By Lyndsey Hafer-Williams
Jul 6, 2019,
Sometimes, Molly really weirds me out.
Several weeks ago she sent me a text, out of the blue, asking if I would like to write a Fuckery on Whole-Food Plant-Based No Oil camping.
I was smack-dab in the middle of making out a grocery list and furiously researching food options for an upcoming backpacking/camping adventure.
Seriously, the woman is like Santa Claus. Or Jesus.
She knows what I’m doing, what I’m thinking, and if I’m naughty or nice. I swear that if I ate a Dorito in secret, I’d probably get a text asking why I wanted to go and eat something like that?
Anyway, before we embark on this little camping odyssey I must offer full disclosure:
I don’t camp.
I love to hike, and I thoroughly enjoy the great outdoors. I am a big believer in soaking up sunshine and fresh air, and I think all of nature is astonishing in its diversity and beauty. I play hard, and I will happily get as muddy and dirty and buggy as any other big, burly lesbian out there.
But at the end of the day, I want to come home and eat a huge meal and open a nice bottle of Pinot Grigio.
I want to fill a bathtub with jasmine bubble bath. Or, tea rose bath salts. I’m not picky.
I want to climb into my big, soft bed and slide onto cool, fresh sheets that smell of lavender.
When I have to pee, I want a clean toilet with absorbent toilet paper and a sparkling sink with lovely soap and a plush hand towel.
Upon waking, I want to get up, stretch, and stroll to the kitchen where the modern age has gifted me with a piping-hot and beautifully-full pot of timer-brewed coffee.
However, in 2015, I broke down and agreed to go camping.
For one night.
But my friends had to set it all up and break it all down. I showed up, went hiking, enjoyed a meal prepared for me while sitting around a roaring campfire, woke up, and went home the next morning. Easy-peasy.
Every year, my wife and a group of our friends get together and go on a big backpacking trek out on the Appalachian Trail and through the mountains where we live.
Lori, quiet and introverted by nature, becomes positively animated with thoughts of spending time out in the woods that she loves, away from me and my loud mouth, and with the little creatures that she studies as a wildlife biologist.
She packs and repacks her gear. She makes lengthy lists of items needed. She gives me detailed instructions, information, and itineraries. She rambles distractedly about base weight, bivy sacks, blazes, book times, caches, cairns, camelbacks, cat holes, GORP, and the blessing of trail magic.
It stresses her (and me!) out, but the day finally arrives and she’s ready for an adventure!
In years past, Lori would just take a bunch of processed junk food with her on these trips. Then I had the nerve to get all healthy and upend our lives with the CFDG Plant Fueled Meal Plans.
As our way of eating (WOE) changed, so did the requirements for her big trip. I was not feeling the challenge of figuring it all out for her last year, so the poor thing had to eat from our vegan friend’s food stash. This year, I promised to do better and set out to send her off with plenty of plant based goodness to keep her healthy, fed, and energized.
I started out by asking the awesome CFDG Private Facebook group because there has been lots of chatter recently about camping and food. You can see lots of juicy ideas here.
I also knew that Dirty Wizard Tamie is an absolute master at bringing all the plants for her family camping trips and I wanted to see what she had to say.
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A famous NYC writer once commented that her idea of The Great Outdoors was from the taxi to her doorman!
Hahahahahaha!
Xoxo
I’m actually prepping today for a camping trip in our RV. It’s a different kind of camping. I’ll be bringing a couple Instantpot pots since we will have an electric hookup. I prefer cooking in my Instantpot than on the RV propane stove.
Hi Julie!
That sounds wonderful. Have a sensational adventure!
Xoxo
I like cowboy salad with black beans, corn, salsa and cilantro. Avacodos if feasible. It would probably work with dried instant black beans but haven’t tried it that way.
Oh Tim!
That sounds just delightful. Thanks for sharing!
Xoxo
OMG, this is the best camping food primer if there was one. Thanks Lyndsey. Also, Tamie!!!!!!!!, you are a SUPERSTAR when it comes to camping food. Your food looked more delicious than my dinners sometime ?. Though I pride myself on being a foodie, I am not always this organized. Bravo!!! Loved reading this post…
Hi Annu!
I am so very glad you found it helpful. Here’s to many more fantastic camping adventures!
Xoxo
What a great read. Whilst I am not convinced that I want to go camp I am certainly convinced that I REALLY need to vary my diet.
If folks can have this amount of delicious food whilst out in the wilderness then I surely owe it to myself to eat just as well at home ?
Hi Pauline!
You can DEFINITELY eat this well no matter where you are! Do you know about our CFDG Plant Fueled Meal Plans? There’s a free sample plan for you to try. Check it out on cleanfooddirtygirl.com
Xoxo
I used chickpea flour, dates and walnuts. All worked well.
Hi Andrea!
That’s great news – thanks for sharing.
Xoxo
I can’t wait to try the cookie recipe just to have while we are moving. I wonder how many people all raised their hands wanting Tami’s camping meal plan? I know I did and I’m not the camper in any way shape or form. My many years as Advancement Chairman of our scouts didn’t need me staying the night. ? Thanks for the great list of ideas for everyone going camping or just picnics for the day. You all rock!
Hi Tammy! Yes, Tamie’s camping meal plan would be a hit I think. The request has been noted ;-). The best to you in your move! ~Karen
The cookie bars are absolutely delicious! Do try them! I subbed erythritol for the coconut sugar and they turned out great! Plenty of sweetness!
Thank you, Christina!
I am going to try them this weekend and appreciate your suggestion.
Xoxo
I do love camping! These ideas would also work really well at the beach! Or the lake! Or the park!
You get the idea ?
Love the GORP idea! Thank you. Sweet & Salty is me favorite combo
Hi Lynda!
Glad you liked all the ideas and GORP is definitely just the ticket! Enjoy your fabulous outdoor summer fun.
Xoxo
Tamie, would you consider adopting me?
I went to a campout recently, and I found this link very helpful in order to prepare and bring food with me. Just wanted to send along, in case it’s helpful for others. 🙂 You prep the food ahead of time, then freeze and seal it in vacuum seal bags. Then when you camp, you just boil the bags to reheat the food! Not great for backpacking, but awesome for a weekend camping trip or festival camping.
https://www.vegancoach.com/festival-food.html
Thanks for sharing, Olivia!
I will defiantly try this types of recipe .because i will like all types cookies .and thank you for sharing your information.
I’ve done 2 WFPB camping trips this summer all by myself! People are always surprised to see a woman camping by herself. It’s a great way for me to connect with ME and lose all of the distractions for a while. I love taking the tofu veggie kabobs and some sort of CFDG burger. I always bring the Mango Cowgirl Caviar – after a hot ass day hiking – that is pure goodness! I have pie irons but never use them. The ideas for burritos in this blog post have me excited and ready to try that as well as the apricot almond bars. Time to start planning my next trip!!
I’m a hiker. I love nature. I grew up in 4-H and Girl Scouts. I was a 4-H camp counselor until I was 20 and pregnant with my oldest daughter. That being said…I’m old. I’m a spoiled princess (as my husband will remind me loudly when the idea of sleeping in a tent, with the leash of my 75 pound dog looped around my ankle-to at least slow him down when he takes off after every squirrel, raccoon, and small child with snacks, makes me burst into tears).
Glamping anyone? I think I could do this.
We are a camping family, and I can’t wait to take these as a treat when we go next, but I made today for myself and the kids just to switch it up and they were great. Thanks for sharing Lyndsey!
Hi Sarah!
I’m so happy to hear this.
Thank you so much.
Xoxo,
Lyndsey