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Optimize Your Trail Nutrition

Ultralight Recipes, Meal Planning & Expert Guidance

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Ultralight Recipes

Ultralight Recipes

Quick and easy nutritious recipes that won’t weigh you down!

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Meal Planner

Meal Planner

Take the stress out of planning by using our one-of-a-kind meal planning tool.

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Nutrition Coaching

Nutrition Coaching

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

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Calorie Calculator

Calorie Calculator

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

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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

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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 ultralight, nutrient-dense backpacking recipes designed by Aaron, a dietitian and experienced thru-hiker. Our trail-tested, high-calorie recipes help backpackers fuel smarter and hike farther—whether you’re on a thru-hike or a weekend adventure.

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

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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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Ultralight Recipes

Enjoy Delicious Meals Without the Extra Weight.

"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
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Meal
Planner

Simplify Planning to Save Time and Reduce Stress.

"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
Start Effortless Meal Planning
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Nutrition Coaching

Receive Expert Guidance from Backpacking Dietitians.

"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
Optimize Your Trail Nutrition

The Calorie Calculator

Plan Smarter with Our Hiking Calorie Calculator

Get precise calorie estimates tailored to your hike. Unlike other tools, our science-backed calculator factors in 15 key variables to ensure accurate energy needs for any adventure—whether it’s a rugged ascent or a casual hike. Fuel right, hike strong.

Start Calculating
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Calculating Your Hiking Calorie Needs

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How-To Guides

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

Enjoy Our 10 Best No-Cook Backpacking Recipes

Discover 10 easy no-cook backpacking meals! Lightweight, high-calorie recipes perfect for thru-hikers and campers—no stove needed.

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Dehydrated strawberries on a drying rack for lightweight backpacking meals – perfect for DIY trail nutrition.

How to Dehydrate Strawberries for Backpacking Meals

Learn how to dehydrate strawberries for backpacking! Lightweight, nutrient-dense, and perfect for DIY trail meals.

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

Cold Soaking Guide for Stoveless Backpackers

Cold soaking 101: Learn how stoveless backpacking meals save weight and time on the trail!

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How-To Guides

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

100 Grocery Store Backpacking Foods

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Dehydrated strawberries on a drying rack for lightweight backpacking meals – perfect for DIY trail nutrition.

How to Dehydrate Strawberries

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

Cold Soaking Guide for Backpackers

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Our 10 Favorite No-Cook Recipes

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Backpacker Resources

PCT Resupply Points

Sample Recipes

Nutrition Videos

Podcast Episodes

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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Trail Nutrition Tips Tailored to You

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

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