Vegetarian Journal's Guide to Backpacking and Camping Foods

Do you have plans for camping or backpacking this summer? What kinds of food are you planning to take? When I think of foods to take backpacking or camping, I consider flavor, convenience, weight and size, fuel needs to prepare the meal, variety, and cost. Nutrition is an issue too, although less so if the trip is only for a couple of days. Vegetarian meals can be quick and easy, tasty, varied, lightweight, use little fuel, and inexpensive. What more could you want? In this issue of Vegetarian Journal we'll look at some handy ideas and products for campers and backpackers. Many of these products are also useful for quick meals, when traveling, and during power outages.

A quick search of the web turns up numerous companies producing freeze-dried foods for backpacking, some of which are vegetarian. These are certainly an option, but many vegetarians discover that they can find plenty of foods for camping and backpacking at their local store. We'll focus on some of the more readily available products for camping and backpacking.

SOUPS AND BOIL-IT-UP MEALS

Ramen noodles are one of my favorite camping foods. WESTBRAE NATURALS makes a number of flavors of ramen noodles. They cook in about 5 minutes, and with the addition of vegetables and tofu cubes or dried beans, they're a meal in a pot. Try to use less than the whole seasoning packet to reduce the sodium; half a packet provides plenty of flavor. For vegetables, if I'm only gone for a few days, I may pack some vegetables that don't crush easily, like carrots, potatoes, and zucchini. For longer trips, I buy dehydrated vegetables in the bulk foods section of my natural foods store. They are sometimes labeled "soup mix." A few dried Chinese mushrooms could also add variety. If I want to take tofu with me, I take a box or two of aseptically packed tofu so I don't have to worry about refrigeration.

Some campers enjoy a cup of hot soup. TASTE ADVENTURE makes Split Pea Soup and Curry Lentil Soup that just need boiling water and 5 minutes. Taste Adventure also makes 4 kinds of vegan chili that cook in 10 minutes. Finally, you can also bring a vegetarian broth powder and make your own hot drink, adding dehydrated vegetables and tofu cubes if you like.

VRG's Consumer Research Manager, Davida Gypsy Breier, recommends TASTY BITE Indian vegetarian meals for camping. These meals do not need refrigeration and can be easily prepared--you just drop the bag (or bags) into boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes and they're ready. Flavors include Punjab Eggplant, Bombay Potatoes, and Bengal Lentils. Tasty Bite also makes Thai Vegetarian Entrees. Note that not all products are vegan. TASTE ADVENTURE'S Quick Cuisine products feature precooked rice and beans and are ready in 10 minutes. Vegan flavors include Louisiana Red Bean Jambalaya, Lentil and Rice Bombay Curry, and Black Beans and Rice Santa Fe Fiesta.

Meals or soups in a cup are definitely convenient foods but they may be too bulky for many backpackers and campers. You can make them less bulky, either by purchasing meals in a cup, opening them, and repackaging them in plastic bags, or by making your own meal using couscous, dried bean flakes, and spices. Products generally are ready in 10 minutes or less. FANTASTIC FOODS makes many vegetarian meals in a cup. Additional companies to try include HEALTH VALLEY, DR. McDOUGALL'S, SPICE HUNTER, and NILE SPICE.

QUICK GRAINS AND EASY MEALS

Want to do a little more than just add water? Try products like quick brown rice and couscous along with quick-cooking lentils for a filling entree. Be sure to pack some spices to add flavor. LUNDBERG FAMILY FARMS makes Quick Brown Rice that cooks in 15 minutes (both plain and flavored) as well as one-step rice and lentil entrees. Whole wheat couscous is available in the bulk foods department of many stores and only needs to stand for 5 minutes after boiling water is added. Other quick-cooking grains are quinoa (10-15 minutes) and bulgur (20 minutes). Lentils, including red lentils and split peas, are dried beans that do not need to be soaked before cooking and that need less cooking time than most dried beans. Other dried beans can be cooked on a camp stove, but their long cooking times require more fuel.

Instant mashed potatoes can provide a change, either served as is or made into patties and fried. BARBARA'S mashed potatoes are ready in 5 minutes and can be seasoned to suit your taste.

Other quick and easy meals include many FANTASTIC FOODS products. Want Mexican food? You just mix Fantastic Foods Instant Black Beans or Instant Refried Beans with boiling water and let sit for 5 minutes. Serve on crackers or use as a dip with vegetables or chips. Hummus is even easier. All you have to do is add water to a package of Fantastic Foods Hummus or Pesto Hummus mix, stir, and eat. CASBAH'S Baba Ganoush also involves adding water and waiting 5 minutes. Feel like a burger? Try Fantastic Foods Nature's Burger or Falafel mixes. Add water, wait 15 minutes, shape into patties, and fry.