Sustainably Scrumptious: 11 Brands Cooking Up Healthy & Sustainable Backpacking Food

Healthy freeze dried backpacking food sounds like kind of an oxymoron, doesn’t it?  It doesn’t have to be! Sustainability is on the rise in the outdoor community, as witnessed by outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear. It only makes sense that sustainable and healthy backpacking food is next.

What do we mean by sustainable and healthy? 

Healthy means whole and real, so we looked for brands using whole foods and no preservatives, additives, and artificial junk. Dehydration is a natural preservative- so it’s weird and unnecessary for brands to use both dehydrating and preservatives!  

The most healthy backpacking food brands were those that use all or mostly organic ingredients.

Organically grown food isn’t just healthy but inherently sustainable to some degree. Because organic agriculture doesn’t use chemical pesticides and fertilizers, it’s not only healthier for you and the farmers, but, turns out, the earth itself.  Inorganic agriculture is stripping the earth of all its natural nutrients and, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, if we continue to degrade our soil at the current rate, it will only support about 60 more harvests. 

Sustainable outdoor food also means consideration paid to the packaging, the most difficult problem yet to solve.  

First of all, backpacking meal pouches need to be resilient and hold up with boiling water without melting or leaking. That usually means some sort of aluminum liner that renders the plastic exterior unrecyclable outside specialty programs like TerraCycle(which some brands are opting into).  

While protein and snack bars face less of a barrier between compostability, there are still lots of legal requirements when it comes to packing food that makes compostable solutions difficult to okay legally. That hasn’t stopped many brands from going compostable and others from offering thoughtful recycling programs.

None of these brands are yet totally perfect, but they offer a far better alternative than standard protein bars of the past.  Whether you’re looking for something specific like healthy vegan backpacking food or just low waste hiking snacks, we hope you find something on this list that makes your mouth water.

Remember: buying sustainably isn’t enough.  We must remember to do our part as consumers by recycling and composting packaging that can be and always always always packing out your trash.  The UN reports that food wrappers are the fourth most common single-use plastic found in the environment. Leave No Trace and pack out your trash (and maybe that of someone else if you really want to leave it better than you found it).

*This post contains affiliate links.

Sustainability is on the rise in the outdoor community, as witnessed by outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear. It only makes sense that healthy and sustainable backpacking food is next. #alwaystheadventure

PATAGONIA PROVISIONS

“ As I [founder Yvon Chouinard] write this, the pandemic we’re experiencing has warned me that perhaps the days of buying expensive gear and plane tickets to travel halfway around the world to fish, ski, climb and surf may be over, if not greatly reduced. But we still need to eat. In fact, I think the only revolution we’re likely to see is in agriculture, and I want to be a part of that revolution.”

Sustainability is on the rise in the outdoor community, as witnessed by outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear. It only makes sense that healthy and sustainable backpacking food is next. #alwaystheadventure #patagoniaprovisions

Image credit Patagonia Provisions

Packable/dehydrated food range: Sustainably farmed jerky, wild-caught canned seafood, dehydrated soup pouches, snacks, and beer (!) brewed in Portland from regenerative agriculture grown grains

Budget: $$-$$$

Ingredients: Non-GMO Project verified and USDA certified organic ingredients; No preservatives or chemicals 

Eco friendly packaging: BPA-free recyclable seafood cans; Pouches not yet recyclable or compostable though they are “at the forefront of trying to figure out better methods, which takes time”

Ethical practices: Certified B-Corp; Uber transparent sourcing policies for every type of ingredient used; Source using the most sustainable partners (including free-range ethical animal suppliers, organic and regenerative organic farms, etc)

Impact management: Some products are Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC); Member of the One Step Closer to Organic Sustainable Communities (OSC2); Shipping materials and outer case packaging is 100% post-consumer recycled corrugated and paperboard 

Other: A division of Patagonia (the founding member of 1% for the Planet);, All about their  triple bottom line of “food, water, love”

Our sustainable camp food pick: Buffalo Jerky made from100% grass-fed American buffalo (bison) that graze the Great Plains

Overall sustainability rating: 4/5

Find them here:  Patagonia Provisions   /  Backcountry  /  REI

HEATHER’S CHOICE

“Our mission is to provide healthy, delicious meals and snacks for adventurers worldwide. We source high-quality, whole foods ingredients to create packable, dehydrated provisions. Everyday we strive to inspire adventure, health, sustainability and self-sufficiency.”

