A majority of the foods we eat outdoors are not always mindful of hikers who have dietary restrictions, like veganism. For those who can’t eat animal products, it’s easy to say you’ve had a harder time than others when it comes to eating on the trail. However, there are options available for you that let you enjoy eating outdoors just as much as anyone else. Whether you’re Vegan or not, try out some of these delicious solutions on your next hike.

Pre-Packaged Meals by Outdoor Herbivore

You might be asking yourself how it’s possible to hop on the Mountain Blend bandwagon when you’re Vegan. Obviously, freeze-dried chicken isn’t for you. However, there are versions of these kind of meals that are meant for Vegans. Outdoor Herbivore makes delicious pre-packaged dried meals so you don’t have to do anything. Just buy! Apple Quinoa Oatmeal for breakfast? Basil Walnut Penne for dinner? They have it all.

Boxed Meals by Earth Balance

Those who are familiar with the delicious nut butters, baking sticks, spreads, dressings, and snacks by Earth Balance know that this company is great for Vegans. These foods are 100% non-GMO, plant-based, dairy-free, and everything else you must trust as a Vegan. The best product these guys offer for hikers is hands down the boxed Vegan Cheddar Mac & Cheese.

Pre-Pouched Indian Meals by Tasty Bite

Starting to see a trend here? Pre-pouched, boxed, or pre-packaged dried food is seriously the way to go when you need an easy Vegan option. While not everything from Tasty Bite is Vegan, it’s not too difficult to find what you’re looking for. The 1-Step 1-Minute Vegan and gluten-free Bombay Lentils are a good place to start. Make sure to check out other brands like Kitchens of India and Swad as well.

Quinoa, Rice, and Pasta

Quinoa, rice, and pasta are foods sent from the Vegan-hiking gods. It’s actually more difficult to make a meal from these ingredients non-Vegan, as they can easily be combined with vegetables and just a few spices and sauces. Quinoa is a plant-based food with a lot of high protein; something that non-Vegans always seem to comment on. Rice and pasta are easy to cook and go well with just about anything.

Trail Mix

Trail mix, or GORP (Good Ol’ Raisins and Peanuts) is a great snack to have on the trail. Unless you plan on adding milk-chocolate M&M’s or meat to it, this munch is purely Vegan. Make any combination of trail mix as you like, by adding dried fruit, pretzels, sunflower seeds, almonds, Vegan chocolate, or anything else that comes to mind!

Tortillas and Peanut Butter

Tortillas are definitely a main staple when it comes to eating in the backcountry. They don’t go stale as easily as bread, they’re lightweight, and you can put just about anything on them and they’ll taste delicious! A flour tortilla with some peanut butter on top will be a great start to your day, with the calories you need. Of course, you can put tons of other ingredients on top of a tortilla as well.

Bars, Bars, Bars

Just because you’re Vegan doesn’t mean you can’t join in on the Clif Bar fun. There are plenty of options for Vegans out there. Just be careful to check the ingredients before purchasing (something you’re probably already good at), as a lot of them do contain dairy. Nature Valley bars are another one of those delicious, accidentally-Vegan foods, so take advantage! They don’t take up a lot of space and are a great solution whenever you need a quick snack.

Annie’s Fruit Snacks

Annie’s was one of the first companies to hit the organic, gluten-free, Vegan-friendly market. You’ve probably seen the little bunny in that tiny section of the grocery store. Needless to say, this brand has a lot of healthy choices for a Vegan hiker. One of the favorites is by far the Fruit Snacks or Fruit Bites, which are free from any animal by-products.

Soups and Stews

Soups and stews are a good way to go, as there are 100’s of Vegan recipes out there. Many of these recipes are hearty and nutritious, and a warm treat at the end of a long hike. Of course, you can find pre-packaged soups, otherwise you might need to dehydrate your meal at home first. There’s no need to use chicken broth or beef broth, as you can easily use vegetable bouillon cubes. Adding tofu jerky to your soups will also give you a lot of protein for the day. Which leads me to our last food….

Vegan Jerky by Primal Strips

Beef Jerky is definitely a favorite snack by some carnivores, but that doesn’t mean Vegans need to be left out. Vegan Jerky by Primal Strips realized what a wonderful snack jerky is, especially for hikers. They’ve created Meatless Vegan Jerky which can go into salads, stir fry, tortillas, or just be eaten on their own. They come in great flavors too, like Texas BBQ, Mesquite Lime, and Hot & Spicy.

Vegans who love to hike shouldn’t struggle with finding food options. Try one of these delicious solutions and you’ll be good to go!