How to Stick to an Animal-Based Diet on a Hike (And Actually Feel Fueled)
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I’ve signed up for something most people would call bonkers—the 24 Peaks Challenge in the Lake District. 31 miles, 24 summits, over 13,000 feet of ascent over 2 days. Sounds fun, right?
Now, I’m a carb-dodger. No pasta parties. No energy gels. I follow an animal-based diet and I intend to keep it that way—even up a mountain, in the rain, with my legs screaming at me.
The problem? Pretty much every “hiking ration pack” you’re given on these kinds of challenges is loaded with sugar, seed oils, oats, and ultra-processed junk.
It’s the kind of stuff that makes you bloated, not better. If you’re on a carnivore diet or even leaning paleo or keto, you’ve probably looked at those packets and thought, “Guess I’ll just eat the packaging.”
So, I’m writing this post for two reasons:
- I need to figure out my hiking fuel strategy without ditching the diet, which has improved my health.
- To help anyone else thinking of doing something similar and wanting to stay fat-fueled on the trail.
We’ll look at:
🥩 What to eat and pack when you’re on an animal-based diet on a hike
⚡ How to avoid energy crashes and stay sharp across long climbs
🎒 What foods give the best nutrition, without adding unnecessary weight to your rucksack
🍽️ How to keep your meals both practical and delicious (yes, you read that right)
Whether you’re tackling the 24 Peaks or just heading out for a weekend hike, this post will cover everything you need to know to stick to your diet, stay energized, and feel great doing it.
So let’s talk about what’s really going wrong with your standard trail food..
Why Typical Hiking Food Falls Short
Let’s be honest: most hiking food is designed for convenience, not health.
Crinkly plastic packs full of instant noodles, sugary flapjacks, chocolate bars, and something they call “beef stew” but tastes more like regret. These might tick the box for calories, but they’re doing your body no favors, especially if you’ve spent months adapting to an animal-based diet.
These so-called rations are loaded with carbs, seed oils, preservatives, and all the things we’ve spent many years avoiding. They spike your blood sugar, mess with your digestion, and leave you hungry again an hour later. The worst part? You’ve still got 20 miles and 3,000 feet of climbing ahead of you.
The good news? When you’re fat-adapted, you’re not reliant on that quick-burning, glucose-based fuel. Your body knows how to burn fat for energy, and chances are, you’re already carrying several pounds of perfectly usable fuel on you (no offence—just biology).
This means you can go slow and steady, powering through long trails without constantly needing to snack or “carb up.”
What you do need is to stay topped up with:
✅ Essential electrolytes like salt, potassium, and magnesium
✅ A decent hit of protein to prevent muscle breakdown
✅ Some easily digestible fat to supplement what you’re burning
✅ A meal or two a day that actually leaves you satisfied
Think about it like this: you’re not running a sprint. You’re not emptying your glycogen stores like a marathon runner. You’re doing hours of low-to-moderate intensity work, and your fat-fueled engine is perfect. You must give it the right food, in the proper form, and at the right time.
And that’s where this post comes in. We’ll dive into what to eat, carry, and pack, and how to adapt your normal eating style to suit the trail, without compromising your diet or ending up blocked up, burned out, or bonking halfway up Helvellyn.
Let’s get into the practical side…
The Benefits of an Animal-Based Diet on the Trail
So, what’s the big deal about sticking to an animal-based diet when you’re hiking?
When you fuel your trip the same way your ancestors would—mainly meat, fat, and salt—you’re not just surviving the trail, you’re thriving on it.
You’re giving your body the nutrition it recognises and runs well on. That means more energy, fewer snacks, and zero sugar crashes.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
1. Fat-Fueled and Steady
If you’ve been eating this way for a while, you’re likely fat-adapted. That means your body’s already trained to burn fat efficiently for fuel. And that’s a good thing, because fat stores pack a serious punch—over 2,000 calories per pound.
You don’t need to eat constantly to keep going. Your body taps into its pounds of fuel (cheers, biology), and you can stick to simple, nutrient-rich meals instead of stuffing your face with oatmeal and cereal bars every hour.
2. No More Crashes or Constant Grazing
On the carnivore diet, your blood sugar stays steady. That means no highs, crashes, or panicked search for the next snack.
You’re not riding the insulin rollercoaster. You’ve got a slow-burning log fire going, not a handful of twigs sparking out.
