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Optimize Your Trail Nutrition

Ultralight Backpacking Recipes, Meal Planning & Coaching

Click to Start Your Journey

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Backpacking Recipes

Backpacking Recipes

Over 250 quick and easy nutritious recipes that won’t weigh you down!

Browse Features
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Backpacking Meal Planner

Backpacking Meal Planner

Take the stress out of planning by using our automated meal planning tool.

See How It Works
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Nutrition Coaching

Nutrition Coaching

Get help from our backpacking dietitians with over 30 years of experience.

Your Coaches
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Calorie Calculator

Calorie Calculator

Use our one-of-a-kind science-based hiking calorie calculator to fuel your adventures.

Calculate Now
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Ultralight Recipes

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Meal Planner

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Nutrition Coaching

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Calorie Calculator

Trail Nutrition Tips

Designed for YOUR Backpacking Style

Choose Your Trail Persona ➞ 🦊 Fox 🐺 Wolf 🦅 Falcon

to get backpacking nutrition & meal planning tips that fit YOUR journey.

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Trusted by over 3,000 active members across 20 countries

Aaron, a dietitian and experienced thru-hiker, enjoying an ultralight backpacking meal by an alpine lake, representing Backcountry Foodie’s high-calorie, trail-tested recipes

Why Choose Backcountry Foodie?

Ultralight, High-Calorie Backpacking Meals by a Dietitian

Backcountry Foodie offers over 250 ultralight backpacking meals—DIY easy-to-prepare recipes—designed by registered dietitian and experienced thru-hiker, Aaron Owens Mayhew, MS, RDN. 

Use our automated backpacking meal planner to customize your trip menu, or our hiking calorie calculator to dial in your daily energy needs

Join thousands of hikers optimizing their trail nutrition with lightweight, easy-to-make backpacking meals!  

Learn More About Aaron
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FEATURED IN

Shape Magazine logo, a well-known health and fitness publication featuring expert advice on nutrition, workouts, and wellness.
Backpacker Magazine logo, a leading publication featuring expert advice on hiking, backpacking gear reviews, and outdoor adventure tips.
Gaia GPS logo, a premier mapping and navigation app for hikers, backpackers, and outdoor adventurers seeking topographic maps and route planning tools.
SELF Magazine logo, a leading publication covering health, wellness, fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle topics for active individuals.
ActionHub logo, an outdoor adventure and lifestyle publication featuring gear reviews, trip guides, and expert advice for active explorers.
Sawyer logo, a leading brand specializing in water filtration, insect repellents, and outdoor protection gear for hikers and adventurers.

Our Services

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Backacking Recipes

250+ trail meals designed to be lightweight and easy to prepare.

"I was so hungry and hated all of the store-bought meals, until I made Aaron’s food… I nearly cried with happiness!"
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Chevelle M.
Backcountry Foodie Member
See What’s Included
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Backpacking Meal Planner

Build your menu quickly with our automated meal planner.

"It's so much easier than using Excel or Word. The customer service is amazing. I am so glad I purchased the membership!"
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Mason A.
Backcountry Foodie Member
See How It Works
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Nutrition Coaching

Get expert nutrition guidance to help prep for big adventures.

"My time with Aaron was one of the most productive hours of hiking ‘training’ I’ve ever had."
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Joann M.
Nutrition Coaching Client
Meet Your Trail Coaches

Hiking Calorie Calculator

Quickly estimate your daily hiking calorie needs.

Get science-backed calorie estimates based on 15 trail-specific variables—built to fuel everything from casual hikes to thru-hikes.

Calculate Calories Now
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Grab our FREE Guide

Calculating Your Hiking Calorie Needs

Get our free step-by-step guide built by a registered dietitian.

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DIY Backpacking Food Tips & Tutorials

Close-up of a no-cook backpacking meal, high-calorie pasta in a jar, perfect for lightweight hiking and camping nutrition

10 Easy No-Cook
Backpacking Recipes

Trail-tested, no-cook backpacking meals that are calorie-dense, and perfect for stoveless hikers.

See the Top 10 Recipes
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How to Dehydrate Strawberries
for the Trail

Learn how to dehydrate strawberries—perfect for prepping your own backpacking meals.

