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You have spent a long day on the slopes and have worked up an appetite.   Stumbling into the lodge, you find it hard to resist the scent of french fries and hot cocoa.  After all, what could be better than a warm high-energy snack after a day of strenuous exercise?

While some of the foods you find in the lodge make for delicious treats, most of them provide only empty calories – a quick-fix, so to speak.  It is best for your body if you plan ahead and bring snacks are more nutritious.  In order for your body to feel energized and perform well on the slopes, it is better to consume healthy snacks that are high in protein and calories, without sacrificing nutrition.

Simple snacks that are easy to pack and store in your locker or jacket pocket include:

• string cheese
• granola
• nuts
• energy bars (made from ingredients you recognize, rather than from synthetic ones)
• Ski Bunny Snack Mix (see below)

Other simple lunch or snack ideas include:

• slices of carrots and apples with peanut butter
• crackers with hummus
• home made banana or pumpkin bread
• soup, chili or pasta with marinara sauce, brought from home in a thermos

Keep in mind that for food-safety reasons, some foods, such as yogurt, sandwiches made with mayonnaise or meats, should be stored in a refrigerator or in a small chilled cooler.

Ski Bunny Snack Mix

Mix some of the following ingredients together to create this delicious sweet and salty snack mix.  Feel free to improvise and add ingredients that suit the dietary preferences or needs of your family.

Dried coconut ribbons (not sweetened shredded coconut)
Annie’s cheddar bunny crackers
Dried cherries, cranberries or golden raisins
Sliced or slivered almonds

Don’t forget:  Skiers don’t usually sweat as much as other athletes, because of the cold air temperatures.  So be careful – you may get dehydrated without even realizing it.

This post was inspired by our winter vacation to Montana.  The photo above was taken at Blacktail Mountain, about an hour outside of Kalispell.