Sustainability is on the rise in the outdoor community, as witnessed by outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear. It only makes sense that healthy and sustainable backpacking food is next. #alwaystheadventure #heatherschoice

Image credit Heather’s Choice

Packable/dehydrated food range: Just-add-water breakfast pouches, dehydrated entrees; high calorie “Packaroon” energy bites (which make for amazing healthy backpacking snacks); 

Budget: $$-$$$

Ingredients: Dehydrated grain-free and dairy-free ingredients and wild-caught seafood; 100% gluten and soy-free; Vegan friendly options; No artificial flavors, MSG, fillers or preservatives

Eco friendly packaging: How-water safe foil lined stand up pouches (not yet recyclable); Pouches designed to be shorter than others to save plastic, save space in your pack, and make it easier to get all the goodies from the bottom

Ethical practices: All made by Heather herself and her now small team in Anchorage, Alaska

Our sustainable camp food pick: Smoked Sockeye Salmon Chowder

Overall sustainability rating: 3/5

Find them here: REI  /  Amazon



NUTRIENT SURVIVAL

“We want to give everyone the freedom to defend their body with nutrients.”

Sustainability is on the rise in the outdoor community, as witnessed by outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear. It only makes sense that healthy and sustainable backpacking food is next. #alwaystheadventure #nutrientsurvival

Image credit Nutrient Survival

Packable/dehydrated food range: Nutrient dense dehydrated cookie meals, oatmeal, bar mixes, eggs, mac-n-cheese, and southwestern medley; All foods guaranteed to have 14 vitamins, 14 minerals, 9 amino acids, 2 omegas & fiber; Multi day and mult month kits available

Budget: $$

Ingredients: Raw ingredients that are soy and gluten free, with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives; Added nutrient blends; All products Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) certified

Eco friendly packaging: Reusable and recyclable #10 metal can

Ethical practices: Hand crafted in the Sierra Nevadas between Reno and Tahoe; “[p[]roudly control end to end production in our state-of-the-art facility” that GMP certified; Offer drop-in tours of the facility at any time

Our sustainable camp food pick: Homestyle Scramble

Overall sustainability rating: 3/5

Find them here: Nutrient Survival

SKOUT ORGANIC

Sustainability is on the rise in the outdoor community, as witnessed by outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear. It only makes sense that healthy and sustainable backpacking food is next. #alwaystheadventure #skoutorganic

Image credit Skout Organic

Packable/dehydrated food range: Organic vegan protein bars (lemon zest, peanut butter, salted chocolate, coconut, and chocolate cherry flavors) 

Budget: $

Ingredients: Simple, USDA organic ingredients; Entirely grain-free and plant-based (including the protein); No artificial sweeteners, proteins, or binding agents; Only 4-7 ingredients per bar

Eco friendly packaging: Packaging is standard plastic wrap, neither recyclable or compostable at this time

Ethical practices: Certified Kosher

Impact management: Produce experimental flavors in small batches to prevent product waste; 

Our sustainable camp food pick: Small Batch Protein Bar Variety Pack

Overall sustainability rating: 2/5

Find them here: Skout Organic


CLIF

“We describe our model for sustainability in four simple words: Think Like a Tree. Trees run on renewable energy, recycle all waste, and sustain and improve the places they grow. As a food company, Think Like a Tree means we’re working to craft food with organic, sustainable ingredients, made with renewable energy, packed in eco-friendly packaging, and delivered by transportation that doesn’t pollute.”

