Vegan hiking?

[Smile]

I ate raw and vegan last year on my hike.

I need to go back and find you the thread where I wrote some info down. Used raw/organic/vegan bars too by organicfoodbars.com, and also carried avacados. Usually three out of town, and ate one for dinner with flax seeds, tahini, and red peppers, cut up like a salad.

Downside to Avacados is the weight! If you buy them hard they keep longer. I actually did a test hike one weekend and tried to de-pit (is that a word?) one, duct tape it together, and see if it kept - didn't work! I also realized the pit is super light compared to the meat.

[Alligator]

Have you all settled down yet on this topic . Always a free for all when this comes up . Anyway, I'm a vegetarian. In the warmer months, May-Sept, I section hike 15-20 mile days. I was pretty proud of my self last July, I pulled four 20+ mile days out of eight. My hiking diet is nearly vegan, but not totally. I rarely bring cheeses, but some foods with dairy ingredients do make it into my pack.

As an example, I have included the menus for approximately 3 weeks of sections hikes that I have done. I dehydrate my own dinners, unusual food names in the spreadsheet cells reflect this. I keep it fairly simple and go with four ounces dehydrated to a dinner, less for a lunch (if I go that route). The menus don't go into exact detail for snacks, these vary. I usually go with 1-2 granola bars, a clif bar, some nuts, a little dried fruit, maybe some jerky, and a couple of snack packs of candy bars.

Yes, you can make tofu jerky. In fact, I took a trip with a carnivore once and he was all over it. I kid you not I had to ration him.

If you're a vegan, (and I have been in the past), you may have trouble finding a prepared meal in town. If there's any kind of ethnic restaurant though, you should be set. It's like any time you are looking to eat out while traveling though. Just plan on keeping one spare meal handy in case town doesn't work out for takeout. Even if you have to cook in town, availablility of fresh ingredients is a bonus.

[Alligator]

I ate raw and vegan last year on my hike.

I need to go back and find you the thread where I wrote some info down. Used raw/organic/vegan bars too by organicfoodbars.com, and also carried avacados. Usually three out of town, and ate one for dinner with flax seeds, tahini, and red peppers, cut up like a salad.

Downside to Avacados is the weight! If you buy them hard they keep longer. I actually did a test hike one weekend and tried to de-pit (is that a word?) one, duct tape it together, and see if it kept - didn't work! I also realized the pit is super light compared to the meat.

Avocados have a short shelf life once opened, the air does them in. I worked in restaurants previously, mucho guacamole. We would double seal the guac with saran wrap pressed right against it, then a tupperware type lid on top. It would still only last 24 hours before browning.

[The Old Fhart]

Alligator-"Have you all settled down yet on this topic. Always a free for all when this comes up"

I've found this thread to be quite civil and informative, unlike the 'other' agenda thread. Although I'm an omnivore, I find some of veggie look-alikes quite tasty. At one of the hiker feeds they have a grill that hasn't had meat on one side and they do serve veggieburgers. We can co-exist.

[Alligator]

I've found this thread to be quite civil and informative, unlike the 'other' agenda thread. Although I'm an omnivore, I find some of veggie look-alikes quite tasty. At one of the hiker feeds they have a grill that hasn't had meat on one side and they do serve veggieburgers. We can co-exist.

Yes, I know. I felt safe enough to expose myself before my peers. Oh no, look out, my top jeans button is loose...

[Alligator]

...I like to make candles...

[Alligator]

...but I'd rather be a blacksmith.

[4eyedbuzzard]

why all the FLAMING about Vegans/Vegitarians??? if u don't understand something that doesn't make it wrong.

"If you don't understand something that doesn't make it wrong."

EXACTLY!

The original post in the other thread was accusational and inflammatory by definition based upon its topic sentence. The person who started the thread by default accused over 99% of the populus as being maliciously cruel to animals because they do not share his/her opinion on the subject of human dietary and other related choices regarding products derived from animals. The poster violates the very precept you have cited ("If you don't understand something that doesn't make it wrong.")

{Initial post} I'd like to start a thread for veggies to discuss cruelty free hiking...{and then absurdly asks for no arguments - my edit}

Additionally FWIW, only approximately 5 to 7% of those who identify themselves as "vegetarian" describe themselves as "Vegan". Most(approx 90%) are semis(eat fish and some also eat chicken) or ova-lacto(eat eggs and milk). They do not share the "animal cruelty" political stance of this particular Vegan poster.

When the person starting the thread was asked(often in an "in kind" tone to their intial post) to explain and/or support their statement, or when outright confronted, they responded at one point with the following.

