Often, commercial meal companies treat vegan/plant-based meals like restaurants do. You get one or two options in a vast menu of meat-based options.
I found Alt Route Meals through a follower on our Facebook page, so I checked them out. I was intrigued that they had a sampler pack, where you get all the meals, but in a small 1-cup serving. Just enough to see if you will like them, but not go broke buying six full-size meals.
6 meals is a lot for this niche.
I reached out to the company, and the founder Hope sent me a great email back talking about their company.
“As to why I chose to develop plant-based meals- That was the diet that I adopted after completing the AT. I wanted to fuel my body with simple clean ingredients and my body responded incredibly well to the change. I felt stronger and more attentive than I ever had previously with endurance athletics. At the time that I began developing the recipes (2018) there very few companies producing meals in the dehydrated space that were plant-based, and most of them were full of preservatives, chemicals, fake meats, and all that junk. We dont use any of those things in our products. I always tell people that we are most proud of what is NOT in our meals. After a successful completion of summiting Mt Kilimanjaro and completing a thru hike of the PCT in 2019 fueling my body with these meals I knew that this was something I wanted to share with the world!”
Hope is right – it’s refreshing to see vegan choices that do not use faux meats (something I do not like consuming!). I love hearing the why in how people start their cottage companies. Because this is how inovation happens in the outdoors!
The sampler pack retails for $30.00, and yes, it comes with the carabiner, which is tucked into a small box. Five of the six meals are gluten-free, and all are vegan.
The sampler bags make about 1 cup of prepared food. The single serving makes 2 cups, and the double serves 3 cups, in size reference.
With the meals, boil the water in a small pot, stir in the dry ingredients, and let them sit covered for 6 to 8 minutes (if at high altitude or in cold temperatures, I would go to 10 to 15 minutes and insulate the pot). No bag option for Alt Route, it requires rehydrating in a pot, as they come in thin bags, not mylar bags. You could rehydrate in a covered insulated mug if you wanted to or use your own mylar or quart freezer bag.
The reviews are based on the sampler size for calories/sodium.
First Thoughts:
These are meals I would classify under Hippy Hut™, a joke I cracked myself up with years ago. When I was in college, there was a food co-op down the street that I’d often hang out in, though I could barely afford to shop there. It had a deli, where every dish had the same profile in taste, aroma, and texture. I don’t know what it was, but they all had the sameness, so I called it Hippy Hut…because it was run by old hippies and was a hut basically.
So, I set out to see how the meals were to me. Are they for everyone? No, they are not. You have to like different grains, spices, and the flavors of the world. If you are used to “American Cuisine,” this might be the case for you. And that isn’t a bad thing; it’s just different, is all. They aren’t for those with nut allergies, either.
The Meal Reviews:
Biscuits and gravy are a difficult choice for the outdoors. They can be a gloopy mess and very salty. This meal is not gluten-free; it does contain wheat.
250 calories/10 grams fat/690 mg sodium/2 grams fiber/6 grams protein/34 grams carbs
Ingredients:
Almond milk, flour, mushrooms, vegan butter (vegetable oil blend, water, salt, natural flavors, pea protein, sunflower lecithin, lactic acid, annatto extract), olive oil, spice, baking powder, baking soda.
My thoughts?
It’s different. It was a very savory (and, yes, salty) breakfast stuffing, which isn’t bad. I love carbs and bread—even though I know they’re not my friend. The company notes that one should work with the water amounts. Figuring out 2.7 ounces of water isn’t easy in the backcountry, but all you need to know is that it is 1/3 of a cup plus a jig more water. I might have pushed it to half a cup of water, as I found it absorbed all the water and had no creaminess. With a bit more water, it would have had more, maybe more gravy texture.
For myself, it was too high in sodium and carbs and too low in protein for breakfast. But I have also been more keto-conscious the past year. It had a nice taste, I just needed to not eat too much due to the sodium. If sodium is good to go, and you are vegan, you might like this as a breakfast or even dinner option.
Southwest Hash Brown Scramble.
200 calories/7 grams fat/300 mg sodium/6 grams fiber/31 grams carbs/6 grams protein
Ingredients:
Potatoes, tomatoes, onions, corn, black beans, broccoli, kale, spice, olive oil, garlic.
It calls for 1/2 cup of water and a sitting time of 6-8 minutes. I gave it 10 minutes with dehydrated corn. The corn was a bit chewy but otherwise fine tasting, this is normal for dehydrated vegetables versus freeze-dried.
My thoughts?
It’s an interesting meal. I will be honest: I don’t like kale, even when I grow it. It’s simply too intense tasting. For some folks, it’s like cilantro. But I know many people love kale. So this is a personal taste thing.
300 calories / 13 grams fat / 560 mg sodium / 4 grams fiber / 6 grams protein
Ingredients:
Organic white rice, water, tomatoes, coconut milk, chickpeas, onions, tamari sauce, spice, lime, garlic, olive oil, and basil.
It calls for 1/2 cup of water and a sitting time of 6-8 minutes. I gave it 10 minutes with dehydrated corn. The corn was a bit chewy but otherwise fine tasting, this is normal for dehydrated vegetables versus freeze-dried.
My Thoughts:
It’s an interesting dish. The rice is chopped in texture, and the chickpeas are blended in, allowing quick rehydration. It’s got a nice color from the tomatoes, a hint of heat, and spiced to take the flavor up. I’d personally add in more vegetables, but this is me. That’d be easy enough to do.
210 calories / 3 grams fat / 330 mg sodium / 2 grams fiber / 5 grams protein
Ingredients:
Organic white rice, onions, peas, carrots, water, scallions, tamari sauce, garlic, ginger, olive oil and spice.
My Thoughts:
Of all the meals, I enjoyed the fried rice meal the most. It has the texture and taste of take-out fried rice. It’s not oily either, so it is easy on the stomach. It isn’t high in protein, so keep that in mind.
Quinoa Mountain Chili
220 calories / 4.5 grams fat / 810 mg sodium / 8 grams fiber / 9 grams protein
Ingredients:
Organic vegetable broth, black beans, tomatoes, organic quinoa, onions, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, corn, carrots, less than 2% spice.
My Thoughts:
It had a drier texture. I felt it could use more water (called for ½ cup water) and even a drizzle of olive oil. The spices were not hot, but I felt a bit too sharp. A bit high in sodium.
It would, though, fill one up, and on a cold night, it would be a good choice for fueling. Quinoa is a grain (well, a seed, but it is eaten as a grain) that is a nutritional powerhouse.
Black Beans & Rice
230 calories / 1 gram fat / 580 mg sodium / 12 grams fiber / 10 grams protein
Ingredients:
Black beans, water, salsa, organic brown rice, less than 2% spice.
My Thoughts:
These are basic refried beans and rice made with whole grains. I recommend drizzling it with olive oil and using the ½ cup water called for.The flavor is pleasant and the texture is great.
I’d recommend serving it on warmed tortillas as burritos. As a basic meal, it works. Personally, I would see it as a base to add to. Salsa? Cheese? Even a bit of crisp lettuce or avocado on the first night? Yes.
I have eaten many a bean and rice burrito in my life and many on the trail. It just doesn’t fail!
Thoughts:
Whether or not you like these meals, it will be up to your personal preference. If you are seeking vegan options, that are whole grains, you might consider these as a choice. And there is always room to try out new flavors, right?
FTC Disclaimer: We bought all products reviewed; all thoughts are ours.
~Sarah