Lightweight vegan food for DoE trip - suggestions?

shandyclover

DD17 is doing her Duke of Edinburgh silver award this coming weekend. She has to carry all the food/clothes/tools etc. she will need for the 3 day event. She is a tiny 5.1 size 8 and will be carrying a 65ltr rucksack. She is somewhat a fussy eater and vegan!

I've been out scouting shops trying looking for the lightest but most nutritious food I can find. Being vegan does limit things somewhat. I am most concerned she can get enough protein to keep her blood sugar levels steady. I am not vegan myself, but wondered if anyone else has been in the same position what they would recommend as a lot of chocolate/energy/muesli bars contain dairy.

I was thinking of making Jack's granola http://agirlcalledjack.com/2014/01/09/peanut-butter-and-honey-granola-10p/ but substituting the honey and butter for syrup and vegan spread. I wanted to try to make them into bars though so they would hold together and she could munch 'on the go' so to speak. Would anyone have any suggestions as to how I should adapt the recipe so it sticks together? Also open to any ideas for light food to carry?

TIA

Seakay

I think you're amazing to take this on, but as I understand it being prepared etc is all part of the DoE criteria for success, so although I understand your concern I think that it's her choice to have a restrictive diet and her choice to do the award so she should be sorting out her own provisions for her test of independence etc

[Deleted User]

A packet of oatcakes, a small jar of peanut butter, some individual sachets of jam. A packet of home made trail mix with lots of dried fruit will keep energy levels up. Porridge oats made up with water and some brown sugar will give warming and sustaining breakfasts, rice with vegan stock, dried veg and vegan cheese will be light to carry and a hot evening meal as would vegan pasta with a tomato sauce (I've used tomato puree and onion powder with some basil in ). The problem might be that D of E is a 'group' activity where the team share the journey and that usually includes the cooking and catering so DD might have to cook for herself and there is usually only one stove per group. Hope that helps.

skogar

I used to help out with DofE and Mrs Lurcher Walker has made many excellent suggestions. I'm a big oatcake fan and would definately be taking these and the porridge oats. Small sachets of ketchup, mustard etc are easy to carry and add flavour, as do dried herbs, spices etc.

Cous cous is another easy thing for taking on D of E as it only needs boiling water and you can get flavoured versions (although I don't know whether they would be vegan). You can also get pesto in tubes (but again not sure if you can get vegan ones in the UK or not).

As part of the challenge is the planning including the food she will need to think about light foods to take but also what she will actually eat so it is nice that you are thinking of some suggestions to help her out. It is true about the cooking as a group because of limited numbers of stoves (due to the weight). this is why pasta that can be cooked together as a group and then they can have different things on it could be a good option. Also if she wants to do something different the cous cous only needs boiling water. She needs to discuss with the group really as well to see how they will organise themselves.

elsiepac

I would also suggest nuts - brazil nuts and almonds in particular as they're very nutrient dense for the size

Emuchops

I'm a vegan and I'd go with a lot of the suggestions above, especially nuts, dried fruit, oatcakes and peanut butter. I would also take some dried TVP-Easy to rehydrate with boiling water and very light to carry-will make plain old pasta a bit more interesting. There are also various spreads available from Holland and Barratt in tubes, made by Granose I think, that are okay and are nice in sandwiches or mixed with rice or pasta.

elsiepac

Emuchops wrote: »

I'm a vegan and I'd go with a lot of the suggestions above, especially nuts, dried fruit, oatcakes and peanut butter. I would also take some dried TVP-Easy to rehydrate with boiling water and very light to carry-will make plain old pasta a bit more interesting. There are also various spreads available from Holland and Barratt in tubes, made by Granose I think, that are okay and are nice in sandwiches or mixed with rice or pasta.

I'll second the Granose tubes, they don't need fridging and are actually quite tasty - good to spread on the oatcakes and very convenient as in the tube! :j

PasturesNew

Don't lose sight of the fact that she comes from a good house with a full belly .... is doing a 3 day trek in a safe country .... and will be returning to a good home just 3 days later ..... so, although she might get a little peckish en-route, ultimately it won't do her any harm to "rough it" a bit.

And you can always prepare her favourite meal in spadeloads upon her return.

MoradoJess

What about quinoa? High in protein and takes no longer than rice to cook.

nuatha

I believe Beanfeast is still vegan. Its light to carry, relatively quick to cook and omnivores seem to consider it palatable - its also a lot cheaper than the freeze dried meat based equivalent.

I'd use either a favourite flapjack recipe or adapt Twinks to include dried fruit or chocolate chips rather than start with a granola recipe.

The granose spreads are tasty.

I do muesli with boiling water as a breakfast when climbing/mountain walking, lunches are usually fruitcake and apple, flapjacks, crackers and pate,. I usually carry a couple of bags of trailmix (my own blend) or banana chips, but these rarely get eaten - but if I'm feeling nibbly, they are wonderful.
Evening meals, I generally want something hot and relatively quick. If there is a small group then two pans, pasta or rice with a sauce type meal (bolognaise, chilli etc) sometimes instant mash with beanfeast mince. Solo or just two of us, then 1 pan and a kettle is the limit. Over the years I've used packet soups and the polystyrene boxes of noodles from Chinese supermarkets. I worry less about protein than carbs for short trips.
HTH

LameWolf

I just looked on the L@keland website, and according to them, Kendal Mint Cake is suitable for vegans. Good for a quick burst of energy when you're flagging, I understand.
HTH:o