{Post #26}
Well Jessebrent, yes I am indicating that eating meat is cruel. It is demonstrably unnecessary for the health and well being of the human body, and therefore eaten purely for pleasure. "Cruelty free" does indeed sound antogonizing and if there is a way to edit this I would like too, as I see it is not in the spirit of my own thread. And indeed, it is impossible to live without taking advantage of others on a constant basis, however, we can try to avoid it when possible and to the degree we are willing. I will no sooner beat up an old lady for her purse than kill a cow for the pleasure of consuming its flesh. I may try to start a fresh thread for the sake of us hikers who would like to discuss our particular issues in peace.

In the above post, the poster again attacks (eating meat is cruel and solely for pleasure), then gets apologetic(if there is a way to edit this I would like too), yet then goes right back on the attack by equating the ILLEGAL violent crime against grandma as equivalent to the LEGAL slaughter of livestock. The poster obviously does not understand the issues as well as they think they do, but nonetheless makes a "values judgement" labeling the consumption of all animal products "cruel", i.e. wrong. When someone makes statements such as these in a public forum they should expect the vehemently rebuttal you have described as "FLAMING".

I hope this explanation answer your question("why all the FLAMING about Vegans/Vegitarians???")?

[Mags]

Doing a veggie hike is not that hard, esp. on the AT.

A vegan hike takes more planning....

A raw food hike REALLY takes more planning.

All depends on what is important to you.

As for a vegan not being able to perform athletically:
http://www.scottjurek.com/

He's the Lance Armstrong of the ultrarunning world.

Having said all that, I still love a burger and fries when I get to town.

(Though, Grandma did make vegan food which I love to this day. Of course, it was not vegan food to us..just great home cooked southern Italian-style food).

[hrm]

two cents:
in 2001 i thru-hiked in less than 4 months on a vegan diet. certainly didn't push the pace, and definitely didn't go lightweight on the pack. in fact, as someone already mentioned, perhaps my pack was so heavy because a vegan diet weighs more? coming out of clarendon, vt i weighed it at 75lbs from the scale at that train cafe. who knows if it was right, though, and i suspect i was a little on the heavy side at that point. and at jim murray's farm in new jersey, the scale there had my food bag at 35 pounds two days out of dwg. i liked to carry at least an orange for each day, etc., so maybe that has something to do with it.

anyhow, the point is that if someone's interested in hiking on a vegan diet, i didn't find it a problem. i loaded up on spaghetti and pizza (w/o the cheese) whenever i came to town. five alive. v8. etc. for good tasting fluids, vitamins, and salt. of course, these fifteen year olds threw out at least twenty grilled cheese sandwhiches at the NOC, and i ate quite a few of them -- i was hungry and, hey, they were in the trash and looked tasty -- so, who knows, maybe that fired me the rest of the way.

take care

[Overpass]

Mapman, thank so much for sharing your menu. You and the other veggie/vegans are right, it's not as hard as I thought to find better things than poptarts and ramen to eat. This thread has given me a lot of great info, thanks everyone!

[quicktoez]

I am a veggie but not a vegan. It’s been my experience that people with these principles spend a lot of time thinking/planning their nutrition and do quite well. Soy protein powder is very light and is one of many options available to keep the protein level up. Not eating flesh is a choice that one makes and it always amazes me how much others seem to have to say about it when most veggies just quietly do it. I have thought of becoming a vegan but have yet been able to make this step, I have a great deal of respect for thoughts who do.

[Overpass]

Soy protein powder is very light and is one of many options available to keep the protein level up.

Can you buy it plain (unflavored)? I've only seen it in stores in chocolate/banana/vanilla. It would be great to fortify oatmeal with it, but I can't stomach the thought of adding chocolate or vanilla or whatever-flavor to my oatmeal. Or pasta. Or couscous. Any kind of dinner-type meal.

At home, I do like the flavored soy protein powder as a shake, but it seems that it needs a high-powered machine like a blender or something to get it into suspension with the water/milk/soymilk. Can it be prepared on the trail without being a mess of clumps/lumps floating in liquid? I've tried shaking some up in the 20-oz soda bottle I use instead of a nalgene but it made a sticky mess inside the bottle and left an aftertaste for days even when I did get rid of the little brown lumps stuck to the sides...

I guess what I'm asking is, how exactly do you use the protein powder?

[Alligator]

Can you buy it plain (unflavored)? I've only seen it in stores in chocolate/banana/vanilla. It would be great to fortify oatmeal with it, but I can't stomach the thought of adding chocolate or vanilla or whatever-flavor to my oatmeal. Or pasta. Or couscous. Any kind of dinner-type meal.

