Backpacking - Gluten Free and Vegetarian Food

Backpacking meat free wheat free food adventures!

Backpacking requires means we take all our food in our giant backpacks and pack it all out. Hicking 10+ miles a day for several days means calories (and yummy variety) is key to get you through to the end happy and healthy. But just add water meals are pretty expensive, the pics below of GF and veggie friendly were by far the cheapest compared to their carnivore cousins. Below are things I normally eat, I don't want to risk try anything new on the trails. 

Just add water DIY meals idea components: 

Gluten Free Base Carbs: 

• Instant Rice
• Quinoa 
• Instant Mashed Potatoes 
• Oats
• Grits
• Rice noodles 
• Rice pilaf
• Corn tortillas
• Plantain tortillas -> recipe  
• Chia seeds
• GF Pasta (rice/quinoa/veggie)
• Potatoes! 

Vegetarian Protein: 

• Dehydrated beans -> 16 oz on Amazon
• Tuna/Salmon (not in a can bc too heavy)
• Peanut butter
• (powdered to add to oatmeal) -> PB2 on Amazon
• Justin's Natural Almond Butter in a individual bag -> 10 packs on Amazon
• Eggs 
• Boiled -> unbreakable half dozen egg holder at REI and Amazon
• Powdered = can be used in backing and for good old scrambled eggs -> Amazon

Snacks: 

• Nuts
• Pack friendly cheese 
• GF Granola (beware of chocolate if your hiking in hot environments = melting)
• GF Cereal 
• Dried fruit and veggies
• GF + Vegan Jerky -> Primal  
• Bars 

• Luna bars
• Lara bars
• Cliff bars
• Think Thin
• Kind
• Certain Nature Valley bars
• Bumble Bars
• Two Moms in the Raw bars
• Raw Revolution Bars
• My fav - I tried this recipe and added coconut flakes - could also add powdered chocolate protein.
• SNICKERS!

Fruits & Veggies:

• Must check out Harmony House Foods for great dehydrated/dried/freeze dried fruits, veggies, lentils, and soup mixes. Great when making own meals for the trails. 
• Just Tomoatos, Ect. has toooons of yummy dried options perfect for snacking... bananas, mango, corn, strawberries, blueberries, apples, veggie, snack packs, and many more. 

Drinks:

• Instant coffee - Starbucks VIA ready brew works
• Powdered Gatorade - for extra electrolytes 
• Tea/hot chocolate - when you want something warm at night but no caffeine 
• Mio - fit and energy drop options for when you don't want to drink any more water flavored water

Prepackaged meals:

• Outdoor Herbivore - gluten free meals
• Backpackers Pantry (pics below from REI) have labeled vegan and no gluten options. 
• Keen One quinoa meals

Other Blogs to check out:

• A veggie (but not fully GF) post from Wandering the Wild - lays out all the food and varies homemade with prepackaged  
• A Week Of Lightweight Backpacking Food from the Yummy Life - awesome organizational tips! YL includes 7 different types of oatmeal recipes and how to pack and organize 7 days of breakfasts, lunches, diners and snacks. Nails variety.