Quinoa is a fascinating plant food that is worthy of its own blog post. It has remarkable nutritional properties, not only from its protein content (15%) but also its energy composition. Here we take a closer look at why quinoa makes an excellent backpacking food.
Vegetarian Topics
18 posts
Nuts are an important source of food for backpackers. Nuts promote a healthy immune system by restoring nutrients and calories that are lost through backpacking and outdoor activity. Nuts also make a delicious snack and provide a crunchy texture to freeze-dried backpacking meals. When it comes to caloric density, nuts are king. After pure fats and oils, nuts are the richest source of foods we eat, averaging 600 calories per 100 grams (3.5 oz, about 1 cup). When trail food supplies are running low, nuts make the difference. Their high fat content takes the edge off hunger. Here we’ll briefly cover […]
Coconut is harvested from the coconut palm tree, which flourishes in tropical climates such as the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico, and India. These trees also grow in South Florida on the U.S. mainland. Remarkably, coconuts have reached the shores of nearly every continent unassisted by human effort. They can drift in the ocean for up to three months, eventually washing up on sandy island beaches, where they can sprout into new trees that may produce up to ten thousand coconuts over their lifetime. This is why coconut palms are commonly found growing along island beaches. The water extracted from coconut is […]
Nutritional yeast is the perfect companion for vegan adventure travel because it gives cheesy flavor without the need for refrigeration, is low in sodium, and has a very long storage life. Some brands of nutritional yeast are vitamin-fortified and considered a health food. There are no plant foods that reliably contain B-12 and nutritional yeast is an economical way for vegans to get this vital nutrient.
For long-distance backpackers, the significance of consuming high-calorie vegetarian fats cannot be overstated. When traversing mountainous terrain, you can burn up to 5,000 calories daily. Since fat provides the highest calorie content by weight, hikers should increase their fat intake to compensate for these lost calories. However, it’s not just about energy. Fats also play crucial roles in insulating your body, supporting immunity and brain health, and aiding in the absorption of vitamins from the food you eat. They even help carry fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K. It’s important to recognize that not all fats are […]