Last year, my dad and I embarked on a challenge: to walk the Te Araroa Trail (effectively the length of New Zealand). I know what you’re thinking - WOW, IMPRESSIVE. But let me explain.

Unlike other people who walk it in 3 - 6 months at a time, we have given ourselves a literal deadline.

Mission: Walk the Te Araroa Trail over our lifetime.

Keeping in mind my sustainable living and waste free tendencies, I’ve also embarked on a quest to make each of our trips less wasteful every time. Hiking food needs to be light, nutritious, filling, and easy. Most often this involves packaged meals and single-use plastic. I think it would be ironic to enjoy nature’s beauty while producing waste that harms it. So even though it seems like an impossible task, I am doing what I can to lower my hiking food waste while still eating well and keeping my food light and practical.

My research so far has involved talking to friends, following my dad’s wisdom, using up expired (plastic coated) meals from dad’s hiking supplies, and asking Instagram.

I’m no hiking expert or nutritionist and I certainly cannot call myself a hiker yet (we have only done 80km of our 3000km journey so far!) but in the spirit of sharing knowledge and helping you reduce your waste on your next outdoor adventure, here are some basic ideas for low waste hiking meals.

Note: If you’re in Aotearoa New Zealand and want an easy option, Local Dehy have 100% vegan meals in home compostable packaging (they are delicious and so filling!).

Breakfast

Milk powder & cereal (DIY cereal from a package free store and choose a milk powder of your choice)
Oats
Bircher muesli
Hard boiled eggs
Dehydrated fruits (hydrate them with boiling water over your cereal)
Flaxseed (also known as linseed) added to your cereal and/or oats
Peanut butter, honey and granola wraps

Snacks

Cucumber - high in nutrients and stays fresh for a while
Billtong or Jerky (vegan options are available) - great for energy and light to carry
Oats, chia seeds, and chopped dates - soak overnight for breakfast
Carrots
Murukku chickpea snacks
Bliss balls
Peanut butter
Chocolate
Fruit (e.g. mandarins and oranges)
Hot cross buns with butter
Trail mix (also known as SCROGGIN)
Peanut butter bars
Raw veggies
Dehydrated peas
Canned tuna with crackers
Boiled eggs
Salami, crackers and cheese
Energy cookies: oats, banana, dark choc, nuts/seeds
Seaweed snacks
Dried apricots filled with peanut butter
Dried pineapple
Tomato and cheese crackers
Wasabi peas
Tamari almonds
Chickpea banana muffins
Popcorn