Dehydrate Strawberries
Backpacker enjoying a cold-soaked meal at a scenic coastal campsite – guide to stoveless backpacking meals.

Cold Soaking Guide
for Backpacking Meals

What is cold soaking? Learn how to prep stoveless meals, save weight, and stay fueled on the move.

Master Cold Soaking

Backpacking Food Tips & Tutorials

Bulk food section of a grocery store with dry goods – guide to 100 backpacking-friendly grocery store foods.

Best Grocery Store Foods for Backpacking

View Grocery List
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How to Dehydrate Strawberries for Backpacking

Learn to Dehydrate
Backpacker enjoying a cold-soaked meal at a scenic coastal campsite – guide to stoveless backpacking meals.

Cold Soaking Guide for Lightweight Backpacking

Explore Cold Soaking
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10 No-Cook Backpacking Recipes We Love

See No-Cook Recipes

Resources for Trail Nutrition & Meal Planning

Free Backpacking Food Downloads

Free Backpacking Recipes

PCT Resupply Locations

Backpacking Nutrition Podcasts

Backpacking Nutrition Masterclasses

What Our Members Are Saying

Excited backpacker smiling next to a Colorado Trail sign at Engineer Mountain, wearing sunglasses and a hiking pack.
"Backcountry Foodie was a wonderful resource for my Colorado Trail planning. The recipes were easy and tasty, the tools were streamlined and easy to use, and the food planning which I had been dreading turned out to be fun! Thanks, Backcountry Foodie, for a great experience!"

Caroline D.

Female hiker wearing a sun hat and pink neck gaiter standing in front of a Lincoln Gap Long Trail sign, ready for an outdoor adventure.
"I am just so wowed by your recipes!  I am doing tests at home at this point and I am more excited than ever to get out backpacking so I can eat more of what I have been testing.  These calorie-bomb meals are delicious, but would be very dangerous if I made them part of my home meal routine. 😉"

Robin M.

Male hiker wearing a beanie and outdoor gear, posing with a scenic mountain landscape in the background on a clear, sunny day.
"I’ve been using Backcountryfoodie.com for over a year. I like the variety of meal recipes, but I really appreciate that Aaron is making sure that I’m getting a balance of carbs, fats, and protein. That keeps me hiking strong."

David B.

Deborah Anderson Backcountry Foodie ultralight recipes and backpacking meal planning website testimonial headshot
"Yesterday was the first time I used your meal planner feature to create my own with your recipes and I LOVE it! Having the water and oils quantities listed in the nutritional count was a surprising and most appreciated find! This will be our first thru hike and we are leaning heavily on your nutrition guidance and are very grateful for you."

Deborah A.

Andrea Mueller Backcountry Foodie ultralight recipes and meal planning website testimonial headshot
"I love what Aaron is doing! I firmly believe that nutrition is key to SO many parts of life and my biggest fear of a thru hike was not nourishing my body in a way that would help me have sustained energy, maintain muscle and stay mentally strong for 6 months. However, then I found Backcountry Foodie and I feel like it is TOTALLY possible."

Andrea M.

Paul Herr Backcountry Foodie ultralight recipe and meal planning website testimonial headshot
"On my five-day hike, your meals/recipes stood out. I look forward to them each day. In fact, for the meals where I did not use your recipes, I was disappointed in myself for not using your meals. You and your recipes definitely added to the quality of my trip!!!!!"

Paul H.

Ellie Average Hiker Backcountry Foodie ultralight recipes and meal planning website testimonial headshot
"Backcountry Foodie offers quick recipes that are easy to make, and they cover the sphere – cold soak, hot, gluten free, vegetarian, etc. You name it, they really do have something for everyone. As I get older and hike further, keeping my pack weight low while maintaining healthy nutrition is important." Read full review here.

Ellie

Backcountry Foodie Blog

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Backcountry Foodie Blog

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Trail Nutrition Tips Tailored to You

🦊 FOX  |  🐺 WOLF  |  🦅 FALCON

Choose your trail persona & get expert backpacking nutrition advice —customized for your experience level and trail style.

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