Starting the 30 Day Vegan Challenge & looking at Vegan Backpacking

So, February is over… and while I did get into my new well rounded fitness routine, I did not get around to exploring as many different sources of fitness knowledge. On the other hand, it seems like the best way to see results is not to graze on many different idea, but to pick one and stick to it! So with that said I am going to be sticking to my routine of yoga, running, and weight training.

On a similar note I am now going to be dedicating the month of March to another health goal: Becoming a Vegan! It was one of my new year’s resolutions because of ethical and environmental reasons (Vegucated is currently available on Netflix instant if you are interested in learning more!) and I decided that the month of March seemed like a quite enough month to give it a try.

30 Day Vegan Challenge

Although I could have just dove in by myself I decided to sign up for Colleen Patrick-Goudreau’s 30 Day Vegan Challenge website to help me on my vegan journey. I just started listening to her Vegetarian Food for Thought podcast the other week, and her voice and tone remind me a lot of one of my old favorite podcasts, Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett. Very positive and very focused, plus I think having a daily recommendations – like I have been going through the New Rules of Lifting for Abs – is exactly the kind of schedule and support I need to keep me motivated.

On first joining the 30 Day Challenge you are presented with a slew of questions asking you to consider your goals and motivations for becoming vegan. Of course looking at this through the lenses of becoming a better hiker one of my goals I set for the program is find new and different ways to incorporate unconventional proteins into my diet, on and off the trail. I mean, how healthy is it that I am so dependent on a perishable, cheese, while backpacking? I hope to figure out more as the program progress  but right now I present you with my current knowledge of vegan protein for Backpackers (which will hopefully grow by leaps & bounds over the next month):

Vegan Backpacking Protein

Grits: Alright, let’s be honest, oatmeal has more protein then corn grits  but when your are spending extra time making hot breakfast as a treat sometimes you don’t want it to be oatmeal for the freaking 100th time. That is why I think grits, perhaps with a bit of packed homemade vegan TVP Bacon bits (which will double your protein  intake) is good for the vegan backpacking soul. I love this recipe by TheSweetestVegan.com.

Protein Score:  Grits have 14 grams protein per cup dried. Realistically you might only use 1/4 to 1/2 a cup of dried grits in your breakfast though, making giving you between 3.5-7 g of protein.

Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) & Dried Cooked beans: I already brought up bringing TVP bacon bits to add a protein & flavor punch to your meals, but TVP can also be used to heft up any soup you bring on the trail. Same story if you can find instant (dried & cooked) beans, I usually find them at co-ops or at Winco. One of my easiest last minute backpacking meals is some Ramen type soup (Thai Kitchen Garlic & Vegetable is my favorite) in a ziplock with some cooked & dried beans and TVP, just add LOTS of boiling water on the trail.

Protein Score: TVP has 12 g of protein per 1/4 cup dried, and instant refried beans from Winco measure in at 9g protien per 1/3 cup. This stuff bulks up , but for a hungry person at dinner you might actually eat that much.

Quinoa:  Forget rice, and always substitute quinoa on the trail cooks – it faster and packs in more protein.

Protein Score: One cup uncooked quinoa has 24 g of protein. But then again, I would probably only use a half cup to 3/4 cup dried to make a one serving of dinner, weighing in at 12-18g protein.

Nuts & Peanut Butter: Always a classic. I love switching up the normal chocolaty trail mix with one that is savory and does not melt – with something like this curried trail mix from TheVeganStoner.

Protein Score: One cup peanuts has 37g of protien, and depending on your snacking habits (I am a snacker!) you can easealy eat a half cup or more of peanuts, making 18.5 g protien!

Other Cooking Exploration Notes

I am excited to see in my post queue and from a message on Facebook that the Cover to Cover Cooking Series with Jacquie & I will be restarting again this month! We will be continuing to update with recipe’s from Heidi Swanson’s Super Natural Every Day Cookbook – which are all vegetarian, but not necessarily vegan.  I might have to get creative to see what vegan substitutions I can come up with!