At home, I do like the flavored soy protein powder as a shake, but it seems that it needs a high-powered machine like a blender or something to get it into suspension with the water/milk/soymilk. Can it be prepared on the trail without being a mess of clumps/lumps floating in liquid? I've tried shaking some up in the 20-oz soda bottle I use instead of a nalgene but it made a sticky mess inside the bottle and left an aftertaste for days even when I did get rid of the little brown lumps stuck to the sides...

I guess what I'm asking is, how exactly do you use the protein powder?

A couple of years back, I bought some plain. I used to prefer rice milk, so I used to add it to shakes for breakfast. However, lately on the trail I use a vanilla variety in my oatmeal/cream of wheat. I did buy a miniature whisk for this purpose, but stopped bringing it when I lightened up my kitchen. Yes, these powders do tend to be sticky. I mix mine in my sierra cup, something wide mouthed makes cleaning easier.

[map man]

There's a brand called "Now Foods" that sells an unflavored soy protein powder. I know you can get it through iherb.com ($12.95 for a two pound canister -- very cheap for protein powders), but the odds are not good of ever finding it in a grocery store near the trail, I'm guessing. I'm about to buy it soon for the first time because the soy powder I have been using is no longer stocked by the web site I've gotten it through in the past. That soy powder has a very mild vanilla flavor and is made by "Nature's Life" and has the oddly politically charged name of "Pro-Life Soy Protein Powder."

I've never had a problem with soy powders clumping, for some reason, and I've tried at least three of them that I can remember. I shake it up good in a 16 oz. Tupperware Shaker Bottle. When I get near the bottom I swirl the mixture around a little to keep the particles from settling to the bottom. I also add water to the bottle first, AND THEN add the powder, and that seems to keep the stuff from wanting to stick to the side.

By the way, a soy powder that I HAVE seen stocked in grocery stores, at least in Iowa where I live, is made by "Geni-Soy." I've only seen it in the standard flavors, and both the vanilla and chocolate have a stronger flavor, but if you are hoping to resupply on the trail instead of by mail drop, that one might be an option.

[quicktoez]

Soy protein comes in many forms including plain. Fearn Soya powder -www.modernfearn.com is a very fine granular (not flour) from precooked soy beans and can be used in soups, sauces, baking or to make milk and mixes better than the protein drink powders. I buy it at Shaw’s and Stop & Shop in New England in heath food sections. I have also had good luck mixing powders in a Nalgene bottle by placing a tea pot screen in the mouth and a few plastic jacks (from the kids game) and shaking. I also use the screen to make coffee and loose tea, at about 5 grams the screen and jacks work well, but anything that will bounce around inside the a bottle works sorta like a blender.

[Heater]

What do vegans "load up" ON after a week of too few calories on the typical spartan trail diet, when their bodies are screaming for protien and their only choices are often greasy spoons and convenience stores in many small trail towns?

I liked to have a protein shake in the mornings. Just like carrying Instant breakfast of something similar. I think a Vegan would have to use a lot of mail drops or go to town a lot. Where that is not an option they would be carrying a lot of food weight and it would be slow going up the trail.

(I was Vegan for a couple of years but never LD Hiking while eating that way. I did work out a lot though)

[Heater]

At home, I do like the flavored soy protein powder as a shake, but it seems that it needs a high-powered machine like a blender or something to get it into suspension with the water/milk/soymilk. Can it be prepared on the trail without being a mess of clumps/lumps floating in liquid?

I have a little handheld battery operated "wisk" that gets out most of the clump pretty quiclky. Weighs 3 oz and is made by "good cook"

[Smile]

Doug (who hiked the CDT raw) was helpful and gave me some advice for my hike. One of the best ideas was the baby food "mill", lightweight and was good for soaked nuts. I'd soak during the day and grind sometimes for dinner, or overnight soak and grind for breakfast, yum!

The Avacados were such a treat though, even if they didn't last too long, the black could be peeled off. The spring was easier on them temp. wise. If I hike again raw, I'll take only 1 or 2 out of town. Here's a recent lunch photo when I eat at home,and tried to recreate in town if I could manage to get my hands on just a couple of pieces of lettuce (a fast food worker just gave me a few in a bag once!) I just added stuff and made a wrap. ( hummus, drizzled with tahini, red pepper slices, red onion and avacado on romaine)

I got a can of ready to go organic garbanzo beans, found a guy in the store with a can opener and mashed them up in a paper bowl in Hiawassee and made lumpy hummus, it was delicious!