It’s common to go for hours—sometimes all day—without feeling truly hungry, especially if you’ve had a solid breakfast of meat, eggs, and butter (yes, I’ll show you how to carry that stuff soon).
3. High Nutrition, Low Bloat
Animal-based foods are nutrient-dense by design. You’re getting vitamin B12, iron, zinc, magnesium, healthy fats, and complete protein—without the fibre overload from vegetables or the sugars from carb-heavy hiking snacks.
You also avoid common gut offenders like grains, seed oils, and emulsifiers. That’s important when the nearest services or toilet are three hills away.
4. Easier Recovery and Less Inflammation
Long hikes are tough on the body, especially the joints. A diet rich in animal fat, collagen, and electrolytes helps support recovery, reduce inflammation, and keep you moving without waking up feeling like a mountain goat has run over you.
So yes—you can absolutely do a long, tough hike like the 24 Peaks while sticking to an animal based diet or even a strict carnivore diet.
You might even find it easier, cleaner, and less stressful than trying to adapt your meals around carb-heavy ration packs that don’t align with your goals.
The Core Food List: What to Eat and Pack
When you’re sticking to an animal-based diet on a hike, every item in your pack must pull its weight—literally and nutritionally. You want energy-dense, durable food that doesn’t require refrigeration and won’t make your bag smell like something died in it.
This list is built around function, nutrition, and fat-to-protein ratio, not fancy packaging or services-friendly fluff.
✅ Pemmican (The OG Trail Fuel)
If there’s a king of animal-based hiking food, it’s pemmican. Used for many years by Indigenous peoples, fur traders, and Arctic explorers, pemmican is the ultimate mix of meat, fat, and salt.
It’s compact, shelf-stable, and massively dense in calories, protein, and fat—basically the dream fuel for endurance and survival. You can make it yourself or purchase it pre-made online.
Pack 2–4 ounces per long day, depending on how much you eat otherwise.
✅ Carnivore Bars
Modern pemmican, but wrapped nicely for convenience. These bars are a great way to stay on-plan, keep your body topped up, and stick to your diet without any effort. Good ones are made with just meat, fat, and salt, with zero carbs or seed oils.
I’ll be carrying a bunch of these, and I recommend stashing a few in different parts of your bag—easy to grab on a steep trail or during a quick rest stop.
✅ Hard Boiled Eggs
Simple, practical, and surprisingly delicious when you’re halfway up a mountain. Boiled eggs give you fat, protein, and some of everything else, including vitamin B12 and choline.
They’re fragile, sure. But pack them in a container with a pinch of salt, and they’ll hold up just fine for the day.
✅ Cheese (If You Tolerate It)
Cheese is a staple for many animal-based hikers. It’s calorie-dense, rich in fat, easy to portion, and will not spoil quickly if you choose aged, hard cheeses.
Don’t forget that cheese melts, and sweaty cheddar is no one’s idea of a good thing. Keep it cool, or eat it early in the trip.
✅ Jerky, Biltong, and Dried Meats
These are easy wins: no mess, minimal weight, solid protein, and great for snacks. Just watch the ingredients. Many brands sneak in sugars, carbs, seed oils, or preservatives.
Look for air-dried, no-junk options—or make your own.
✅ Cold Cooked Ground Meat or Patties
A little bulkier, yes—but very filling and a great way to get in real meat. I like cooking ground beef patties or lamb burgers and packing them cold. If you’ve got a cooler bag or overnight storage at your location, they’ll last the first day or two easily.
Bonus points if you use ground meat with organ meats mixed in for an added nutrition boost.
✅ Butter Bites or Fat Bombs
Fat is your fuel—you might as well bring it straight. I sometimes make butter cubes with salt and beef tallow, keep them cool, and pop one when I need a little boost.
They’re rich, yes. But one bite and your legs will thank you.
The Hot Food Options (If You Want to Cook)
Just to be clear—I’m not bringing a stove on my 24 Peaks trip. I’m keeping things light, simple, and cold.
But for those of you who like a hot meal in the hills (and don’t mind a few extra pounds in the pack), cooking on the trail can be a real treat.
If you’re carrying something like a Jetboil, MSR PocketRocket, or any small camp stove, you’ve got some great animal-based options that stick to your diet and deliver proper nutrition.
