Sherrie's Question:
Would you be able to give me a list of lunch items that I could carry in my backpack for day hikes that would be safe to eat without refrigeration? I don't eat meat. I bring fruit but that isn't enough. I am sick of peanut butter and jelly. :)

—Sherrie Tucker

Karen's Answer:

	Karen Berger Karen is a hiker's hiker. She has finished the Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide Trails — making her one of the few who've completed hiking's"triple crown." Meet Karen Previous Answers Hiking Forums

I usually eat a lot of cheese, which has plenty of calories and lasts safely for days. One favorite combo: apples, whole-grain bread, and some kind of firm-bodied cheese. Boiled eggs are also fine (for dayhiking, that is). On the health food front, pita bread with hummus or black bean dip is a good idea. Both come in just-add-water dried form. Veggie sandwiches work well, too: Bread with roasted red peppers, roasted onions, some cheese and lettuce would be a filling, tasty meal. Choose a sturdy whole-grain bread, both for nutritional reasons (as a vegetarian, I'm sure you already know that) and for packability—it doesn't squoosh as much. You can even carry salad in a sealed plastic container, although I'd stay away from wilty lettuce in favor of hardier cabbage and carrots, which make a refreshing slaw.

Bon appetit!