look for meals that prioritize:
Real ingredients
No extra preservatives
High-quality protein and veggies
Simple seasoning
Transparent ingredient list
You don't need every meal on the trail to be perfect, but choosing better options can help you feel noticeably better throughout your trip.
Where Can You Buy Paleo Backpacking Meals?
Many brands are available online, although you'll occasionally find them in specialty grocery stores or outdoor retailers.
When ordering online, pay attention to delivery time, especially if your next trip is coming up soon.
What are some of your favorite go-to healthy food options for staying nourished while you're adventuring? I'd love to hear your faves for my next hike!
Kaelyn
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