It is two sealed packs inside – one is the hummus, the other is crunch pretzel chips:

The kit weighs 4.56 ounces and the plastic containers are very rugged (recyclable as well – #5). Normally I shy from lumpy containers (since you have to pack it out empty and/or crush it first) but what occurred to me is the pretzel half is a perfect drinking cup! Or rehydration vessel…..the two pieces snap together tightly. I wouldn’t use it for hot drinks but for cold, go for it! As well, if you need a cup for dunking it is small and easy to grab (great for filling hydration bladders). And when you get home? Recycle it! PS: If you have little ones, it would also make a great “leaf-rock-twig” holder!

Now onto the food in said cups – Sabra has long been my favorite hummus to buy. It is creamy and tasty. The red pepper one is my favorite of their varieties (it comes in 3 choices for the To Go Packs). If you are the type who has never cared for hummus – too much garlic, too sour, too whatever, give Sabra a try…it might change your view! I found it was the right amount for a snack.

I found the packs in the ready to grab section of the deli at my local Safeway – I would suggest looking around that area of your grocery store!

~Sarah

Rich Drinks -

Trail Mochas

Pudding Cocoa

Breakfast -

Cranberry Pan Biscuits

Sarah’s Fattening Coconut Blueberry Oatmeal

Cheesy Bacon Grits

Lunches -

Pecan Cranberry Ranch Chicken Salad

Savory Tuna Salad

Veghead Couscous Pilaf

Dinner -

Lemon Tuna Spaghetti

Italianish Double Cheese Taters

Dessert -

Pina Colada Mini Pies

Huckleberry Donuts

Snacks/Bars -

Chocolate Energy Balls

Triple Chocolate Cherry Fudge

Peanut Butter Granola Cups

Easy Nut and Chocolate Truffles

~Sarah

The Omega bars are in the 250-ish calorie range (some more than others) and come in 5 varieties to choose from:

The bars are hefty, moist and with my favorite..lots of filling:

The Attack Snack are truly snack size at 150 calories each and come in two flavors:

The snack bars are nice and compact, soft and with plenty of fruit filling:

The bars are a good source of Omega-3, fiber and protein and are made naturally with no preservatives.The Marionberry bar was a treat, outside of the PNW one rarely sees Marionberries used. The Peanut butter & Strawberry Jam tastes like fresh natural style PB, a treat for me as I don’t eat partially hydrogenated peanut butter and many energy bars don’t spring for the good stuff. Toddler recommended as well – the baby enjoyed nibbling on the Marionberry and the Attack Strawberry bars.

For best results the bakery does recommend eating them within 2 weeks when stored in normal temperatures or storing in the refrigerator (due to the Omega) for up to 6 months. So while not easy to take say on a long trip or a thru-hike, for the average hiker out for a day or a weekend they are a new choice to add to the snack bag.

~Sarah

FTC Disclaimer: We were provided with samples for potential review.

Chocolate Fudge Brownies:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies:

.89 of an ounce each, 90 calories, 3 grams fat and 5 grams of fiber. Lets face it…we hikers don’t always get enough fiber when out, mostly due to not eating fresh veggies and fruits, so a little extra fiber isn’t a bad thing – especially when it tastes so good!

Find them in most grocery stores, next to the granola bars.

~Sarah

Got that craving for summer night treats? You know what I am talking about! S’mores! All wrapped up in an easy to not and non-sticky mouth sensation The Luna S’Mores bar is perfect for tossing into one’s snack bag.

And it has everything we need (guys, you can eat these bars. You won’t turn into a chick!)

What does the bar contain?

LunaPro ® (Soy Rice Crisp [Soy Protein Isolate, Organic Rice Flour], Organic Toasted Oats [Organic Oats, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice], Organic Roasted Soybeans, Organic Soy Flour, Organic Flaxmeal), Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Coating (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Cocoa, Palm Kernel Oil, Organic Palm Kernel Oil, , Organic Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla), Marshmallow Flavored Nuggets (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Cocoa Butter, Oat Fiber, Oat Flour, Fructose, Natural Flavors, Gum Arabic, Soy Lecithin), Inulin (Chicory Extract), Organic Soy Butter, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Oat Syrup Solids, Organic Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavor, Sea Salt.

Vitamins & Minerals

Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Oxide, Ferrous Fumarate (Iron), Niacinamide (Vit. B3), Ascorbic Acid (Vit. C), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit. E), Zinc Oxide, Molybdenum Glycinate, Pyridoxine (Vit. B6), Calcium Pantothenate, Beta Carotene (Vit. A), Manganese Sulfate, Selenium AAC, Riboflavin (Vit. B2), Chromium AAC, Ergocalciferol (Vit. D2), Thiamin (Vit. B1), Cyanocobalamin (Vit. B12), Folic Acid, Cupric Oxide, Phytonadione (Vit. K), Biotin, Potassium Iodide.

