Ideas on food (what to take on trip)

Cereals and single serving soymilks.

Nuts

Home made tea breads such as banana or lemon.

Whole grain breads.

If there is hot water then there are all kinds of hiking foods that only require hot water to rehydrate, a bit more variety then cuppa noodle soups but not anything you would want to live on a long time.

Assume that you will get some veg food since you chose that option then boost your grain and protein content. My experience with instutional vegetarian is that it is mostly white rice or pasta and steamed or fried vegetables. Eat loads of oatmeal (also a hot water item) in the AM. There is always Luna bars and their ilk.

You look like a cowboy (my assumption that you are American), so I am wondering why this would be scheduled over a major holiday?

I was just in that situation this past weekend, except I was on a weekend trip with a friend. We were at their lakehouse and basically all they eat around there is fast food, ice cream bars, and cookies...exactly what I won't eat! So I actually brought a whole bag of food for the few days I was there, and here are some ideas:

English muffin

sandwich baggie of oatmeal, one serving's worth

two slices of bread (To put peanut butter in between)

animal crackers

apples

bananas

carton of soymilk

baggies of dry cereal

make rice at home and keep it in a tupperware type container - you can even eat it cold if needed

raw carrots

tortillas, to put salsa or "whatever" in (if you have a fridge)

it's a better idea to take some snack foods and some healthy foods with you--or pick them up when you get there. For instance, fruit is easy to store for a few days, and most veggies will stay nice for a couple of days (like carrots and celery). bread is a no-brainer. Buy a nice loaf get some nut-butter and jelly (all fruit jellies are good). Also, hummus and pitas will keep for a few days too. So, you have lots of options.

that way, you have good healthy food around that is also satisfying.

ALSO, please, please please please please--whether you're going to a conference at a hotel or a college do=hickey--please please please please please call the organizers, explain your diet, and ask what the options are for you so that you can prepare yourself.

For example, at my university (penn state), they had lots of vegetarian and vegan options while i was there (veggie burgers and veggie dogs available every day, tofu every day, lots of vegetarian bean dishes, plus a whole fresh salad bar every day). Even though i wasn't a vegetarian in college, it was easy enough to be one! I ate a lot of veggie meals in college. I also had food in my dorm, because we had a minifridge and microwave that we could use.

But, organizers can often give you this information, or at least help you meet your needs!

Definitely let the organizers know that you're a veg*n and find out what kind of food will be offered so you know if you have to bring food with you and/or pick it up when you get into town.

Colleges these days almost always have a big salad bar, so that should be good for a few meals at least. Most offer veggie burgers somewhere on the cafeteria menu, too. Snacks are a definite must. Whatever you can't fit in your bags, you can easily pick up when you get in town. It's very easy to be a veg here. Though, as a warning, the "vegetarians eat fish" myth is very prevalent around here, since so many people here are Catholic and have the "no meat Fridays but fish is ok mentality."

I only suggested the restaurants as an idea, because you could be on your own for a few meals and a good veg restaurant might be needed. I've learned my lesson, especially at non-veg Asian restaurants around here, that even though you request the food without certain ingredients made from animals, you still get what you didn't want in your food.