Sustainability is on the rise in the outdoor community, as witnessed by outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear. It only makes sense that healthy and sustainable backpacking food is next. #alwaystheadventure #clif

Image credit Clif

Packable/dehydrated food range: Standard energy granola and nut butter bars; High protein “Builder” bars”; Energy chews and gel packets; All purposefully balanced for different activities and outdoor pursuits

Budget: $

Ingredients: 80% USDA organic and/or Rainforest Alliance certified ingredients and 100% non-GMO ingredients; No synthetic flavors, artificial sweeteners, or high fructose corn syrup; Coffee collection contains sustainably sourced organic Colombian coffee beans that are Fair Trade–certified; Do use palm oil but its either certified USDA Organic and/or Rainforest Alliance Certified™

Eco friendly packaging: Redesigned packaging to be smaller and use less plastic; Partnered with TerraCycle to implement a bar wrapper recycling program; Working toward being zero waste; Pledged to have all packaging be reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025; Until then, added a How2Recycle label to all bars

Ethical practices: All employees are partial owners of the company; Offer onsite childcare; Started in a humble home kitchen and now in a bakery in Twin Falls, Idaho; Uphold a living wage policy across their supply chain; CEO Gary Erickson turned down $120 million offer to sell Clif in 2001

Impact management: Publish an annual sustainability report; Have purchased over 1 billion pounds of organic ingredients since 2003; All bakeries are zero waste and LEED certified; 100% climate neutral between 100% renewable energy powered bakeries and carbon offset shipping; Divert 90% of their waste from landfills and incinerators; Recycled paperboard for boxes and caddies; Re-designed caddies to eliminate 90% of shrink-wrap ( 90,000+ pounds of plastic per year); Signed the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Global Commitment and are members of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC)

Other: Are panting 1 million trees; #1 ranked organic research private funder in the United States; Created In Good Company®; 78% of employees volunteered through the Clif® Corps program, clocking over 18k hours; Have donated $61million in cash and product donations over 12 years; Raised $3million for women’s non-profits by Lunafest

Our sustainable outdoor gear pick: Dark Chocolate Mocha bars (sugar, protein, + 1 shot of espresso make for some great healthy hiking food)

Overall sustainability rating: 4/5

Find them here: Backcountry  /  REI  /   Amazon

GOOD TO-GO

Sustainability is on the rise in the outdoor community, as witnessed by outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear. It only makes sense that healthy and sustainable backpacking food is next. #alwaystheadventure #goodtogo

Image credit Good To-Go

Packable/dehydrated food range: Dehydrated meals pouches (lots of dinner and lunch options and a few breakfast ones); Six healthy vegan backpacking food options, two vegetarian ones, and two pescatarian ones; Available individually, in sets, or in a five-day meal kit

Budget: $$

Ingredients: Certified gluten-free whole ingredients; Largely organix ingredients but not entirely (even though many are still grown organically but do not come from certified farms); No preservatives

Eco friendly packaging: Thin metal liner to ensure shelf stability by blocking oxygen absorption means these pouches are currently not recyclable (though it would be worth checking if Terracycle can do so)

Ethical practices:  Made in Maine

Impact management: Encourage people to shop locally before ordering online through their retail finder page; Minimize packaging waste by creating double serving pouches

Our sustainable camp food pick: Smoked Three Bean Chili

Overall sustainability rating: 2/5

Fun fact: Founded by head chef Jennifer Scism, a former contestant on Iron Chef

Find them here: Good To-Go / REI

AUGASON FARMS

Sustainability is on the rise in the outdoor community, as witnessed by outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear. It only makes sense that healthy and sustainable backpacking food is next. #alwaystheadventure #augusonfarms

Image credit Augason Farms

Packable/dehydrated food range: Dehydrated baking and dairy products (eggs,  milk, and butter); Dehydrated pantry staples (black beans), meals (black bean burger powder) and deserts; Drink mixes

Budget: $-$$

Ingredients: Freeze dried precooked meat (chicken or beef) or textured vegetable protein; Whole, dehydrated ingredients; Gluten free product options (certified by Gluten Intolerance Group of North America and  Gluten Free Certification Organization)

Eco friendly packaging: Recyclable aluminum cans; Bulk options in lidded plastic pails (the meals will last forever and you can reuse the pail… like for a cheap camping toilet!)

