Just over one week ago, my husband Joe and I departed from the desert in Nevada, specifically, “Black Rock City.”  We spent one week in the desert for the annual festival, Burning Man.

 

Ready for a chilly dusty excursion
Ready for a chilly dusty excursion

 

We were fortunate this year, as we camped with Red Lightening http://www.redlightning.org/ and were served  two delicious meals each day. After the week we spent with Red Lightning, we realized there were a myriad of reasons we loved our camp, but of course, the deciding factor was the food.

 

The best day ever...we woke up to cold, delicious smoothies! Photographed here is the smoothie God and Goddess
The best day ever…we woke up to cold, delicious smoothies! Photographed here is the smoothie God and Goddess

 

For being in the middle of the desert, the quality of the food was excellent.  I really cannot complain because last year, we lived on canned Amy’s soups, raw carrots, and a random handful or two of mixed nuts that someone gifted us.  Needless to say, we were completely unprepared.

 

Our kitchen for 2013
Our kitchen for 2013

 

Two meals with fresh veggies, made with love, completely enhanced our 2014 Burning Man experience.  Thank you nourishment team of Red Lightning!  Fortunately, Joe and I spent a day in the kitchen truck and got in on the behind the scenes action.  It’s quite a production to make food when water conservation is first priority-not to mention avoiding the inevitable ingredient of Burning Man food: playa DUST (“the playa” refers to the ground where the festival takes place)!

 

A happy little meal right on the floor of our lovely carpeted hexayurt.  Thanks Red Lightening nourishment team!
A happy little meal right on the floor of our lovely carpeted hexayurt. Thanks Red Lightening nourishment team!

 

When I’m on the playa, I feel a lot of love.  Many people also make a lot of love on the playa.  Without proper hydration and decent nourishment, love making goes downhill-significantly.  To get the most bang for your buck (pun intended), it’s highly advisable to eat your greens during a week in the desert.  A handful of greens or any fresh veggie goes a long way in these harsh conditions.  Your body will love you for the gift of a nourishing meal.

 

Love on the Playa
Love on the Playa

I’m confident that our lovely meals at Red Lightening helped decrease the number of tense, hangry moments during the burn.  I’ll just reiterate, here that the food was higher quality.  We weren’t eating hot dogs from wal-mart on wonderbread.  Which, you might guess would not enhance the experience whatsoever.  We’ve certainly already explored the dangers of low-quality fare.

There are so many great options, when there is no option for a meal plan.  Most of these items work very well!

YES! It’s possible to maintain the habits of a sensual foodist anywhere…even for a week in the middle of the desert, with no natural water source. ; ) Have you braved the playa?  Tell us about your fare?  What did you eat?!  Was it delicious? Did it keep you fueled for dust storms and sweaty dancing?  Share with us in the comments section below.  Be sure to share this article with your friends, especially if they’re familiar with the feat of cooking on the playa.

Comments are closed.