For some reason, many people think that vegetarians have a hard time on a hike. There is no stew and canned fish, beloved by many hardened hikers, which means that only rice and oatmeal remain for our share. Especially do not roam! But the good news is that this is absolutely not true. And a vegetarian hike can be just as nutritious and delicious as a regular one.
Good preparation is the key to success
As in the case of many other undertakings, the success of the upcoming campaign depends on how carefully we prepared for it. All hikers can be conditionally divided into two types: amateur beginners and aces who are ready to set off on a journey not only in summer, but also in winter, along the plains, mountains and forests. Of course, the level of training in the second case must be appropriate – because often it can be a matter of life and death.
I would like to talk about a lighter option – the usual amateur hike that you may have dared to go on for the first time.
So what does it take to make it work?
To get started, you should look into the camping goods store to stock up on all the necessary equipment. In order to prepare lunch on a hike, we need the bare minimum: convenient camping utensils. Please do not take disposable plates with you – this is impractical and not environmentally friendly. It is better to take special accessories – pots that fold into each other, folding plates and glasses, a spoon-fork-knife, which will come in handy for you many, many more times and will not take up extra space. Think about whether you would like to cook all the dishes on a fire, whether you need to take extra care of a gas burner. Sales consultants will easily explain all the nuances of camping utensils to you, they will also help you choose the most suitable option.
Another simple option is to ask a friend who already has everything you need if you yourself are not going to use camping items often.
Avid hikers call this step “layout”, I found out. It is this very layout that is the guarantee that we will remain full and full of strength throughout the trip. Usually beginners like to skip this step, hoping for a chance and village shops, but no matter how boring it looks, I repeat once again, you need such a sign. So be patient, open your computer and do it.
How is the layout set up? Think over your approximate diet for each day of the journey. An example of the simplest layout:
The first day:
Breakfast:
Rice porridge – Rice, raisins, nuts
Coffee – coffee, sugar, milk powder
Muesli bar
Lunch:
Soup – soup from a bag
Couscous with vegetables – couscous, dried vegetables, canned beans, spice mix, salt
Tea – tea, sugar
Dinner:
Pilaf – rice, dry soy meat, dried vegetables, salt
Tea – tea, sugar
Chocolate
Snacks:
apple, nuts
When compiling the menu, make sure that it is varied, but essentially consists of one set of ingredients – this way you take only the most necessary things with you, and you don’t have to grumble: “Greek drunk.”
Of course, experienced hikers list all the products at once by grams and energy value – it’s easier to pack, but if you want to go on your little trip for just 2-3 days, you can estimate the required number of components “by eye”.
So, what foods can a group of vegetarians take with them on a hike?
Be sure to cereals – they are based on a camping diet. Rice, buckwheat, couscous.
Legumes – dry and canned at your discretion. Lentils, chickpeas (this guy, of course, is better to take already canned), beans.
· Dried vegetables. To do this, pre-cut the carrot, tomato, onion and cabbage into small pieces. Then either use a dehydrator or dryer, or put the entire vegetable company in the oven at 40-60 degrees for a few hours.
· Dried soy meat. For a vegetarian tourist, this is an analogue of a regular stew.
Ready-made breakfast mixes (pre-mix oatmeal, milk powder, nuts, spices, sugar and bran in a ziplock bag).
Purchased ready-made soups and purees. I know I know! This is usually harmful and unnatural. But – cheers, cheers – in health food stores you can find absolutely harmless analogues.
· Tea and homemade coffee (pre-mix coffee, sugar and milk powder).
Drying, cookies, bars, croutons. True, there is nothing tastier than a small cracker with raisins and a mug of freshly brewed tea by the fire.
· Dried fruits, nuts.
A mixture of spices.
· Ghee
· Salt, sugar.
And, of course, you should take care of a sufficient amount of water.
In general, as you can see, we definitely will not have to starve. Couscous with vegetables, buckwheat with soy meat, camping soup with beans and dried vegetables, rice porridge – there is a place for gastronomic expanse.
Get rid of excess packaging in advance, which will only make the backpack heavier, transfer bulk products into a reliable ziplock bag (the most convenient reusable bags can be found in Ikea) and, as a nice bonus, take with you one nice, but not the most necessary product for lifting fighting spirit: a jar of condensed milk or your favorite chocolate bar.
By the way, don’t forget to look around carefully while hiking – morning porridge will turn out much tastier with a portion of harvested wild blueberries, and tea with the addition of fresh clover or nettle.
That’s it, we’re ready to go. Have a nice trip and unforgettable impressions!