Monthly Archives: March 2010

5 posts

Poisonous Berries

Berry Edibility Tips

Did you find berries growing on the trail and wonder if you can eat them? Here are some tips to help you decide. These Berries are Not Safe to Eat Nearly all white, green, and yellow berries are poisonous. Never eat the berry (or the leaves) from a plant that has a milky sap. 50% of red berries are poisonous, so eating them is only worth the risk if you can positively identify it. Avoid leaves or seeds with an almond-like scent, a characteristic of cyanide compounds. These Berries are […]

Know your Food

It is a good idea to get into the habit of asking yourself these questions about your backpacking food: Where did it come from? How was it produced? Does it contain genetically engineered ingredients? It it Organic? Conventional? Natural? We’ll explore what some of these terms mean here. The “Natural” phenomena Food manufacturers know consumers will pay a premium for minimally processed, wholegrain products. And to many of us, the word natural implies wholesome earth grown ingredients. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. Regrettably, many food manufactures stamp […]

Please…don’t serve me “fresh” strawberries in January

 “Fresh” Strawberries in January? I’ll pass. But, a preserved strawberry? As long as it was grown organically and preserved without sulfites, color enhancers, or preservatives.  Few people may be that fussy even though these concerns are valid. Choosy eating is not pompous. Following a careful diet requires discipline and knowledge. Patronizing only in-season, locally harvested food is challenging depending on where you live. A January winter might leave you with only squash and carrots as fresh crop choices. This is why preservation, such as freezing and drying are important. The […]

Our Food Ingredients

“From the perspective of nutrition, performance, and environmental impact, a vegetarian diet is the sensible choice for the outdoor recreationist. It benefits you and the ecosystem. – Outdoor Herbivore Celebrate the Experience of Food! Outdoor Herbivore believes we should not trivialize what we consume. After all, food can heal our body just as it can destroy it. For centuries, food has been refined to improve taste, environmental resilience, and medicinal properties. Numerous plant varieties were cultivated to allow for a variety of taste preferences and nutrients. Humans came to understand which […]

Why not meat? (3 good reasons)

Not Good For You. Not Good For The Environment. Not Ethical. Outdoor Herbivore feels strongly about the ethical, health, and environmental consequences of a meat-based diet and does not believe that eating animals is necessary when plenty of nutritious plant-based food is available. Secondly, industrial farming practices are an irresponsible use of our planet’s resources. Ethically, we cannot support raising animals for food when we can survive without it. Undeniably, meat is a source of protein, and this nutrient plays an essential role in how our body functions. However, protein […]