🔥 Hot Meal Ideas for Carnivores on the Trail
1. Instant Bone Broth (with Butter or Salted Fat)
It’s a no-brainer. Boil water, stir in some high-quality bone broth powder, add a cube of butter or beef tallow, and add a decent pinch of salt. It’s warm, comforting, and loaded with electrolytes and fat.
2. Vacuum-Sealed Beef Patties (Reheat in Hot Water or Pan)
Make fatty ground beef patties at home, season with salt, and vacuum seal them. They’ll stay safe for at least a day or two, especially in cool conditions. Heat them gently in simmering water or a small pan. Add extra butter or tallow for even more energy.
3. Pre-Cooked Steak (Yes, Really)
You can take a cooked ribeye, sirloin, or chuck steak, vacuum seal it, and reheat it the same way. Just pop the sealed bag into hot water until it’s warm through. Crack it open, slice, and enjoy. Finish it with a dollop of butter or a few cheese shavings if you’re feeling fancy.
4. Scrambled Eggs or Egg Pucks (First-Day Option)
Eggs aren’t the easiest trail food, but for a first-day breakfast or dinner, they work. Crack a few into a jar at home, then cook with butter and salt once you’re set up at camp. Quick, delicious, and full of protein and fat.
🔧 Gear Worth Packing
If you’re going down the hot food route, here’s some kit worth looking at:
✅ Compact camp stove (Jetboil Flash or MSR PocketRocket 2 Ultralight)
✅ Small titanium pot or mess kit
✅ Lightweight fuel canister
✅ Windshield (trust me)
✅ Reusable utensils and foil for quick cleanup
Cooking on the trail isn’t essential, but it’s part of the trip for some. And if it helps you stay on track with your animal-based diet, it might be worth the few extra ounces.
Now, let’s discuss the extras that will keep your energy high, your legs moving, and your gut happy…
The Extras That Make a Difference
These aren’t your main meals, but they’ll keep you going when the trail gets long, the wind picks up, or you’re just one summit away from snapping at a sheep.
From salt to coffee, these additions support your diet, boost your energy, and make life a bit easier.
🧂 1. Maldon Salt (Because Electrolytes Matter)
If you’re sweating buckets (which you will be), you’re losing sodium fast.
Maldon Sea Salt Flakes are a favourite of mine because they’re clean, dissolve easily—even in cold water—and are a brilliant way to top up your electrolytes without dodgy ingredients.
🛒 [Available on Amazon: Maldon Sea Salt Flakes]
💧 2. LMNT Electrolyte Packs (No Sugar, No Nonsense)
Forget the sugary stuff. LMNT offers a high-sodium mix that’s ideal for fat-adapted hikers.
It’s balanced with potassium and magnesium, and contains no sugars, colours, or junk fillers. I’ll be using these during my 24 Peaks to help stay hydrated and stave off cramps.
🛒 [Available on Amazon: LMNT Electrolyte Drink Mix]
☕ 3. Instant Coffee (Because Sanity Matters)
Sometimes, you need a warm mug of something to give a boost. A good instant coffee goes a long way on the trail. I recommend:
✅ Death Wish Coffee – organic and punchy
✅ Nescafé Azera Espresso – rich flavour with a barista-style blend
🔄 4. Mini Mixer for Butter Coffee
Want to turn your trail coffee into a buttery energy bomb? You’ll need a mini whisk that doesn’t weigh half your pack. The Norpro Cordless Mini Mixer is small, lightweight, and perfect for whipping up butter coffee without the elbow strain.
🛒 [Available on Amazon: Norpro Cordless Mini Mixer]
🍯 5. Raw Honey (Emergency Energy, the Ancestral Way)
While I don’t build my meals around carbs, I’m not anti-honey. A small dose of raw honey can be a lifesaver if you’re lightheaded or crashing hard. Keep it in something durable and non-toxic, like stainless steel leakproof containers.
🛒 [Available on Amazon: Qukaka stainless steel containers – 6 Pack]
🧈 6. Butter Storage (For Those Fat Bomb Boosts)
Bringing butter? Smart move. Just make sure it doesn’t end up greasing the inside of your bag. Using the same containers above will work. I pack butter bites, sometimes mixed with salt or liver powder, and they stay firm enough if kept cool.
