How to Pick the Best Backpacking Food

Q: How do I choose food for a backpacking trip?

— Dawson, Harrisburg, North Carolina

A: You’ll need plenty of fuel to keep you going, so don’t skimp on meals and snacks. Bring a little more than you think you’ll need since you’ll be burning a lot of calories on the trail.

Think lightweight, simple and nutritious. Some ideas for breakfast include cereal, instant oatmeal and dried fruit. For lunch, munch on jerky, peanut butter, cheese, nuts and tortillas. When you get to camp, box dinners make cooking easy, as do freeze-dried or dehydrated meals — just add water.

Premade freeze-dried meals I’ve tried recently are from Backpacker’s Pantry ($6.99-$12.99, backpackerspantry.com) and Farm to Summit ($8.95-$15.95, farmtosummit.com). Backpacker’s Pantry meals are packed with flavorful seasonings and plenty of protein, which helps you feel full. I liked their beef and mushroom stroganoff. Farm to Summit meals cater to vegan and vegetarian diets and use ingredients from small farms. Their green chile mac and cheese is especially tasty.

For a sweet treat, try Astronaut Ice Cream Sandwiches from the same company that makes Backpacker’s Pantry products ($5 each on the Scout Shop website). These crunchy freeze-dried snacks melt in your mouth and weigh just over an ounce.