Optimize Your Trail Nutrition
Ultralight Backpacking Recipes, Meal Planning & Coaching
Click to Start Your Journey
Backpacking Recipes
Backpacking Meal Planner
Nutrition Coaching
Calorie Calculator
Ultralight Recipes
Meal Planner
Nutrition Coaching
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.
"*" indicates required fields
Trusted by over 3,000 active members across 20 countries
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!
FEATURED IN
Our Services
Backpacking Recipes
250+ trail meals designed to be lightweight and easy to prepare.
Backpacking Meal Planner
Build your menu quickly with our automated meal planner.
Nutrition Coaching
Get expert nutrition guidance to help prep for big adventures.
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.
Grab our FREE Guide
Calculating Your Hiking Calorie Needs
Get our free step-by-step guide built by a registered dietitian.
"*" indicates required fields
DIY Backpacking Food Tips & Tutorials
10 Easy No-Cook
Backpacking Recipes
Trail-tested, no-cook backpacking meals that are calorie-dense, and perfect for stoveless hikers.
How to Dehydrate Strawberries
for the Trail
Learn how to dehydrate strawberries—perfect for prepping your own 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.
Backpacking Food Tips & Tutorials
Resources for Trail Nutrition & Meal Planning
What Our Members Are Saying
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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."
Ellie
Trail Nutrition Tips Tailored to You
Choose your trail persona & get expert backpacking nutrition advice —customized for your experience level and trail style.
"*" indicates required fields