🧠 7. Organised Packing = Easier Eating
Don’t just throw everything in a dry bag and hope for the best. Group each day’s food and snacks into mini packs so you can grab what you need without digging to Narnia. Stick a pemmican block, a carnivore bar, and some cheese in your hip pocket—you’ll thank yourself later on mile 12.
These extras help you stay sharp, recover better, and enjoy the hike, not just survive it.
Whether it’s salt, a buttery brew, or a bit of raw honey for the sugar shakes, having the right gear and fuel makes all the difference on the trail.
My 24 Peaks Strategy (Real-World Animal-Based Hiking Prep)
I’m not just writing this post for clicks—I’m living it. In a few weeks, I’ll be taking on the 24 Peaks Challenge in the Lake District.
It’s a two-day trip, not the 24-hour beast, but it’s still serious mileage and elevation. And I’ll be doing it all while sticking to my animal-based diet.
No flapjacks. No pasta. No protein shakes that taste like flavoured chalk: just meat, fat, salt, and a bit of common sense.
Here’s how I’m prepping my body, meals, and pack—plus what you might want to borrow for your challenge.
🧠 Fueling the Body First
I’m already fat-adapted, so the focus in the weeks before the hike isn’t carb-loading—it’s nutrient-loading.
That means:
- Eating plenty of meat (especially ground beef and steaks)
- Prioritising fat for consistent energy
- Making sure I’m getting enough salt, magnesium, and potassium daily
- Staying hydrated, but not overdoing plain water and washing out my electrolytes
The aim is to walk into this challenge with full mineral stores, steady energy, and a body ready to burn fat efficiently.
🎒 What I’m Carrying Each Day
Because I’ve got an overnight stop between Day 1 and Day 2, I don’t have to carry everything at once—but here’s what I’ll have in my pack for each day:
✅ Pemmican (homemade or a good brand)—this is my primary fuel
✅ Carnivore bars—easy to reach, no mess, solid backup
✅ Hard-boiled eggs—a few for lunch or on tough climbs
✅ Cheese—pre-cut chunks, vacuum-sealed or wrapped in wax paper
✅ Salt—Maldon flakes in a screw-top pot
✅ LMNT sachets—one in the bottle, a spare in the bag
✅ Raw honey—just one small pouch, emergency use only
✅ Butter bites—for fat and flavour boosts
✅ Bone broth powder—for evening recovery or a morale lift at lunch
✅ Coffee—instant sachets and my Norpro mini mixer for trail-butter-lattes
All that fits in a 25L day pack with space for a shell, a small first aid kit, and some spare socks. Weight matters—but not at the expense of nutrition.
🥩 What I’ll Eat Before and After
I won’t be eating breakfast on either day—I never do. But I’ll have LMNT water, coffee with butter, and maybe a few bites of pemmican if I feel like it.
Post-hike, I’ve got a fatty ground beef and suet meal prepped in a vacuum bag. I’ll eat it cold with salt and cheese. I’ll also sip some warm bone broth and rehydrate properly with LMNT and water.
Then I’ll sleep like a rock and do it all again.
💬 A Few Realistic Tips I’m Following
➡️ Stick to what your body already knows—don’t try new foods on the trail
➡️ Add more salt than you think you need—you’ll be sweating a lot
➡️ Carry more fat than protein—that’s where the calories come from
➡️ Prep your pack in daily rations so you’re not rummaging around every rest stop
➡️ Bring a mix of textures—hard, soft, crunchy—to keep your brain happy as well as your stomach
This isn’t about being strict for its sake. It’s about fuelling in a way that makes me feel good, perform well, and stay aligned with the diet that’s changed my health for the better.
If you’re planning a big hike, I hope this gives you a framework to adapt, stay prepared, and maybe even enjoy your food on the trail, rather than just tolerating it.
Tips to Stick to the Diet on the Trail
Let’s face it—when you’re tired, damp, and halfway through a challenging hike, sticking to your animal-based diet can feel harder than the climb itself. Especially when someone next to you pulls out a warm sausage roll or offers you a flapjack with that “go on, it’s only one” look.
Here’s how I plan to stay locked in, and how you can too.
🥓 1. Pack Enough of the Right Food
It sounds obvious, but not having enough food—or the right kind—is the number one reason people cave. Bring more pemmican, cheese, or carnivore bars than you think you’ll need. If your bag feels slightly heavier but your stomach feels good, that’s a win.
