Without any further adieu let’s get right into the list. With the nature of Kayaking the majority of this list is more snack oriented to help keep you going, but where it’s appropriate there are some meal ideas. Bare in mind the individual needs of yourself and the unique aspects of your trip as no two are the same.
High Protein Food #1 Rootana
Look at your high protein foods, now look at Rootana, now back at your high protein foods, now back at Rootana. Sadly it isn’t Rootana, but with nothing but a fresh water supply and 30 seconds to shake, and you’ll be enjoying 400 calories of high protein bliss.
Jokes aside, Rootana is genuinely the best choice here, so let’s break it down properly. First of all, in terms of size/weight, there’s somewhat of a balancing act you need to do. You need enough food to last your trip but without taking up much space, so you need to be efficient with a space to calories ratio. Considering just 4 scoops of Rootana provides 400 calories, and that the entire bag (14 meals) is just 1.33kg/2.93lbs, you’re onto a winner with Rootana.
Here at Rootana we pride ourselves on many things, but an achievement we’re especially proud of is how we managed to create our meal replacement shake whilst avoiding all artificial sweeteners and preservatives. This has caused our drink to have an organic, subtly sweet flavor that avoids the synthetic aftertaste that is unfortunately associated with meal replacement shakes. In terms of shelf life, you’ve nothing to fear either, as we’ve opted to use ingredients that naturally have a long shelf life, without requiring any special storage solutions.
High Protein Food #2 Energy Balls
In terms of what can be the best high protein foods for kayaking, energy balls are definitely up there for most people. The catch? You have to make them yourself ahead of time, and in our experience they can sometimes break up whilst traveling. That said if you’ve got the time to make them up, they’re an incredible option, especially considering you can easily add a scoop of Rootana to really boost the calories and macros of these things.
The most simple way we’ve found to make them is 150g oatmeal, 110g peanut butter, 75g low sugar chocolate chips, 1 scoop of Rootana, 50g cup of chia seeds and 1tsp of salt. Just throw it all in a blender to mix things thoroughly, without grinding it all too fine. Simple shape into the balls and place in the fridge, and they’ll be ready in about two hours.
High Protein Food #3 Beef Jerky/Biltong
The classics are classics for a reason, and jerky really speaks for itself. It’s delicious, easy to bring along, will last until you want to eat it, and is high protein so will keep you fed. The only thing to consider here is that biltong/ jerky is typically high in sodium, so if you’re trying to watch your salt intake or have kidney issues, it’s best to rely on it too hard. That said, for the vast majority of us, it’s a great snack to bring along and comes recommended by many.
High Protein Food #4 Protein Chips
Though they falter slightly in the durability end of the spectrum, they excel in all other aspects. Protein chips are a fantastic source of energy that is convenient and easy to pack, packed full of protein to keep you satiated and they taste delicious, often with a bunch of different flavors to choose from. We’re not going to recommend any one brand here, we recommend instead that you just try some out until you find your personal favorite, it won’t take you long.
High Protein Food #5 Tinned Tuna
You can’t mention high protein foods without mentioning tuna, as it’s just such a fantastic source of the stuff. Rich in healthy fats and protein, Tuna is an incredible source of calories, giving you an important boost in energy when you need it most. The only issue with this one is how you eat it, as it’s not for everything to simply drain the tin and stick a fork into it. Mayo is a staple but it doesn’t travel well, so instead we’d recommend you either make up tuna mayo to travel with, or bring along a small amount of salt and vinegar to spruce it up a bit.
High Protein Food #6 Protein Bars
Protein bars are a no-brainer, the only reason they’re so low on this list is because of the amount of artificial sweeteners/ sugar that is normally present. That being said, the convenience and results of snacking on a protein bar can’t be understated, being very deserving of a spot on this list. We don’t recommend you eat too many of them, but they’re almost always worth bringing along for that quick boost of energy when you need it the most.
High Protein Food #7 Nuts and Seeds/ Trail Mix
Though not quite as applicable as they are on hikes, they’re similar to protein chips in a lot of ways, but typically less protein, positioning it lower on the list as a result. That being said, all of the merits are here: Incredibly convenient, simple energy that tastes great. It’s difficult to ask for more than that, just make sure you either decant them into a more hardy container, or place them on top of everything once you’ve packed to decrease the chances of having trail powder instead.
High Protein Food #8 Cured Meat
Meats such as pepperoni, chorizo and salami are fantastic ways to get your protein in on your trip. Ofcourse this would include Jerky as well, with the main difference being that you traditionally purchase Jerky in a convenient bag, already prepared for consumption, whereas most cured meats are purchased whole, meaning you’ll need to take the time to cut and package them prior to your trip. Not the biggest issue in the world, but when we’re looking at the very best options here that slight inconvenience makes the difference between top of the list and bottom of the list.
High Protein Food #9 Protein Shakes
Though not ideal, you can’t deny the convenience of a protein shake in this setting is great. The only catch is it’s lack of important macro nutrients such as carbohydrates, fibre and healthy fats. With this in mind, they make a great hit of protein when you need it the most but you’ll have to prepare some way to get the rest of your nutritional needs accounted for, leaving it much further down the list as a result.
High Protein Food #10 Peanut Butter
It might not have the highest protein content on this list, and requires a bit more forethought, still – peanut butter is a fantastic plant based protein solution when you’re kayaking. It’s very versatile and can be enjoyed solo, spread on bread or combined with a wide variety of delicious condiments, making peanut butter a fantastic choice for vegans and vegetarians.
