Two things I’m most passionate about in my life are introducing my daughter to nutritious and delicious foods and allowing her to explore, discover and learn from the wonders that Mother Nature has to offer, so when Debi invited me to do a Guest Post on hiking meals for kids I was honored and excited!
Packing lunches on-the-go are pretty commonplace in our household and I have gotten fairly good at keeping the fridge stocked with quick and healthy choices. When doing my weekly shopping I focus on buying a rainbow of fruits and vegetables to ensure our diet is full of vitamin and mineral goodness!
Another trick I learned and implemented early on in motherhood is to intentionally cook extra at dinner time, so there is a nutritious and filling meal already made for lunch the next day! I cook a LOT as it is and doing this saves me time and pot-washing. Win-Win-Win!
One more simple idea I call upon quite frequently are make-ahead meals and am constantly adding new make-ahead meals to my cooking arsenal, Make a bunch ahead and enjoy throughout the week without having to lift a finger! It doesn’t get much sweeter.
Here are some of my favorite go-to trail meals! I hope you enjoy!
[Wheat Berry Salad]
I used to be terrified of a wheat berry! Weren’t they weird and unusual and hard to cook? As a matter of fact, that couldn’t be farther from the truth!
Just soak 2 cups of wheat berries in water overnight in the fridge, then boil them in 4 cups of your favorite stock, 4 cups of cold water and 2 bay leaves for about an hour. That’s it! Rinse and drain them and add whatever tickles your fancy, instant Wheat Berry Salad. I love to add cucumbers, berries and garbanzo beans with a splash of olive oil and lemon.
Ok, first things first, I’ve been keeping a secret from you. It has been so hard not to spill the beans, but today I can finally share the news! A few months ago I was contacted by Nonni’s THINaddictives who somehow (??) discovered this little blog and wanted to showcase me and our Mommy Hike LA group for their Get Addicted to Hiking Spotlight Series!
For the better part of 6 months, the Nonni’s THINaddictive Team has proudly featured scores of active, inspiring women in their communities with the hopes of encouraging others to get moving, get fit and get happy! It was a match made in heaven and I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of it!
Check out our Get Addicted to Hiking Spotlight Video below and check out all of the other vivacious and victorious women they have spotlighted on their THINaddictives’ Facebook Page!
Now, on to getting those little tykes of yours excited about hiking! Here are seven simple tips that have worked for me to keep those little feet moving on the trail!
Be Engaged!
It has been my experience that any time I have set out on a hike with my toddler (which is, at a minimum, once a week) with the mindset that it will be a great workout for me, it almost always ends in frustration; me wanting to strengthen those glutes and her wanting to sit in the middle of the dirt looking for ants. Nowadays, I know the moment I step on to the trail with my 2 1/2 year old, it’s all about her discovery and exploration.
There have been days when it takes us 30 minutes just to walk from the parking area to the trailhead, little hands already full with rocks and sticks and that is OK! Be engaged in what piques their interest and go from there!
Combine Your Hike with Mealtime!
If you know my daughter, you know that any time is meal time! Ha! The promise of a picnic when we’ve reached our turnaround point is most definitely a motivator for my kid.
Make it fun, bring some of their favorite snacks or a special treat to enjoy while basking in the satisfaction of having made it half way! This also gives kids some downtime, just sitting and relaxing to the sounds of Mother Nature.
Invite Other Friends!
This was actually the root of the idea that gave the Mommy Hike LA group its wings! As a new mommy, I started taking V on solo hikes the moment I was up and able to move again. Then, I invited a few of my friends to go hiking with us. Those friends just so happened to be mommies and they brought their kids and next thing you know…
a group was born! An amazing group of friends who share the same passions and are there for each other when you need them; and in turn a beautiful group of kids are emerging, growing up together with shared experiences and discoveries.
Create a Hiking Scavenger Hunt!
This one, I’m giving full credit over to fellow Outdoor Blogger Debi Huang Klump! On her blog, Go Explore Nature she has created a great Scavenger Hunt Series and recently we were lucky enough to get her to do an Exclusive Mommy Hiker Hiking Scavenger Hunt! V and I actually did the hiking scavenger hunt this week and you’ll get to see that adventure in its entirety, next week!
