Like most things that have to do with backpacking, food is a matter of personal preference. For years I depended on a few basic dishes which kept the expenses down and my menu planning very easy and quick. The last several years I’ve been trying a broader array of dishes. The variety means more expense and more time in planning and packaging the food drop boxes, but it also has made dinner a more interesting time.

Breakfast
Usually I like to get going as early as possible, often at first light. That’s the best time for seeing wildlife and also for pictures. So on most mornings I enjoy a cold breakfast:

• granola (the type can vary from week to week, also try different cold cereals)
• powdered milk
• dried fruit (I dry my own bananas, apples, and pears. I love apricots and mangos)
• breakfast snack bar (Lots of them on the market; try making your own at home!)
• lots of water ( I try to drink at least a quart, sometimes two, before I leave camp)

If I’m hiking with my wife, Leslie, we have to have hot water for her morning coffee. It’s a matter of life and death!! I’ll often have a hot breakfast on those mornings, or days when I’m planning on staying in camp:

• oatmeal
• raisins or dried cranberries
• herbal tea, hot chocolate, or hot apple cider mix

Lunch
I tend to snack heavily throughout the day. And it is important to do so. Your body is using up fuel at an incredible rate. You must continuously replenish those energy reserves. For years I made up my own gorp (trail mix), but haven’t carried it much these last few long treks. Instead I rely mostly on energy bars, and various snacks. I’ll take many breaks throughout the day, but usually plan on one major "lunch break" where I eat the most. Don’t forget to drink lots of water as often as you can.

• Thunderbars (4-5 throughout the day)
• Dried fruit
• Pemmican bar
• Sesame sticks or snack mix
• Jerky (homemade;1-2 sticks/day)
• Logan bread (homemade)
• Crackers (with cheese if it is available at the re-supply town)

If the re-supply town has groceries, I’ll often buy fresh fruit or veggies for my first day out. Also bread, tortillas, bagels, or English muffins for sandwiches with cheese or peanut butter. Bagels in particular are great for packing. They can take a beating and will stay intact.

Dinner
This is the meal most hikers relish the most. You’ve walked all day and the appetite is primed and ready for something filling,tasty, and plentiful! I usually have a meal I can cook all in one pot, so that I don’t have to carry two pans and the clean-up is easier. I do not use commercial freeze-dried food products. I use food that can be purchased at my local food coop or a large grocery store. I also have a food dehydrator which I use extensively. These are not expensive and very easy to use. For anyone getting into long distance walking I highly recommend doing some of your own food drying.

Macaroni and cheese: The hiker’s favorite. It’s easy, inexpensive, and will take on all kinds of flavors by adding various "extras". Try adding sun-dried tomatoes, dried mushrooms, some TVP (textured vegetable protein), and some parmesan cheese. (Also try macaroni noodles with green pea or cream of mushroom cup of soup mix. Add any dried vegetables, TVP, parmasen, etc. Very simple and inexpensive.)

Spaghetti: I buy spaghetti sauce when its on sale and dry it in my food dehydrator on a roll up sheet. I toss the dried sauce into the noodles while they’re cooking and also add home dried green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and sometimes groundbeef.(dried) Parmesan cheese to top it off.(I also use the spaghetti noodles with a variety of cheese sauces or dried soups. I especially enjoy the potatoe leek soup mix. Also a romano cheese sauce mix. Don’t forget the extra garlic!)

Tortellini: I buy the 8 ounce packages of dried spinach tortellini. It takes a while to cook (20 - 25 minutes) but with my zip stove I don’t have to worry about fuel. I add sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, and an alfredo cheese sauce mix with some powdered milk. These tortellinis are stuffed with parmesan, but I add a dash more to top it off. Oh, and a good dose of garlic. My favorite trail meal!! (Again, I can vary the meal by trying various dried sauces or soups. The Knorr Herb and Garlic goes great with the tortellini, as well as any cheese sauce.)

Rice: Use the quick brown rice and add dried black beans, sun-dried tomatoes, and home-dried green peppers and onions. A bit of cheese and salsa will add wonders. (Rice doesn’t power me up like pasta will, so I usually only have it once or maybe twice a week. I will sometimes mix in a good lentil or mushroom soup mix instead of the beans.)

Most of my dinners are a pasta base, spaghetti noodles or tortellini, with various sauces. There are a nice variety of cheese sauces and dried soups and sauces available now at most grocery stores. But don’t rule out drying your own soups, chili, or sauces.

I always carry powdered garlic and onion flakes, as well as sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese. These things can spice up any meal. Often I will have a tabouli salad with my dinner. There are a couple nice commercial tabouli mixes. All you do is add water and any dried veggies and let it soak.

For dessert I will sometimes carry instant pudding and just shake it up in one of my water jugs (must be a wide-mouthed bottle in order to pour the incredients in, and the pudding out.) It’s easily cleaned by adding hot water and shaking it clean. If I don’t have pudding, I will have some other little treat for myself to top off the day; hard candy, snack mix, etc. And a cup of hot herbal tea.