Dried Fruits to take Hiking

Organic dried fruits are not only delicious to munch on while backpacking but have many health benefits as well.

For instance, the phenols in the skin of an apple provide UV-B protection against sun damage, and the potassium in a banana help maintain muscle function.

Dry fruits contain multiple vitamins (A, B, C, Calcium, Iron, and Magnesium) and are loaded with fructose, a natural fruit sugar that provides its sweet taste. Fructose, unlike man-made sugar, works in combination with the soluble fiber of the fruit to break sugar down gradually (keeping the body’s glucose stabilized) while it converts it into energy for the body.

Dried fruit is also an excellent source of dietary fiber!

Potassium, Iron, and Exercise

Backpackers will need more potassium to replace that which is lost from the muscles while hiking and excreted through sweating and urination. It is essential to replenish potassium levels if you become sick and are vomiting or have diarrhea. Low potassium levels can cause muscle cramps, fatigue, and irregular heartbeat.

Also, consuming processed foods loaded with sodium (such as ramen noodles) increases the need for potassium. This is because potassium and sodium work together to maintain the body’s water balance. A diet high in sodium causes more potassium to be lost. Unfortunately, potassium is missing or at inadequate levels in processed foods. Sport and vitamin drinks are often poor sources of potassium.

Your best source of potassium is from fruit. Eating dried fruits such as banana, raisins, dates, are all good sources of potassium. Potato flakes are also a great way to replace the potassium lost while backpacking.

Iron is also an important mineral for backpackers. While fresh fruit is not a good source of dietary iron, dried fruit is because the nutrients become concentrated. Dried fruit also contains vitamin C, which improves the absorption of plant-based iron. See our handy chart for vegetarian sources of iron.

Which dried fruits should you take backpacking?

1.  APPLES

Depending on how apples are dried, the texture can be leathery and chewy (dehydrated/heat dried), or crunchy and crisp (freeze-dried). The flavor of dried apple depends on the variety of the apple, ranging from sweet to tart. Granny Smith apples, although tart, tend to Since apples are common to North America, we often make the mistake of assuming they are less significant than the latest exotic berry import commanding a premium price. This could not be further from the truth! Apples are a fruit unmatched by other fruits in their ability to combine fiber, flavonoids, and antioxidant nutrients.

To get the most nutrient advantage, look for apples that are dried with their skin intact as most of the benefits of apples (antioxidants) are contained within the skin. Be sure to be purchase organic dried apples. Conventional apples contain one of the highest amounts of pesticides of any fruit (see EWG chart below).

• Freeze Dried Apples 1 C or 1 oz (28g)  =  100 calories
• Dehydrated Apples 1/2 C or 1.5 oz (40g) = 100 calories

2. RAISINS

Grapes, when dried, become small and chewy, bursting with sweetness. Iron, an essential mineral for maintaining the delivery of oxygen throughout the body, is high in raisins. Since grapes grow in abundance in North America, they are easy to purchase. Their small size and weight to calorie ratio make them excellent for packing out.

Be sure to purchase domestically grown raisins. Imported grapes contain high amounts of pesticides (see EWG chart below).

• Raisins ¼ C or 1.5 oz (40g)  = 130 calories

3. BANANAS

The sweet fleshy part of the fruit is dried into chips and strips, or powdered to make instant smoothies and to sweeten dishes. Banana acts as a natural antacid for the body by helping the digestive system activate the cells responsible for coating the lining of the stomach with thick protective mucus. They also contain pectin, soluble fiber to normalize the elimination of food through the digestive system. Most important, bananas replenish potassium, an essential electrolyte for regulating fluid balance, muscle function, and regular heart rhythm.

• Dried Banana Slices 1.5 oz (40g) = 133 calories

4. DATES

The U.S. contains about a quarter of a million date palm trees, most of which are located in the arid Coachella Valley of southern California. Dates are classified as soft, semi-soft, and dry (bread dates). The chewy bread dates keep the longest and are often stored as “survival food” for emergency preparedness.

Dried date pieces are an excellent source of potassium. They are not typically eaten alone but do taste great if eaten this way. We add dates to several of our products for their sweet flavor and healthy calories.

• Dried Dates 10 pieces 1.5 oz (40g) = 130 calories

5. MANGO or PINEAPPLE

A taste that blends flavors of pineapple and peach, mangoes are a good source of Potassium, Vitamins A and C, and Beta Carotene.  In the U.S., mangoes are primarily grown in South Florida. Many of the groves were destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, but are slowly returning. We should see an increase in domestically produced mangoes available in the next few years as the trees continue to recover.

Pineapple contains a substance called bromelain, which offers many health benefits, including reduced inflammation & tumor growth and blood coagulation.

BERRIES – we don’t recommend packing out dried berries for a snack even though their high levels of antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamin C and potassium make it seem like a great choice.  Most berries are very low in calories and are not readily available (especially organic, which is the best choice).  Instead, eat them fresh if you find them growing wild along the trail (if you can positively identify what is edible) or incorporate them as part of your meal.

Be Careful! If you do opt to purchase commercially dried berries, be aware that they often contain sugar additives.  For instance, almost all dried cranberries (because they are tart) contain added sugar.  Look for cranberries that contain natural sugars such as apple juice concentrate versus refined sugars such as corn syrup.

Purchase Organic Dried Fruits

Many commercially processed fruits contain food coloring, added sugar, sulfur, and other enhancers to prolong shelf life, cover up bad taste and improve ascetics. Buying organic means you are getting fruit that has not been saturated with harmful chemicals or preservatives.

 

Of all fruits listed here, the most important ones to purchase organic are raisins and apples. Conventional grapes and apples are sprayed with high quantities of toxic pesticides, which, when rinsed, still remain within the fruit (residues in the soil spread to the flesh of the fruit).  Thus, when the fruit is dried, the pesticide level is concentrated in the small surface area of a bite-sized piece.  Since apples and raisins are incorporated into many outdoor dishes to provide natural sweetness, they are consumed in higher quantities (than typical), making exposure a concern for the outdoor adventurer. Buying organic also prevents the addition of sulfite or sulfur dioxide, a preservative that contains questionable health risks.  See the EWG Shopper’s pesticide guide for more information on organic produce.

 

We offer several backpacking meals that include organic dried fruits.  Try one for your next outdoor adventure.

 

Your choice of food impacts much more than your own health.  It impacts the health of our environment too.  May you consume wisely.

Outdoor Herbivore

Related Posts:

• Eating on the Playa: Food options for Burning Man
• No Cook Backpacking | 15+ Easy No Cook Backpacking Lunches
• Tips for Purchasing Backpacking Meals made with Real Food
• Not Marketed as “Backpacking” Food: Everyday Grocery Items for the Trail
• Foods You Need to Eat when it is Cold Outside