Britnee and I just returned from an incredible two days of backpacking through the Virgin River Narrows in Zion National Park here in Utah. On our second day through-hiking the beautiful canyon, I was thrilled to discover a pair of PROBAR Meals left in my backpack from a previous trip, and we sat and savored the delicious blend of flavors while replacing the calories we craved.

I’ve been a fan of PROBAR for years, although I’ll admit that I’ve only ever consumed one of their products: Wholeberry Blast Meal bars. Being a picky eater when it comes to trail and travel snacks, once I’ve found a favorite I stick with it or risk disappointment when most in need of fuel—and PROBAR Meals quickly qualified.

Backpackers make their way through the Virgin River Narrows in Zion National Park, Utah. With raw, Real Food ingredients—including chunks of strawberries, blueberries oats, dates, sunflower seeds, cashews, raisins, flax seeds and more, all mixed in an almond butter base—the Wholeberry Blast Meal is almost that, a meal.

One PROBAR Meal contains eight grams of protein, 360 calories, 16 grams of fat, 25 milligrams of sodium, 51 grams of carbohydrates and five grams of fiber—all packed into one nutritious bar that truly satisfies when in need of energy. It’s a vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, certified organic, non-GMO energy bar that isn’t stuffed with artificial ingredients and an excess of sugar, making it easy to digest on the go.

A backpacker pauses to admire a view of the Virgin River Narrows in Zion National Park. Since returning home to the U.S. last year, Britnee and I have been fulfilling our urges to explore by mountain biking, hiking and backpacking throughout our home state. On every trip, my pack has contained at least one Meal bar along with my other favorite fuel, Powerbar Energy Blasts.

I only wish I’d had a handful of these when in desperate need of calories while enduring long-term travel on our trip around the world. When some meals were a struggle to eat or when Snickers bars were getting old, a PROBAR would have been a welcomed sight.

So, if I were to give one piece of snack advice to a traveler departing for a region where the food is unfamiliar or on a trip where the cadence of meals might be interrupted, it’s this: Throw two or three PROBAR Meals in your pack and forget about them.

Then, when your stomach is growling as you sit on that long bus ride or an offer of pig’s ear just isn’t cutting it for dinner, you’ll celebrate the discovery of that orange-wrapped wholesome goodness in your luggage and wholeheartedly agree with me.

Need more packing advice for long-term travel? Check out Mark’s revised packing list and Britnee’s revised packing list.