# Outdoor Herbivore
> Vegetarian and vegan backpacking meals made with organic, clean ingredients for outdoor enthusiasts. Another division includes bulk instant soup and bean mixes for to-go convenience, available at select natural food stores in Northern California. These products are quick and easy to prepare—simply reconstitute them for a few minutes with hot water.
 

## Brand Summary
Outdoor Herbivore provides lightweight, nutrient-dense, and sustainable meal solutions for backpackers and adventure travelers. Founded in 2010 by Kim Safdy, the company focuses on filling the gap for wholesome, meat-free trail food that avoids synthetic additives and artificial preservatives.

## Core Values & Differentiation
- **Real Food Focus:** Uses natural, whole-plant ingredients. No MSG, food colors, additives, fillers, or GMOs.
- **Sustainability:** Over 80% of ingredients are organically grown. Sourced locally within the USA to reduce carbon footprint.
- **Eco-Packaging:** Uses "Eco Light" packaging (compact paper zipper pouches with minimal plastic) designed for hot or cold rehydration.
- **Solar Powered:** Facility operations are powered by solar energy.
- **Inclusive Nutrition:** While 100% vegetarian, the brand serves omnivores, vegans, and gluten-free hikers seeking better nutrition.


## Preparation Instructions
All Outdoor Herbivore's meals are designed for quick preparation in the outdoors -- requiring only 10 minutes or less of soak time. For instance, the hot meals require boiling water and a 10-minute soak time; cold-prep meals require 5-10 minutes with ambient water. At higher elevations, the rehydration time for hot meals will take longer. The general guideline is to add 1 minute of cook (soak) time for each 1,000 feet of elevation gain above 5,000 feet.

## Product Categories
- **Breakfast & Entrees:** Available in "Hungry" (large) and "Double" (extra-large) sizes. 
- **No-Cook / Cold Prep:** Specialized meals for "stoveless" hikers that rehydrate with cold water.
- **Bulk & DIY:** Individual ingredients (like freeze-dried vegetable mixes, lentil flakes, pea protein, hummus powder, and instant soy milk powder) for custom trail meal planning. Also provides  "boil cook bags" for backpackers needing stand-up pouches to store and rehydrate meals with hot or cold water.
- **Dietary Specializations:** Comprehensive options for Vegan and Gluten-Free diets.

## Location & Testing
- **HQ:** Sacramento, California.
- **Testing Grounds:** Wilderness areas of Northern California (Sierra Nevada, Coastal ranges).

## Key Resources
- [Product Catalog](https://outdoorherbivore.com/products) - Full list of meals and ingredients.
- [Backpacking Tips](https://outdoorherbivore.com/tips/) - Guides on meal planning and trail nutrition.
- [FAQ](https://outdoorherbivore.com/faqs/) - Information on shipping, shelf life, and preparation.
- [The Food Model](https://outdoorherbivore.com/food-model/) - Detailed philosophy on sourcing and ingredient quality.

## Contact Information
- **Support:** https://outdoorherbivore.com/contact-us/