Dear Happy Hiker,
 
What could be more fun than going for a hike in a park, on a mountain trail, or a walk through your neighborhood?  The fun of exploring a new place looking for animals, insects and flowers will make your hike or walk very enjoyable.  Before you start your hike, plan to take a tasty snack with you. You will probably get a little bit hungry on your hike. The simple recipes in the Hike for Health series were designed for young people to make ahead of time. Most recipes will only take you 10 to 20 minutes to prepare. Follow the step-by-step directions and you will have a healthy snack to enjoy during your hike. Making food yourself with a little help from an adult is a great way to learn about food and meal preparation.  We have plenty of recipes for you to try--from pizza to smoothies!
 
Each recipe has been designed to tell you how many servings it makes, this is called Yield.  It will also tell you the size of the serving and how long it will take to prepare the recipe.  The easy to read directions include simple steps to make the recipe, ingredients, and equipment needed.  A suggestion on how to safely pack your recipe for your hike is also given. Nutrition Facts for the recipe tells you the number of calories and the nutrients. Each recipe includes a fun fact that may surprise you!  So enjoy the snacks you make and have fun on your hike!
 
Happy hiking and healthy snacking!

Sincerely,
 
Marilyn Corbin, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Cooperative Extension
State Program Leader for Children, Youth and Families
The Pennsylvania State University, Cooperative Extension
401 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-6109; Fax: 814-863-7776; MCorbin@psu.edu

Acknowledgements: Appreciation is extended to the following for their assistance in the development of the recipes and the design of the Hike for Health project materials: Jessica Clarke, Jennifer Dorward, and Maria Sbihli, all nutrition majors in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Health and Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University; Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity staff; Barbara Bartley, Michele Marini, and Karen Parkes, Cooperative Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University.