Vegetarian meals and trail snacks

[Bradshaws]

I have started a new vegetarian diet . I have noticed from several comments, photo sets and forum posts that I'm not alone.
With the cool temperature around the corner I'm becoming concerned with feeding myself in the backcountry on backpacking trips. I have found some great prepackaged meals and some nice websites but I would like to see how the other vegetarian stay fed out there.

I have received a ton of grief from everyone I know over this diet. I didn't choose to do this because of some moral dilemma with killing animals for food. I have NO problem with meat! It's just not for me anymore ;)

Any input on this subject will be appreciated :thanx:

[Tough_Boots]

I stopped eating meat over twelve years ago and haven't looked back. For hiking snacks, I eat a lot of almonds and dried cranberries. Trader Joe's sells these orange flavored dried cranberries that I'm addicted to right now. When I backpack, I usually buy the Mary Jane's Farm freeze dried foods. They are all organic and most are vegetarian. Their bags are 1.5 servings which works for me much better than the Mountain House and Backpackers Pantry which are often 2 servings.

[gummo]

Oranges, apples, Cliff Bars, peanut butter & jelly, and Slim-fast (other something equivalent) is all the food you need to backpack.

[azbackpackr]

Oranges, apples, Cliff Bars, peanut butter & jelly, and Slim-fast (other something equivalent) is all the food you need to backpack.

Speak for yourself! ;) I need hot food at night and hot coffee in the morning! Those Mary Jane foods sound good.

[Bradshaws]

Here is a website I've found.

http://outdoorherbivore.com/

I haven't tryed anything from them but it all look pretty good.
Right now Lärabars, dried/fresh fruit and nuts are my primary trail food. I just made a batch of tofu jerky (its not bad) but I'm not sure how long it will keep .

Thanks for the tips

[oceanwithin]

Longtime veggie here

For freeze dried meals, there's also a company called Enertia Meals that has a bunch of veg options. Making your own freezer bag meals or "hobo bags" for camping works well. For snacks... apples, nuts, dried fruit, peanut/almond/cashew butter, the hummus from cost plus that doesn't have to be refrigerated, lara/cliff/mojo/odwalla bars, fruit leathers, pureed fruit/veg packets, honey, veggie chips. The bulk section of Sprouts is your best friend for hiking snacks! Oatmeal + almond butter or couscous + raisins for breakfast. There's a brand (I forget the name!) of pasta/veggies in a small can from WholeFoods that's all-natural and ready to eat, I bring those along a lot too.

[joebartels]

happy to have found that french fries strengthen the immune system
from mainlyplants dot com

[LindaAnn]

Good to hear. With annual bypass surgery, I should live forever.

[flagscott]

happy to have found that french fries strengthen the immune system
from mainlyplants dot com

In that case, Lucky Charms must be the healthiest food on the planet--every color represented!

[autumnstars]

Do you have WinCo Foods there? Their bulk section is very comprehensive and much more reasonably priced than a place like Whole Paycheck. I make trail mix by mixing together my own selection of nuts, fruits, etc from the bulk bins - it never gets old because I can add different things every time. They also have fun things like powdered hummus. No need to refrigerate, just mix with water and enjoy with carrots, bread, crackers, anything really.

My absolute favorite lunch? Bagel with avocado and mustard or hummus, with or without cheese. Bring the whole avocado along and cut it up just before eating for best freshness. This only works on the first day of backpacking or for day hiking.

The book Lip Smacking' Vegetarian Backpackin' has lots of great ideas. Not just meals, but snacks and all sorts of things.

[hikeaz]

I enjoy some of F.F.'s products > http://www.fantasticfoods.com/content/products