Luna bars can be found at Trader Joe’s, Target, REI, C-stores, grocery stores – nearly everywhere these days! And unlike many “energy bars” they chew easy, taste great and don’t sit like a lump in your stomach for hours!

~Sarah

FTC Disclaimer: We received samples of this product.

That has spilled over into hiking – once you make your own raw “energy” bars you won’t want to buy another overpriced (and semi-stale) bar unless you are lazy or have run out of time! There are good commercially made bars but finding them is a real issue – especially when they run $1 to 4 a BAR.

I buy the majority of the ingredients I use at home and on trail at Costco – something I never thought I would be using my membership for. Nuts and fruits are not cheap but at least more affordable there – and they are way more cheaper than buying premade bars!! Not only that, but they tend to be fresher, due to the high rate of turn-over. Once home I store the nuts tightly sealed in the refrigerator till needed. The other items I use vary from the grocery store to Whole Foods or similar for getting them. Make just what you need, right before you need them for the best results (and freshness) and keep tightly wrapped and sealed. (PS: Costco has the best juiciest Medjool dates in the produce department. They are beyond good.)

The one downside is you need a food processor to handle the ingredients. The food processor that sat collecting dust in a cupboard is now being used almost daily in our kitchen. If you don’t have one see if you can borrow one!

Ideas to get you going:

Date Walnut Energy Bars

Raw Chocolate Cherry Brownies

Flourless Chocolate Cake

These Easy Nut and Chocolate Truffles can be adapted to be healthier:

Chocolate Energy Balls

Raisin and Almond Bars

Chocolate Chia Energy Bars

There will be more coming – it is an interesting way of eating to say the least.

~Sarah

Packs of freeze-dried fruit in Kiwi, Apricots, Apples & Strawberries and Peaches. Being that the fruit is freeze-dried it is of course very light – the packs feel like air (you might almost wonder if the resealable pouch is heavier than the fruit!). The pieces are large though (a nice touch) and in the case of Kiwi it is thick slices of the fruit:

The bags are .88 of an ounce and about 2½ servings for all flavors except for the Apple/Strawberry which is one serving  – perfect for a dayhike or a weekend long trip.

Crispy, lightly sweet and nicely packaged. They can be found through their store and also on Amazon and other sources as well.

~Sarah

FTC Disclaimer: We received review samples for potential product review.

At home mix up:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup toasted wheat germ
• 2 Tbsp butter or margarine (Use Earth Balance for non-hydrogenated)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

Spread on a cookie sheet and bake at 350* until crisp, watch and check every couple minutes to be sure you don’t burn it. Cool and pack in a snack bag.

In a quart freezer bag:

• 1/4 lb. dried chopped apples (or use 2 cups dried chopped cherries for cherry crisp)
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of nutmeg

FBC method:

Add 1 1/2 cups near boiling water to the apples. Seal well and put in a cozy for 15 minutes. Divide into personal mugs and sprinkle some of the crisp topping over each bowl.

Serves 2 to 4, depending on how much sweets are liked

Note:

You can use commercial granola instead for the topping; take 1 cup with you in a snack bag.

Thank you to RebeccaD for the recipe.

~Sarah

Recent finds?

Fruit & Veggie Squiggles in Strawberry flavor -

Kids will love these – and and they taste a lot like a certain brand of energy bars kid’s fruit chews – but can be found for 3 for a $1 on sale. Methinks that trumps right there – and as an added bonus no added sugars (they use the natural sugar in the fruit) and hows about some Elderberry juice? You don’t see that added very often to food!

My favorite of the two we tried was the Fruit & Veggie Strip in Strawberry Banana:

For ‘fruit leather’ it was about the best I have had – chewy, soft and full of flavor. Something about them adding Elderberry Juice really makes the difference.

Ford was happy as well – one of his favorite trail snacks is their Mini Bites in Strawberry. As well these are found in the produce department and come in resealable bags. They are soft/chewy and pleasantly sweet – the sugar is like the other products, only coming from the juices. He got a bag for his pack as the company had a display with coupons that were a bargain to snap up.

Kids will love these – and so will us adults.

~Sarah

One of the now gluten free Luna Protein bars in Cookie Dough. Yum! The same tasty bar, just now made with a few tiny changes to be gluten free. Do make sure you look at the label, the new bars state “gluten free” at the top of the package.

~Sarah