5 Reasons Why Skipping Meat Can Make Your Next Adventure Better
Although people have been eating plant-based diets since, literally, the beginning of time, eating less (or no) meat has been getting a lot of hype recently. A lot of high-level athletes, from climbers to ultra runners, have proven that choosing plant-based meals are not a hindrance to performance (in fact, quite the opposite. I don’t know about you, but I doubt that Alex Honnold could have free soloed El Cap with a McDouble in his tummy).
I’ve never run a marathon, and I really don’t plan on it because I’m not insane, but I have found eating a primarily plant-based diet to be very beneficial for my busy lifestyle. Although I’m not lucky enough to be a full-time hippie (just yet), I spend a LOT of time living on the road, at the crag, or out of a backpack, and skipping meat has not only been easy to maintain, it’s a diet choice that’s actually made my life more simple. If you’re used to eating meat with most meals, trying plant-based eating can be a bit intimidating- any maybe feel like it’s not worth the work. Still on the fence? Here are a few reasons why eating plant-based works for my travels and adventures (and why it might work for you too).
1.) Plant-based food is easy to maintain without refrigeration
For long road trips with limited access to ice (hello, Indian Creek), days in the alpine, and backpacking, skipping meat is just plain easier. Sure, you can find processed and packaged chicken or tuna, and beef jerky that’ll stay “good” for the next five years stuffed in the bottom of your pack, or you could bring dried chickpeas, quinoa, lentils, and beans that are minimally processed, don’t contain nasty preservatives, and take up less space in your bag. If you’re running low on space, don’t have a fancy fridge system in your van, or want to keep your eating as whole-foods as possible, choosing plant-based meals might be right up your alley. Looking for veggies that can handle life on the road? My favorites are onions, peppers, sweet potatoes, and, believe it or not, kale (just keep it in a cup of water to keep it hydrated and you’ll be amazed at how long it lasts in your cupholder).
2.) It’s better for the environment
I am in no way a perfect environmentalist. I drive insanely long distances for climbing trips, I fly, and I take really long, hot showers whenever I’m in civilization. What I do do my best at is trying to even things out where I can. Eating plant-based is one of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint and not drastically alter your daily routine. Eating vegetarian can reduce the food section of your carbon footprint by half, and I feel that I owe it to the amazing places I have to opportunity to explore to cut down my impact wherever possible. With that being said, it’s important to recognize that not all plant-based diets have the same benefits for the environment. If you’re skipping meat but just switching it out for highly-processed, pre-packaged plant-based “meats,” that processing and packaging is still doing more harm than good, even if you’re eating veggies.
3.) Plant-based eating can be good for your wallet, too
If done right, a plant-based diet can consist of almost solely whole foods with minimal processing and free of a bunch of added junk, with a much lower price tag than attempting the same thing with meat. While some folks skipping meat lean heavily on tofu and other more processed forms of plant-based proteins, it’s easy, and cheaper, to fill your meals with grains, beans, nuts, and legumes that meet your dietary needs in their natural form. While typical backpacking meals are full of preservatives to keep them shelf-stable, it’s just as simple, and almost as quick, to fill your Jetboil with a nice mix of quinoa and lentils, throw in some spices, and just add water.
4.) Easy, packable sources of protein
The big concern for most active people looking into a plant-based diet is, “how am I going to get my protein?!” Never fear, because flax seeds, almonds, lentils, black beans, kidney beans, couscous, spinach, kale, broccoli, quinoa, etc, etc, are here to save the day! Going out for a long day? switch out the beef jerky for a handful of nuts, spread your soon to be squished to death sandwich with hummus, and get after it. Some of the most cutting edge, badass athletes are entirely plant-based, and they are *crushing it.* Not sure how to get started? Here’s one of my favorite, protein-packed meals.
5.) Quick, simple cooking
For an alpine start morning or a midnight dinner, cooking plant-based foods means your meal can be ready in next to no time (especially if you pre-cook grains or hearty veggies such as potatoes). My go-to breakfast for those 3 or 4 AM starts is a simple bowl of oats, nuts, dried (or fresh) fruits, almond butter, and a dash of almond milk. It doesn’t take more than five minutes and it tastes a lot better than that gas-station burrito you bought at 7/11. Like any healthy diet, eating good, plant-based meals takes some thought and preparation, but with a little forethought, you can whip up tasty plant-based camping meals in 10-20 minutes (for real).
With all that being said, I know that a plant-based diet isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Some folks have dietary restrictions that would make being entirely plant-based impossible, others can’t imagine living without a post-send burger, and that’s ok. What I do hope is that the plant-based camping recipes and tips on this site give you more options, make you think a little more about what you’re eating, and give you the tools you need to adapt a habit of healthy eating to wherever you are.
To get inspired, check out some of my favorite plant-based camping recipes that are made for life on the road!