Hit The Slopes With These 8 Easy and Energizing Snacks

“When on the slopes, you want snacks with staying power to fuel your adventure,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, founder of NutritionStarringYOU.com and author of The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook. “A DIY trail mix with nuts, prunes, whole grain cereal, and a little bit of chocolate hits those cravings for sweet, salty, and crunchy while providing plant-based protein, fiber, heart-healthy fats, and antioxidants.”

According to Poon, dehydrated fruits can make for a filling slopes snack that also provides all of the wonderful phytonutrients you’d find in fresh fruit. Michelle Dudash, RND, author of The Low-Carb Mediterranean Cookbook and Clean Eating for Busy Families, also recommends dried fruit with no added sugar, like dried apricots and tart cherries and raisins. These in particular, “provide complex carbohydrates, including fiber, plus vitamins, minerals, and potassium, which is an electrolyte lost through perspiration. Skiing and snowboarding require energy and these snacks help replenish those energy stores in your muscles,” she says.

While certain fruits aren’t great for the slopes, apples and mandarin oranges are easy to take with you and not easily crushed. “Mandarin oranges are also durable, lightweight and an excellent source of vitamin C,” points out Poon. She loves hydrating and fiber-filled vegetables as well, such as raw carrots, celery, cucumbers, and colorful peppers. “These are great, mess-free snacks that you can nibble,” she adds.

“Besides being tasty, jerky is convenient, high in protein and easy to take anywhere, even up the mountain,” says Dr. Kellyann Petrucci, M.S., N.D., a board-certified naturopathic physician and nutrition expert. But she does recommend reading your labels when buying jerky. “It’s best to avoid nitrates, MSG, soy, gluten or added sugar,” Petrucci notes.

Seriously, so good! “Prunes by themselves are amazing frozen, so a small baggie of prunes stuffed into your jacket pocket is even better on a cold day for a chewy, sweet bite,” says Harris-Pincus. “And research supports 5-6 per day helps support bone health.”

Also known as power balls or energy bites, these Bliss bites by Mackenzie Burgess, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and recipe developer at Cheerful Choices, contain a mix of nourishing ingredients like fiber-filled dried berries and protein-packed nut butter. “Simply blend together in a food processor and roll into balls.” She recommends storing them in the freezer and then pop a few into a small resealable bag before heading out for your winter activities. “By the time you need an energy boost, they’ll be slightly thawed and ready to enjoy!”

For those who want a sweet skier's treat, stash a bag of dark chocolate-covered nuts in your pocket for a little pick-me-up. Some of Poon’s personal faves include dark chocolate-covered raw cashews, cacao-dusted activated almonds, and coffee/espresso-soaked almonds. She also likes dark chocolate-covered dried golden berries. Yum!