Steve’s Original Paleokits $7.90 for two ($3.95 each). Grass Fed Paleokits $9.90 for two ($4.95 each). PaleoKrunch Bars $14.95 for five ($2.97 each).  stevesoriginal.com

The Good: Don’t have to worry about getting high-quality protein no matter where you go, and you get to help inner-city kids while you’re noshing.

The Bad: A bit pricier than plain old beef jerky and granola bars.

The Ugly: Getting Leno-jaw from habitually chewing tough beef jerky.

When it’s time to pack for a day hike, a backpacking trip, even for a day at the office, food planning is one of the first things I think about. After all, if you’re out in the wilderness for the day and forget to pack a snack, you’ll either be stuck guessing whether the plants you’re walking by are edible or you’ll starve. High-quality protein is paramount for fueling our bodies, especially for intense activity, and one of the best ways to get good nutrition on the go is Steve’s Original Paleokits and PaleoKrunch bars.

I first learned about Steve’s Original from Steve Liberati himself, who owns and operates CrossFit Tribe in Pennsauken, New Jersey. He started Steve’s Club almost five years ago as a way to change the lives of local inner-city kids through fitness and mentoring. His non-profit club helps kids from one of the most notoriously dangerous cities in the country - Camden, New Jersey - find ways to get fit, healthy, and motivated to live the lives he knows they can. Paleokits were originally born out of Steve’s kitchen as a way to give the kids something healthy to pack for school.

Soon after, others (myself included) discovered Paleokits as a way to eat high-quality protein on the go. The Paleokits and Grass Fed Paleokits are both delicious combinations of beef jerky, nuts, seeds and dried fruit. If you’re tired of eating plain old jerky and all the preservatives that go with it, Paleokits are a perfect solution. The dried fruit makes them slightly sweet, there are no questionable additives, and you know you’re getting more than plain protein when you eat them. The jerky can be a little tough, but most jerky is, and I’m willing to chew a little harder when I know it’s high-quality meat.

The most recent addition to the Steve’s Original family is PaleoKrunch. Available as a bag of clusters or in bar form, this grainless granola bar packs a punch. The PaleoKrunch bars are a blend of seeds, almonds, honey, coconut, and even bacon if you catch the seasonal favorite, which is available May-September. There’s nothing quite like sitting in your cubicle with the smell of bacon wafting through the air around you. If you miss the Bacon Lovers PaleoKrunch Bar season, don’t fret; there’s a Dark Chocolate Espresso PaleoKrunch Bar during the winter. Given the bars are completely grainless and gluten-free, they don’t seem to stick together as well as a granola bar with, well, granola ingredients in it would. But even if you’re eating it in pieces, any PaleoKrunch bar will be delicious.

I’ve taken the Paleokits to CrossFit competitions, on trails in Pennsylvania and Acadia National Park and even kept a stash of the Bacon Lovers PaleoKrunch Bars in my desk for quick snacking. The bottom line? Both sets of products are great ways to get high-quality proteins and fats, Paleo-style, just about anywhere. I’d recommend them for anyone who enjoys snacks that are both filling and delicious. They’re also a way to buy snacks that make a difference, as every purchase gives teens from tough neighborhoods a chance to be involved in fitness programs and sports instead of gangs. To me, Steve’s Original products are worth every penny.

Tags:  backpacking food hiking nutrition paleo diet paleo snacks snacks trail food