How not to break a tooth while winter hiking

First of all, the disclaimer. I have not been paid by any company to endorse their snacks. Nor has any company provided me with free snacks to review. (Although, if they would like to, I'm open to considering it!) These are my opinions, based on my experiences actually hiking and backpacking in cold and extremely cold weather.

If you don't know already, you need to eat more when you're outside in cold weather, because your body needs the extra calories to keep you warm. If ever there was a time to throw the restrictive diet out the window, this is it!

Cold weather snacking provides its own challenges because, it's cold. Specifically things to consider, can you open the packaging without taking your gloves off? Will you break a tooth if it freezes? Will it freeze well?

Most packaged snacks come with tear away packaging (like a granola bar, or pretzels). Alternatively, you can repackage them at home into zip lock bags. Depending on how beefy your gloves or mitts are, one might appeal to you more than the other. I personally find that I can tear packages open with my teeth, so that works for me.

The other big consideration is what happens when your snack freezes? For something like a thin chocolate bar, or m&m's, that might not be a big deal. I love chewy style granola bars, but let me tell you, when they freeze, watch out! They will freeze nearly as hard as a rock. You do not want to try to chomp down on that.  On the other hand, persistently cold temperatures create some snacking possibilities that you might not otherwise consider. Cheese, for example, typically does not freeze hard. And crackers, even when frozen, are quite good, and not likely to give you dental issues. Also, cake like snacks that might typically squish into mush become a more attractive possibility.

The main work around for the problem of frozen snacks, is to decide what you will want to eat next and store it inside your coat until your next snack break. That will give it time to warm up, and not chill you too much in the process.

So my favorites?

Chocolate and candy, obviously. Especially Reese's peanut butter cups, even frozen they aren't terribly solid, and the protein in the the peanut butter is good for muscle recovery. (Right?)

I also like larabar. They are made with real food, and fruit is usually the primary ingredient. Now, they will freeze solid if it's cold enough. If it's slightly warmer, you get a hard toffee like consistency that might pull a filling out, so I definitely warm these up before eating them. But every flavor is so delicious, and fruit sugars definitely are easier on my stomach if I'm doing a high output activity.

Honey Stinger gels are my top choice if I'm doing a long run in cold weather. They don't freeze solid, they have a ton of carbs for quick energy, they're made from (mostly) honey, and, they have one that's caffeinated. What's not to love?

So hopefully, despite the artic temperatures sweeping the nation, you will find a way to get outside soon, and enjoy some great snacks while you're out there.