Best Vegetarian-Friendly Summer Camp in Southern California

Nearly 7.3 million Americans are vegetarians or vegans. That’s about 8% of the total population. Fresh, fast, tasty food with the correct nutritional balance is a struggle for many camps  Add in dietary limitations like a vegetarian-friendly menu and you may find that the camp food choice is confined to a lackluster frozen lasagna or green salad day after day. Here at Pali Adventures, we believe that food does more than nourish the body. We believe food is part of the Pali Adventures spirit. Our new, state-of-the-art dining facility, Huckleberry Hall welcomes more than 500 campers and staff to meals three times a day, plus some special events during the week. Vegetarians and vegans are welcome! Learn why Pali Adventures is the best vegetarian-friendly camp!

Vegetarian Lifestyle or Health Choice- We Can Do That!

Some people choose a vegetarian lifestyle for personal reasons. “Never eat anything with a face” is a common justification. Other people simply don’t like the taste of meat. Some vegetarians eat eggs, fish or milk. More than a few vegetarians skip animal products because of allergies. Pali Adventures accommodates all. Our executive chef explains: “We prepare almost all of our food from scratch, every day.  We know the ingredients of every dish. All of our dining professionals are Serv-Safe trained to protect against cross-contamination.” If your child needs a vegetarian diet or has food allergies, let us know. We can accommodate almost any request. Our kitchen staff is well trained in food service protocols and we use state of the art sanitation methods to avoid cross-contamination.

It’s All About the Best Vegetarian-Friendly Camp Food

The food at Pali Adventures is served buffet-style. Campers are free to make their choice from a variety of main dishes and sides. Camp food is so much more than BBQ beans, hot dogs and s’ mores. Our award-winning executive chef oversees child-friendly favorites such as wraps and burgers, nuggets, pancakes and more. Don’t worry, every meal includes a vegan and a vegetarian protein selection such as grilled, marinated tofu, hearty chickpea hummus, macaroni and cheese, omelets and more.  We even have vegetarian-friendly BBQ beans, hot dogs and s’ mores for campers looking for the traditional experience. It’s not just macaroni or beans, either. Our themed food nights might include a veggie stir-fry, incorporate meatless Mexican tacos or delicious Indian curry.  Kids (and their parents) regularly rate Pali Adventures’ food as the best—including our vegetarian-friendly meals.

Starvation Not Allowed

Campers have very full schedules at Pali Adventures.  Most campers have hearty appetites and we adjust our portions accordingly. A typical camp offering of a sad iceberg salad won’t make the best vegetarian-friendly camp food list at Pali Adventures. We start with a full American-style breakfast that includes hot and cold cereals, eggs, tofu scramble, freshly baked breads, fruits and more. At lunch and dinner, a fully stocked salad bar gives lots of choices. For example:

  • Mixed Iceberg Salad
  • Spring Mix Leafy Greens
  • Grape Tomatoes
  • Spinach
  • Cucumber Rounds
  • Olives
  • Beets
  • Garbanzos
  • Broccoli Florets
  • Peas
  • Corn
  • Red Bell Pepper
  • Carrot Shreds
  • Croutons
  • Cheese
  • Sunflower Seeds
  • Fruit
  • Salad Dressings

For main dishes, we always include a vegetarian option at each meal.  Our burger/hot dog bar includes veggie patties made fresh in our kitchen served with a selection of toppings.  No frozen packages here!

Fresh and From Scratch

Pali Adventures maintains its own bakery to ensure that our daily breads and cakes are fresh and free from preservatives. We also control all ingredients and additives to assure even the strictest vegetarian that the recipe is safely meat-free. Fresh foods arrive in our kitchen for preparation daily. From scratch preparation means that we know the exact content of every dish we serve.  If your child is a vegetarian, our staff can explain all the ingredients of a meal without the fuss. For children who suffer from allergies, our staff can offer information and help them to choose the right foods. Our high standards mean that even the pickiest vegetarian will find proper nutrition, satisfying taste, and sufficient choices.

Decadent Vegetarian Choices

The best vegetarian-friendly camp food doesn’t stop with main dishes and sides. Our in-house bakery serves up some of the most over-the-top dessert choices too.  Egg-free, dairy-free, even honey-free pastries and sweets are on the menu. Vegetarian-friendly does not mean bland, preprocessed or boring food. Not even for dessert! Our camper favorite, the midnight chocolate buffet, always includes vegetarian-friendly options. No one could ever guess that these are “alternative” options! We serve vegan and vegetarian foods as part of our everyday choices. No camper is singled out for dietary shaming. After all, does anyone really notice if the carrot cake is 100% animal product-free?

Just Ask

Our helpful food and nutrition director and our executive chef are always available to answer questions about our world-class food and nutrition program. For the best vegetarian-friendly camp food, Pali Adventures has no rivals. We take pride in freshly made, minimally processed, healthy food that our campers love.  Old favorites and innovative new recipes are on the menu at Pali Adventures. Come join us at our open day for a sample! Does your camper have special dietary needs? Click the Live Chat button below to discuss them with Parent Liaison today!