🧂 2. Salt is Your Friend (and Your Craving Killer)
A lot of cravings are a call for salt or fat. Feel tempted by someone’s trail mix? Try a few Maldon salt flakes and a bite of butter or cheese. Craving gone. Mood improved. Blood pressure is slightly happier, too.
⛰️ 3. Avoid the Snack Pitfall at Services
Many trails have services, shops, or bunkhouses nearby. And they’re almost always stocked with carbs, sugars, and ultra-processed fillers. Your willpower won’t stand a chance if you’re hungry and under-fueled. Eat beforehand, carry backups, and walk past the crisps with purpose.
🧠 4. Remind Yourself Why You Eat This Way
You’re not just being awkward. You’re fuelling your body the same way your ancestors did—real meat, real fat, no fake junk. This way of eating gives you stable energy, better recovery, and none of the sugar highs (and lows).
It’s not a restriction—it’s a strategy.
🧃 5. Keep Electrolytes Up to Avoid Feeling Off
If you suddenly feel flat, weak, or weird, don’t panic—it might not be hunger. You might just be low on salt or minerals. Sip some LMNT, chew on some pemmican, or have a few pinches of salt with water.
Bonus tip: Sometimes a coffee with a pinch of salt is the mood reset you didn’t know you needed.
🥩 6. Have Something You’re Excited to Eat
Don’t make every meal functional. Add a little luxury—a fatty steak vacuum-sealed and ready to warm, or a butter coffee with your Norpro frother. You’ll look forward to it and be less likely to be tempted by other people’s snack piles.
🪖 7. Stick to Your Plan, Adapt If Needed
Be firm but not rigid. If things go sideways, adapt. That might mean having a bit more cheese than expected, skipping a meal, or using your emergency honey if you hit the wall. Your diet’s benefits come from consistency, not perfection.
Conclusion: Eat Like Your Life Depends On It (Because It Does)
I’ve said it plenty of times before; if you eat crap, your body will give you crap back. And when you’re placing a demand on your body when doing something like a hike, this is even more relevant.
I don’t understand why it’s seen as acceptable to dose yourself up on sugary energy gels, drink, and other junk; have sub-par ration pack food, and then go and ask your body to perform a demanding task.
It makes no sense to me.
If you’re tackling something like the 24 Peaks—or any serious hike—don’t leave your nutrition to chance. The stuff in standard ration packs might keep you upright, but it won’t help you perform, recover, or feel like a human by the end of day two.
An animal-based diet gives you what your body wants: fat for long-lasting energy, salt for balance, and meat for repair. When you’re out on the trail, miles from any services, you want to know the food in your pack will keep you sharp, not bloated, sluggish, or looking longingly at someone else’s flapjack.
Whether you’re eating pemmican out of a snack pouch, sipping butter coffee with a view, or warming up a ribeye on a camp stove, you’re fuelling your life the same way your ancestors did.
You’re not just surviving the trip. You’re thriving on it.
And that’s it… have a nutritious day.
FAQs
What are the rules for the animal-based diet?
Stick to meat, fat, salt, and animal products like butter, cheese, and eggs. Avoid processed food, seed oils, vegetables, and sugars. Some add raw honey or seasonal fruit occasionally.
What is the healthiest food to eat while hiking?
Pemmican is one of the most nutrient-dense hiking foods—packed with protein, fat, and salt. It’s stable, portable, and keeps energy steady without the sugar crashes most snacks cause.
What is the best meat to take hiking?
Ground beef patties or cooked steak, vacuum-sealed with salt and butter, are ideal. They’re calorie-dense, full of fat, and easy to pack for multi-day trips without refrigeration.
What is the animal-based diet cheat?
Some add raw honey, fruit, or coffee with butter when needed—especially on longer hikes. It’s not about being perfect, just fuelling your body the same way it evolved to.
Do I need to eat vegetables on an animal-based hike?
No. A well-formulated animal-based diet offers all essential nutrients from meat, fat, and salt. You can achieve great health and nutrition without vegetables or plant foods.
How do I stay full without carbs on the trail?
Fat is your fuel. Eat cheese, pemmican, and carnivore bars for steady energy. Being fat-adapted means fewer hunger signals, less frequent eating, and better control over your diet and mood.
How much food weight should I carry per day?
Most fat-based diets need less food overall. Around 1–1.5 pounds per day of dense options like pemmican, cheese, and butter should be plenty, especially if you’re already fat-adapted.