Ethical practices:  Custom-blended and packaged in Salt Lake City, Utah; Most ingredients sourced within the US and those sourced outside come from “vetted and qualified raw-material suppliers”; USDA inspector onsite

Other: High quality and nutritionally dense food kits that exceed USDA 2,000+ calories per day recommendation; Certified as not calorie deficient by QSS™ (world’s only Survival Food Standards)

Our sustainable camp food pick: Gluten-Free Black Bean Burger dehydrated mix

Overall sustainability rating: 3/5

Find them here: Amazon 

BACKPACKER’S PANTRY

“We are committed to creating memorable food experiences, as responsibly as possible. We push the boundaries of traditional backpacking meals, to create adventurous flavor options inspired by recipes from around the world, and strive to accommodate as many dietary restrictions as possible. All the while, protecting the planet, lowering our carbon footprint, and leaving the world a better place for future generations.”

Sustainability is on the rise in the outdoor community, as witnessed by outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear. It only makes sense that healthy and sustainable backpacking food is next. #alwaystheadventure #backpackerspantry

Image credit Backpacker’s Pantry

Packable/dehydrated food range: “Gourmet” backpacking and camping meal pouches for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desert; Ultra ultralight options for weight conscious activities like long distance hiking and climbing; Also have kits like the  Backpacker's Pantry 3 Day Meal Kit

Budget: $$

Ingredients: 100% non-GMO; Currently have two certified Organic oatmeal options (hopefully more to come!); Highest quality freeze-dried & dehydrated ingredients; precooked USDA certified beef, cage-free eggs, and USA-certified natural chicken white breast meat sourced from an Indiana farm; Raw vegetables and fruits; Options for all kinds of dietary restrictions such as gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and soy-free; Working to start sourcing regeneratively farmed ingredients

Eco friendly packaging: BPA-free pouches; Teamed with TerraCycle to provide a recycling option for their packaging; Most meals contain two servings to cut down on packaging waste; Working on a packaging size reduction

Ethical practices: Made in Boulder, CO in a facility that is USDA Organic certified, Gluten Free certified, Kosher, USDA inspected daily, and Non-GMO Project certified; Have yearly third party audits and require the same of all suppliers; Can trace all of their ingredients;  Source from U.S. farms whenever possible, many of which are chosen by the owner’s personal visits; Vertically integrated which gives more control and flexibility across operations

Impact management: American Institute of Baking ranked their facility “Superior” (the highest possible rating); Use 100% renewable wind energy to power highly efficient lighting in production facility and offices; Recycle and compost in-house; Recently improved facility to decrease carbon footprint (by increasing efficiency of the roof, installing solar panels that power 115% of energy needs, replacing HVAC with energy efficient technology); Are working to become Green Globes or LEEDs certified;

Other: 1% For The Planet member; Support tons of organizations including Conservation Alliance, Slow Money, Cal-Wood Education Center, Outdoor Afro, Protect Our Winters, Earth Guardians, Color of Change, and more; Donate food kits to disaster relief organizations; Organize local trail cleanups

Our sustainable camp food pick: Pad Thai dehydrated camp meal

Overall sustainability rating: 3/5

Find them here: Backcountry  /  REI  /  Moosejaw

MOUNTAIN HOUSE

Sustainability is on the rise in the outdoor community, as witnessed by outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear. It only makes sense that healthy and sustainable backpacking food is next. #alwaystheadventure #mountainhouse

