10 Healthy and Portable Snacks for Festival Season

Festival season is upon us once more!  If you’re planning on rocking out to your favorite bands at one of countless music festivals this season, you’re going to need an arsenal of snacks to keep you hydrated and energized to dance through the night!  While it might be tempting to rely on the food inside the festival grounds to keep you going, don’t.  Not only is that stuff overpriced, but it’s not doing your body any favors.  Opt instead for healthy snacks to give your body the boost of hydration and nutrients it needs to make you the life of the festival.

1. Almonds

Almonds are the perfect quick and easy boost of protein.  Slip a baggie of them in your pocket or purse and you’re set for hours.  They’re also a source of manganese which will perk you up if you’re starting to feel a little sluggish.  While flavored almonds are delicious, we’d recommend plain, unsalted almonds for a music festival.  Many almond flavorings contain a lot of salt, and you don’t want to get dehydrated!

2. Hummus

Hummus is a great and versatile festival snack.  The protein from the chickpeas gives you energy, and it can be a snack or a meal- depending on what you eat it with.  Dip carrots, cucumbers or celery in for a hearty snack between shows or spread it on some whole wheat pita bread as a light lunch.  With all the flavors and recipes to choose from, you can never go wrong with hummus!  

3. Cucumbers

While a great addition to humus, cucumbers are also a great festival snack on their own.  Since they have such a high water content, they’ll help keep you hydrated during those long sunny days.  They’re also more filling than you’d think, so they’re the perfect in-between-shows snack.

4. Coconut Water

Hydration is key at summer music festivals, and coconut water is filled with the natural electrolyte, potassium to keep you hydrated a step beyond plain water (even though plain old H20 is pretty great too).  Drink a carton at the end of each day at the festival to ensure you’re not getting dehydrated from being out in the sun all day.  Tip: if you’re not a fan of the flavor, try mixing in fresh fruit or fruit juice!

5. Bananas

Besides coconut water, banana is also a great source of potassium.  Potassium is important to keeping up electrolytes and hydration.  As one of the most portable fruits out there, bananas are a good choice for a festival snack.  Just peel and go! 

6. Trail Mix

Trail mix is another quick and easy festival snack option.  You can customize what you want inside, and create a healthy mix of nuts, seeds and dried fruit (we’d recommend staying away from chocolate- it might melt) to keep your energy up throughout the day.  The sugars in the dried fruit will give you energy right away, and the protein will sustain you for a few hours after.  Keeping a bag of this with you will keep you a happy festival-goer all day long!

7. Dried Fruit

Got a sweet tooth?  Dried fruit is the way to go!  Anything from cherries to mango can be dried and they’re all easy on-the-go snacks to take to festivals.  Don’t eat too much, though.  Dried fruit has more sugar than fresh fruit and you don’t want to crash during a show!

8. Berries

Fresh summer berries are sweet and juicy- the perfect midday snack on a hot festival day.  Eat them right out of the cooler for a cold and refreshing snack.  Along with giving your body a little bit of hydration, these yummy fruits will give you a burst of energy to get you ready for your next show.  The boost of Vitamin C doesn’t hurt either!

9. Orange Slices

Speaking of Vitamin C, a super easy way to get a good dose of it is to bring oranges and snack on fresh orange slices.  Like the berries, they’re juicy and refreshing and will revive you midday.  They’re also great for squeezing into your coconut water at day's end!

10. Juice Plus+ Complete Bars

Made with wholesome ingredients, Juice Plus+ Complete Bars have the nutrients your body needs to get through the long festival days.  With at least 9 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, each bar will keep you full and ready to dance all night!

What healthy snacks are you planning on taking with you to festivals this summer?  Tell us in the comments!

References:

http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Music-Festival-Healthy-Snack-Ideas-23766754?stream_view=1#photo-23767585
http://www.popsugar.com/food/Snacks-Bring-Music-Festivals-37210921?stream_view=1#photo-37211281
http://nutrition.about.com/od/askyournutritionist/f/dried_fruit.htm