Vegetarian Options in the Woods
July 6, 2009 – 9:07 pm by MarinaHanes
A forest can provide a variety of sustenance, and if you’re going camping this summer, an interesting challenge would be to see how long you can survive on a vegetarian diet. Edible plants and nuts contain enough protein to sustain you, but you have to know what to look for. Since the availability and types of plants will depend on the region you visit as well as the season, it helps to do some preliminary research before going on your vegetarian trek. Some sources high in protein include wild spinach, wild lettuce and seaweed.
An easy source of protein to locate is nuts, because you can rely on the squirrels to lead you to the goods. A handful or so of acorns, which grow on oak trees, is equal to one complete vegetable protein source. Other edible nuts include chestnuts, beechnuts, black walnuts, hickory nuts, butternuts, pine nuts and pecans.
When it comes to your vitamins and minerals, eat a dandelion. These weeds are common, and they contain vitamin C. If you can’t stomach them raw, cook them over a fire and serve them like Italian greens. An alternative source of vitamin C includes rose hips.
Fortunately, every forest has a bunch of trees, which can come in handy for survival. If you peel back a tree’s bark, a soft, sweet inside is exposed, which can give you a quick source of minerals. In addition, the sap can be used to quickly boost your energy.
In the wild, it’s difficult to distinguish which mushrooms and berries are poisonous. However, some edible ones include the bearberry, blueberry, serviceberry, elderberry and high-bush cranberry.
Living off of the land and not the wildlife is possible, but it’s important to know the plant life in your region. A plant guide is a valuable tool to keep with you, so you don’t mistake a poisonous berry for an edible one.
Tags: complete vegetable protein source, edible berries, protein sources, sources of plant protein, vegetarian, vegetarian diet