Me and three other friends are going to go backpacking later this summer up in Trinity, CA. Trip is going to be 7 days and 6 nights. 2 days, we're not even hiking, just chilling at some nice lakes.

My question for you is what have you guys found to be good backpacking food? Light, little/no water weight, cookable with nothing but a small camping stove, small, and is easy to make.

So basically, suggest some good backpacking meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Thanks.

EDIT: we will have access to water for most of the trip, except for maybe the last day.

Crackers, hot dogs, hamburger, peanut butter and jelly, stir fry anything, stew, trail mix, cereals, and pop tarts.

Are you going to have access to fresh water or are you going to have to pack that too?


If you'll have access to water then dried foods are what I'd bring. Stuff like oatmeal or grits, pancake mix, mac & cheese, raman noodles, Zatarain's dinners (red beans & rice, jambalaya, etc.), stuff like that. Just go and look in the dried goods aisle at the store and see what all they have.

Remember, you're gonna want to have stuff that's high in carbs since you'll be active. Also try to get stuff that has a high energy density (calories/weight) but not fatty stuff.

you can also buy backpacking meals at camping stores and stuff. They are little packs of dried food i think and all you need to do is add boiling water.

If you have access to fresh water (you mentioned a lake) use that and boiling it should purify it, and then use the hot water for your meals.

Also I think those meals can be expensive so depending on how long your in the woods to your budget it might not be the best choice.

Most times when I go out I tend to eat what I find out in the wild.; mind you, that's only when I go out by myself.

When with friends though I suppose nicer food is in order.

For breakfast (assuming you have a portable saucepan), I would wrap up a few pieces of cooked bacon and hashbrowns. Bring a small vial of oil to fry both in to heat up.

For lunch, if you like hotdogs, I suggest substituting buns with soft tortilla shells. Takes up less space and can't get squished. However, I tend to skip lunch and just munch on trailmix.

For dinner, hashbrowns can again be utilized. I also like to bring little steaks which can either be charred or fried. You could also try a dry stew/pasta to which you can just add boiling water to.

Breakfast: Poptarts, coffee, ramen

Lunch: Trail mix, dried fruit (bannana chips, papaya), granola/ energy bars, koolaid or powdered lemonade

Dinner: First two days don't matter, Everything else needs to be dehydrated or vacuum sealed

These are just a few ideas, if you aren't sure about something just think

1. Is it light?
2. Will it spoil?
3. Am I going to enjoy it?

I'd go with rice and beans with spices (curry, tobasco, black pepper). Rice and [dried] beans are carb rich, but not short on protein either. Other pro's include: low price, lightweight, and great taste (if you know what your doing), but cooking time is fairly long (especially for dried beans). Dont forget you can supplement rice and beans with fish, which you can catch in these lakes that you'll be near/at.

www.backpacker.com

olive oil
oats
pasta
milk powder
muesli
freeze dried tomato
chocolate
salt + pepper + herbs

you get the idea, use your imagination to make it taste good.

Every second day have a tiny tin of tuna. Get some pasta and powdered cheese sauce (EasyMac). Make some tuna and noodles. Has everything you need.

mueslibars are very good.

Smoked meats are especially good. I don't know what it's called but in my family calls it Shinken Speck. It's like smoked meat that has 3 layers, tough chewy outside, softer pink middle, and a thick white fat layer. While hiking just chew on the chewy bits for flavour. Then cook with the middle pink layer and use the white fat as a type of oil/lard.

Bring herbs with you.

Cheeses that are long life.

Powdered milk.

Rice and porridge.

Hazelnut chocolate spread.

Jerky.

Bring like a sweet potato each. The big ones.

Two normal potatoes.

An onion.

Cloves of garlic.

That should do you VERY well. For a backpacker, that's considered eating like a king!

My advice is go to REI and get the camping food. I carry 4 meals with me (in my pilot suitcase). It's great, just add boiling water, and dinner in 15 minutes. Plus they weight maybe 4 ounces of weight.

Just watch some of the food has "digestive" issues, especially the next day.