Download our Scavenger Hunt List, check out Debi’s lists, scour the interwebs or write your own Scavenger Hunt tailored to your kid’s favorite things! Use the discovery of a smooth, hot rock as a launching pad to discuss what made the rock hot to begin with, what lives underneath it or how it came to sit on this particular spot of earth in the first place. Just beware you don’t fall into the role of the task-masker, barking orders and insisting on finding the next item on the list. Make it fun! Looking for a lizard? Call out for him! “Oh, Mister Liiiiiiiizaaaaaaard! Where are youuuuuuuu?”
Hike Trails That Have Water Features!
One of the best motivators I’ve found yet to keep a toddler moving on the trail is to entice them with a waterfall! We are lucky in Los Angeles, to have our pick of numerous day hikes which follow streams and many that end in gorgeous dramatic waterfalls.
Combining a hike with rock-hopping across stream crossings, mid-sentence splashes and frolicking in waist-deep, sparkling pools is a sure-fire way to get even the most reluctant kids to get in to Nature! Water also adds an additional vast ecosytem of plants, animals and insets to explore. Just make sure you bring additional clothing, because you can rest assured that no kid will finish their hike dry!
Give Them the Map!
This is one of my favorite things to do. I love giving V the control and sense of ownership of her own experience. Letting kids lead the way is an incredible confidence builder and helps to shape their decision-making skills!
Let them navigate. Allow them to make mistakes, get (moderately) lost, then let them try to figure out how to get back on track. Or, let them discover a new route! You will never know where it may lead you!
Know When to Call it a Day!
As parents, we all have a pretty good radar for “Imminent Meltdown” or the dreaded “Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Syndrome.” Everyone is allowed to have an off day, so know when it’s time to cut your losses and head home!
There are definitely times when all I want to do is sit down with a cup of tea, on the sofa and read a book, so be understanding. If hiking becomes a battle, the chances are their affinity for the activity will diminish, so know when to say when and keep on trying!!
What are some of YOUR best tricks and tips for keeping those kiddos excited about hiking?
I am such a fan of Debi Huang’s Go Explore Nature blog and am especially crazy about her wildly successful Scavenger Hunt Series, so when she agreed to do an exclusive Mommy Hiker Scavenger Hunt, I was ecstatic! I can’t wait to do this with V and I can’t wait to hear how much fun you all had doing it, too! Hiking Trail Scavenger Hunt Let’s face it, not every kid likes to hike. And even kids who do enjoy the trail can get tired, bored or have an off day every now and then. So how do you keep the whining and complaining to a minimum when you’re hiking with kids? One trick that’s worked for us is to turn our hike into a treasure hunt – a nature scavenger hunt to be precise. Together with my two sons (ages 5 and 8), I’ve created a hiking trail scavenger hunt that’s fun for the 10 and under crowd. Here are a few tips for making the most of your hiking trail scavenger hunt adventure:
Bring the list – and something to write with – on the trail. Most kids get kinda fanatical about crossing found items off the list, so be sure to bring along a pencil. Extra points for having a clipboard or something firm to write on, too. Use multiple senses. The items on this hiking trail scavenger hunt require kids to use multiple senses. For example, kids are asked not just to find specific items, but also to listen for things, feel things and touch things. This gives them a chance to experience nature with more than just their eyes.
Keep the adventure age appropriate. Younger kids and those who don’t yet read will need some help to know what they’re looking for. Adults can also help point things out to touch, listen to and smell. If you’re solo parenting more than one child, try using pictures of items to find instead of relying on the list. Older kids may enjoy snapping pictures of the items they discover. Or they might want to find a quiet spot on the trail to journal or sketch their findings.
Leave nature in its place. Our one rule with nature scavenger hunts is that we leave all of the items on our list right where we found them. This helps support both curiosity and respect for the environment. Focus on the journey, not the destination. Hiking with kids isn’t necessarily about how many miles you log or the final destination. It’s about the journey. If your child is having fun exploring nature by searching for the items on the hiking trail scavenger hunt, relax and enjoy it! These are the moments that will instill a love of and wonder for nature long after the hike ends. Enjoy a reward. When you finish your hike, take a few minutes to enjoy something cool (or hot) to drink (or maybe a sweet treat). While you’re at it, talk about all the new and exciting things you discovered on your hike. Armed with their own to-do list, most kids will venture far further than they you might expect. Happy exploring! ___________________________________________ About the Author
Debi Huang is a Los Angeles-based wife, mom and adventure guide for two young boys. Her blog at Go Explore Nature is all about getting kids and families outdoors and connected to nature in the backyard and beyond.
Mommy Hiker 