Image credit Mountain House

Packable/dehydrated food range: Freeze-dried backpacking meals, including breakfasts, entrees, and even ice cream sandwiches; Available in individual pouches, cans, and meal kits

Budget: $$

Ingredients: Use mostly real ingredients and are working to continue removing any “artificial junk” from their meals (they have been around since 1969… before organic food was really a thing!); Vow to be 100% transparent about their ingredients and policies

Eco friendly packaging: Teamed with TerraCycle to provide a free recycling option for their plastic pouches; Bulk options come in recyclable #10 metal cans; Hopeful to see repackaging for Mountain House Meals

Ethical practices: All made in their hometown of Albany in the Willamette Valley of Oregon

Other: Have made 211,440 donations to stop child hunger through Kids Against Hunger 

Our sustainable camp food pick: Chili Mac With Beef dehydrated backpacking meal pouch

Overall sustainability rating: 2/5

Find them here: Backcountry  /  REI  /  Moosejaw

LIVBAR

Sustainability is on the rise in the outdoor community, as witnessed by outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear. It only makes sense that healthy and sustainable backpacking food is next. #alwaystheadventure #livbar

Image credit LivBar

Packable/dehydrated food range: Organic superfood bars in a variety of flavors

Budget: $

Ingredients: All USDA & Oregon Tilth certified organic, whole ingredients;  Free from gluten, soy, dairy, corn, chemical preservatives, and peanuts.

Eco friendly packaging: ASTM D6400 and EN13432 certified compostable cellulose wrappers; They’ll break down full in 8-12 weeks “in the perfect[composting]  environment”

Ethical practices: Hand-baked in Salem, Oregon

Impact management: Office and production facility is solar powered

Our sustainable camp food pick: Ginger Lemon Turmeric organic superfoods bar (gotta love those antiinflammatory benefits after a long day on the trail!)

Overall sustainability rating: 4/5

Find them here: LivBar / Amazon


SUN & SWELL FOODS

“We're willing to put forth extreme effort to make these changes because it's about more than just food to us. This is about a massive problem that needs fixing. This is about taking control of that problem as farmers, manufacturers, and consumers. This is about fixing a broken system that's gone on broken for far too long. This is about saving the things we love in life. This is about passing those things onto our children. And ultimately, this is about beginning to change the course of the human race by fixing the way we consume.”

Sustainability is on the rise in the outdoor community, as witnessed by outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear. It only makes sense that healthy and sustainable backpacking food is next. #alwaystheadventure #sunandswell

Image credit Sun & Swell

Packable/dehydrated food range: Healthy whole snack foods (nuts, dried fruit, etc); Dry pantry staples (rice, legumes, etc) and spices

Eco friendly packaging: Are transitioning to all compostable packaging; Currently at 75% with all pantry staple packaging being compostable but all bites and cookies packaged in recyclable #2 plastic

Budget: $$

Ingredients: “No bad stuff”; Everything is organic, vegan, gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, soy free, and free from added sugars and preservatives

Ethical practices: Certified B-Corp; Source from organic family farms in California when possible and other US farms when not; Only a couple ingredients are sourced outside the USA from ethical farms

Impact management: For those who don’t have access to composting, they offer a send-back composting program for all packaging; Compostable shipping materials down to the plant-based tap and lack of heavy printing ink; Carbon neutral shipping

Other: 1% for The Planet membership supports regenerative farming and ocean health organizations

Our sustainable camp food pick: Clean Cookie Bites

Overall sustainability rating: 4/5

Find them here: Sun & Swell Foods

 

**This post contains affiliate links to support the continued creation of these van life guides. This just means that if you purchase one of these eco rock climbing ropes from one of the links above, I get a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Read more here or reach out with more questions.

Sustainability, Van LifeAmber McDanielsustainable outdoor brands, healthy food for backpacking, vegan backpacking food, organic backpacking food, eco friendly, eco friendly outdoor, sustainable outdoor life, eco friendly outdoor gear1 Comment