You should take a break from your everyday busy life and get off the grid every now and then. Just grab a backpack and set out on a hike. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? But you gotta eat to keep yourself going throughout the day. Nothing feels better than munching on the snacks when you are hungry during your adventure trip.
You can’t take your personal kitchen everywhere you go. But you can always plan your backpacking food so that you will never have to go to bed hungry, no matter where you are. A little bit of preparation goes a long way. It starts with the selection of the right food for your hikes or trips.
The type of backpacking food depends on the hiker’s individual diet habits, tastes and preferences. Some go for high calories meals while others go for vegetarian foods. In this article, we will be focusing on those hikers who are looking for the ultimate guide to raw vegan backpacking food.
Raw vegan food is a diet that includes only plant-based, uncooked, and unprocessed foods. This is where veganism and raw foodism come together. It is a stricter form of vegetarianism that excludes animal-based products (both meat and dairy) and other foods that require cooking.
Raw vegan backpacking food is all about customizing your diet plan according to the nature of your adventure. It can be a physically demanding endeavor for which you should fuel your body with essential nutrients. It is not only about what you eat, but also about how and when you eat your food.
However, there is always a limitation to what you can carry with you in your backpack. But that should not compromise your dietary requirements. Before you start picking raw vegan food for your next backpack trip, it’s worth taking the time to go through a few important considerations.
What To Consider In Backpacking Food?
Don’t fall into the temptation of packing everything that you think you might need. Take notes of the following points while selecting the food and you won’t have a problem at all. You can use the checklist for all types of backpacking food as well.
1. Lightweight
Overloading your backpack is the last thing you would want during your outdoor trip. Try to keep it as lightweight as possible. Since packaging adds some weight to the food, get rid of them unless absolutely necessary. Go for dehydrated or dried foods that are relatively lighter than their juicy alternatives.
2. Shelf-Life
Choose the food items and ingredients that last longer without any artificial preservatives or refrigeration. Since raw vegan food is entirely plant-based, you won’t have much problem storing them at room temperature.
3. Nutrition And Calorie
Focus on foods with high nutritional value and calorie content. You will be burning more energy during backpacking than when you are just lying on the couch at home. Select the foods that will instantly reenergize and rejuvenate you. This is not a good time to rely on junk foods.
4. Cooking Requirements
Although most vegan foods can be consumed in their raw and natural state, it’s okay to cook them to try different flavors. You don’t have an entire day to cook the food. Therefore, consider how much time and fuel you have at your disposal. The quicker it cooks, the better.
5. Weather Conditions
Do some research on weather conditions of the area that you will be venturing in and bring the foods accordingly. Dont consume salty foods if it is hot during the day as it dehydrates you quickly. Instead, replenish your lost nutrients and electrolytes later during the dinner so that you are better prepared for the next day’s adventure.
6. Location
The benefit of going vegan is that you have plenty of fruits and vegetables to choose from. You can even find some of those foods on the way. If you have some knowledge about the location of your trip and the plants available there, you can save a lot on your backpack weight and still enjoy a delicious meal in the evening.
What To Include In Your Raw Vegan Backpacking Food?
By this time, you might already have a general idea about what you want to include in your backpacking food plan. The following list might come in handy sometimes.
1. Fresh Fruits And Vegetables
These are the most basic vegan diet that satiates you and makes you feel refreshed and energized right away. While there are range of varieties that you can choose from, we recommend you to go for the convenient and lightweight options like bananas, oranges, apples, carrot, celery sticks, and so forth.
2. Dried Fruits And Vegetables
Dried fruits and vegetables are more travel-friendly than their fresh counterparts. They are relatively lightweight and you can keep them in your pockets so that you can munch on them on-the-go without taking off your backpack. Dried figs, raisins, and dates are hikers’ bestfriend on the trail. Though they are a big expensive, they are definitely worth it.
3. Protein Bars
You don’t have to be a bodybuilder to start eating protein bars. A single bite of energy bars gives you an instant boost of energy. There are various types of vegan energy bars available in the market. You won’t regret buying a handful of them for your next trip.
4. Trail Mix
Trail Mix is a classic backpacking snack that fuels you continuously during the hike with its slow-release energy. Unlike other foods that give you a quick energy boost for a few minutes, trail mix keeps going for hours. Even better, you can make your own custom trail mix at home by combining the ingredients of your choice lke seeds, nuts, and dried fruits. Make sure they are not roasted or salted.
5. Electrolyte Powders
Electrolyte powders are a potion for backpackers to replenish on the electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) that they lose through perspiration. When you are low on electrolytes, your bodily functions will be impaired and you will experience muscle contractions. To save yourself from the trouble, have a electrolyte drink on standby.
Final Words
There is no one best way of building a raw vegan backpacking food menu. Listen to what your body needs and plan the diet accordingly. Experiment with what works the best and share with us your experience.
Hi, my name is Brett White, and I have a passion for cooking, and following a raw diet. Eating raw has completely changed how I view food, and has led me down a much healthier and happier path in life over the last three years.
Through Addicted To Veggies, I want to share with you my favorite raw recipes. From brownie recipes, to recipes containing pumpkin, my site is full of delicious and wonderful options to consider.
