Food Tips for Vegan Hiking

By Ariane Bilodeau, Copywriter/editor, and health & food blogger 

With the fall comes some cool yet sunny weather, and many people suddenly feel the urge to go see mountains and take a walk in the woods. When it comes to food, hikers must always make sure to:

• have enough water (at least two litres)

• travel light

• have both sweet (for energy) and salty (for hydration) snacks

Many people think that vegan meals will not provide the protein and calories needed to compensate for all the physical efforts that hiking requires. But that’s wrong! You just need to make sure you have well-balanced, nutritious, and energy-packed meals that contain various plant-based proteins (tofu, tempeh, legumes, nuts, etc.), grain, and fruits and vegetables.

Here are a few examples of what I usually bring on my hiking trips:

Breakfast

• Smoothie with protein powder (or some nut butter)

• Shake with dehydrated peanut butter and chocolate protein powder

• Chia pudding with fruits and nuts

• Overnight oats with fruits and nuts

Lunch and/or dinner

• Veggie-pâté sandwich with raw veggie sticks and a tahini dip

• Tofu and veggie spring rolls with a creamy peanut sauce

• Veggie bowl with tempeh, grain (brown rice, quinoa, etc.), raw veggies, seeds, and a light sauce

• Bean chili with rice (in an insulated container)

• Chickpea curry with rice (in an insulated container)

You should also bring several snacks (click here for some suggestions), and never wait until you feel hungry or weak before taking a bite. I always bring a Volta botanical drink, some fruit purées, protein bars, and energy balls&mdashI can eat these snacks while walking and they provide me with lots of energy, in addition to not taking up much space in my bag!