It's funny how nervous people get about food at a "Survival School" — especially on our Field Courses. Some of the most common questions we hear are answered below. If you have others, please contact us via e-mail and we'll get you an answer quickly.

If you prefer to speak with someone about specific dietary concerns, please call Jenny Stein at 800.335.7404.

Q: If I'm a vegetarian can I eat on a Field Course?

A. About 20% of the students who come to BOSS each summer are vegetarians, so you should be okay. Most meals on the trail consist of lentils, rice, quinoa, amaranth, oatmeal, carrots, potatoes, and some flavorings like vegetarian bouillon. Odds are that you will find other vegetarians on your course who can join you in your cook group (at BOSS, students cook their own meals on the trail — in cook groups of about 4 people sharing one #10 can).

However, on longer Field Courses, some meals may include meat, since it is not unusual for survival cultures to be dependent on meat in their diets. During these meals, it is up to the student if he or she would like to eat it.

Q: If I am allergic to everything, what can I eat?

A: In recent years, we've noticed a growth in what we now call "Foodisms" on the trail. It started, simply enough, with medical allergies to peanuts. In response, BOSS began to offer peanut-free GORP (raisins and peanuts), even offering some students a cashew/raisin alternative. Then some people were allergic to the raisins (sulfur dioxide is sometimes used to preserve dried fruits). Since that time, we have been buying organic raisins.

In one year, dozens of students stated they were "allergic" to one or all of the following and needed to be accommodated: all milk products, all meats, all legumes, all fruits, all nuts, and most vegetables. A few even claimed to be allergic to sunlight and wind.

Since then, we have taken the following position on food for BOSS Courses:

We are a survival school, teaching a curriculum and a philosophy of adaptation to conditions beyond your control. Although we believe that healthy foods make for healthy bodies (many of us who work here eat organic foods, drink soy milk, and prefer fish over meats), it is truly impossible for us to accommodate so many dietary preferences on the trail. Therefore, as the great sages used to say, "deal with it."

BOSS will accommodate dietary necessities (not preferences) to the best of our abilities, provided it does not affect the integrity of our course experience. If you have a medical allergy to something, it will need to be stated on your Health History form or your Physical Exam form (Field Courses) and validated by a physician. We will call you before your course so that agreeable actions can be taken.

If you simply prefer soy milk or cashews or organic food but you can live with eating powdered milk, peanuts, and regular vegetables, we hope that you will come ready and willing to focus on the natural world around you (and the skills at hand) and not on the food. As instructor Mors Kochanski puts it, "eat to live, don't live to eat."

For Skills Courses, you are welcome to bring whatever food you like to supplement the provided meals.

Q: What about religious dietary restrictions?

A: This will depend on the restrictions, and we hope you will make us aware of them before your register for the course. In some cases, the food isn't as much of an issue as other possible religious difficulties. For example, if you are kosher, you probably will not run into any problems with the food we offer. (Most of it is considered parve.) However, if you are an observant Jew, there may be some difficulties with hiking on the Sabbath since most Utah courses end on Saturday afternoon.

We suggest that you call us to discuss your food concerns in greater detail.