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| Tyler and Nika at Coffee Cup Lake overlook |
Fast, allergen-free food
Paleo Meals to Go provides freeze-dried meals, free of
allergens, additives
As an avid backpacker, I have found it impossible to find
ready-to-go and easy-to- prepare meals that are free of allergens, additives
and other ingredients that cause me issues. All that changed when I discovered
Paleo Meals to Go, a company (https://www.paleomealstogo.com/)
that offers freeze-dried meals that conform to the paleo diet.
The paleo diet is sometimes called the caveman’s diet
because it encourages you to eat like our Stone Age ancestors. This diet
excludes many foods that tend to exacerbate inflammation and allergies. The
diet is a healthy balance of veggies at every meal, along with lean, hormone-free
protein, and fats, such as avocado, olive oil and coconut, with nuts on
occasion. The diet encourages choosing foods free of pesticides, antibiotics
and hormones.
I packed along pouches of Savory Chicken and Vegetables from
Paleo Meals to Go on my most recent backpacking adventure, as well as on a
biking touring trip. The meals were hearty, delicious and best-of-all, I didn’t
have to do anything but pour in some boiling hot water and wait for the food to
rehydrate.
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| Savory Chicken and Vegetables on campstove |
In the past, I had to buy freeze-dried foods, such as meat
and vegetables separately, and then assemble my own meals into heavy-duty
Ziploc bags. The meals were filling but often bland and lacking in flavor.
On the other hand, my
husband was raving about the tasty freeze-dried meals he was eating from
companies, like Mountain House and Backpackers’ Pantry. These meals were fine
for him but contained all kinds of potential problem ingredients for me.
This last trip, I was the one doing the raving. The Savory
Chicken and Vegetables filled me up and kept me hiking for hours without
experiencing hunger.
I especially appreciated the option, available at Paleo
Meals to Go, of customizing the meals, if needed, to eliminate foods from the
master recipe that might provoke allergies or food sensitivities. I ordered my
Savory Chicken and Vegetable meals without garlic, onions and mushrooms that
cause me issues. To order custom meals, as I did, you must purchase a minimum
of 10 of the same meals and order well in advance.
You don’t have to be a backpacker to enjoy these meals. They
can be used biking, camping or traveling. I am eager to try the Beef Mountain
Stew on my next adventure.
In the meantime, back at home, I am enjoying Berry Salad with Sunbutter Dressing.
Ingredients:
1/4 red bell pepper, sliced thin (I didn't have any of these but they would be delicious.)
3-4 slices cucumber, sliced into matchsticks
2 baby carrots, grated
1 radish, sliced into matchsticks
handful baby spinach
3 steamed asparagus spears, sliced into matchsticks
3 strawberries, diced
Optional: additional berries, such as blueberries
1 /2 T. pumpkin seeds
shredded cooked chicken
For the dressing:
2 T. sunbutter, peanut butter or almond butter
3-4 T. olive oil
3 T. almond, coconut or soy milk
1 tsp. sesame seed oil
salt and pepper
dash of liquid stevia, to taste
Directions:
Cut and toss all salad ingredients. Whisk together dressing ingredients. Recipe makes more than you will need so save the rest in a container in the fridge. Toss the salad with your dressing and enjoy.
Recipe contributed to:
Recipe contributed to:
