What to Put in Your Mountain Bike Ride Sandwich

You’re in the middle of a weekend of mountain biking and camping with friends. Lunch is coming up and after racking up so many kilometres, you’re ravenous. Your friend takes out his sandwich. Wow! Amazing! Magnificent! It looks so delicious. You take out yours and—cue the sad trombone (wah, wah, wah). Two slices of brown bread, mustard, ham, and two or three lettuce leaves.

OK, you may need some inspiration. Because let’s face it, having a tasty sandwich at lunchtime clearly sets the tone for the rest of the afternoon. Our motto? Be creative!

1. Sandwich Bread

Bread is a crucial part of every sandwich! Choose a whole grain bread you like. Remember there’s more than just sliced white bread. Your local bakery is sure have some great finds that you can use for your morning toast in addition to your lunch.

Sandwich Bread Ideas

• Tortillas
• Kaiser bread
• Submarine bread
• Sourdough baguette
• Croissants

2. Flavourful Sauces and Condiments

There’s nothing better than a splash of sauce or a dash of condiments in your sandwich. Spread mayonnaise over one half and the condiment of your choice on the other. Be creative here. There are so many varieties of mustards, delicious hummuses, dips and (why not?) BBQ sauces. Also, use them to help hold it all together. Making a salad with them is always worthwhile. Let yourself be inspired!

Sauce and Condiment Ideas for Sandwiches

• Mayonnaise
• Dijon mustard
• BBQ sauce
• Hummus in the flavour of your choice
• Ranch dip, tzatziki, Caesar dressing
• And why not cream cheese instead of mayo?
• Creamy vinaigrette to bind protein in a salad

3. Vegetable and Animal Protein

Protein is a sandwich essential—especially with how hard you’re working on the trails! But it always feels good to change things up a bit. For the carnivorous, use meat from yesterday’s shish kebab, sliced smoked meat, or cooked or smoked salmon. Add deli meats to your ham or turkey layer.

Also, if your protein is a salad, such as a mixture with tuna or chicken, throw in some nuts. Crunchiness will give your sandwich texture.

For vegetarians, seasoned mashed chickpeas, homemade vegepâté and even thinly sliced tofu that’s cooked and seasoned to your liking. The trick for cooking tofu? Cook it slowly over medium heat, and add the flavours you want, such as soy sauce, maple syrup, sriracha, and so on.

Don’t forget to add a big slice of the cheese of your choice. That always gives your sandwich some punch!

Animal Protein Ideas

• Cold cuts and charcuterie
• Smoked salmon
• Cold cooked salmon or a salmon salad
• Tuna
• Chicken
• Cheese
• Sliced hard-boiled eggs or egg salad

Vegetable Protein Ideas

• Vegepâté
• Seasoned mashed chickpeas (Here’s a tip: use a potato masher.)
• Thinly sliced, cooked and seasoned tofu
• Tofu spread

4. Raw and Grilled Vegetables

Vegetables add texture and flavour. And crunch! Go with your favourite veggies, but avoid anything that could soak the bread, such as tomatoes. And don’t forget about greens. And why not some fresh herbs?

• Greens
• Fresh herbs
• All kinds of sprouts
• Alfalfa sprouts
• Avocados
• Peppers
• Kale
• Radishes
• Vegetables grilled on the barbecue or cooked in foil on the campfire

5. Pickled Veggies and Seasonings

A layer of pickled veggies? That’s a big yes from me! If they come in oil, blot them before use in a sandwich to prevent the bread from absorbing the liquid. Pickles always give some nice flavour. The same can be said of everything in the category of pickled vegetables in jars. Go with what you like based on the chosen protein. Also, don’t forget salt and pepper. So simple yet so tasty!

• Pickles
• Pickled peppers
• Pickled vegetables
• Pickled turnips
• Pickled eggplant

6. Dried Fruit

In addition to imparting flavour, dried fruit adds a little sweetness. Dates cut into thin slices are delicious. You can mix dried cranberries with a protein, such as chicken or tuna salad.

• Dates
• Cranberries
• Apricots

Tips for a Successful Sandwich

• Reuse the previous day’s leftovers! It’s all fair game: proteins, salads, cooked vegetables, etc.

• If you have leftover salads with grains, such as couscous, quinoa or rice, add them to your sandwich, especially when using a tortilla.

• Avoid vegetables with a high water content, such as tomatoes.

• Use reusable silicone sandwich bags. Those made of fabric aren’t airtight, and bread tends to dry out.

• Make them with love. That’s the key ingredient for a successful sandwich!