Backpacking food?

Just curious as to what everyone takes food wise on their backpacking trips. I'm already thin, and usually end of losing way to much weight after all my summer backpacking trips. I'm going to really try and work on that this summer, those granola bars aren't cutting it anymore....

Here's some info. from an older thread posted last July in the same vein.

Thanks for the link to that older thread Lots of good ideas, I'm looking for really high calorie foods, I'll probably start adding olive oil to whatever I eat, thought about shots of olive oil, but I'm not sure I can stomach it.

Lots of nuts and nut-related items, like nut butters (peanut, almond, etc). I also really like all of the Indian-flavored Backpacker's Pantry meals. They are tasty, filling, and light-weight. Laughing Cow makes little spreadable cheese wedges and we always take those along. They travel well and are tasty. Tuna pouches, packets of instant oatmeal, mashed potato packets (Idaho's Best are the best in my opinion), sesame seed snap candies, tortillas, pitas, and a lot of the items near the instant rice section of a grocery store (boxes of couscous, quick-cooking pasta meals, etc) are all good, too. With various condiment packets and some basic seasonings, you can make this combination of things into easy and quite tasty meals. Backpacker magazine has recipes in each of their issues and probably on their website. Some are way too involved for me, but some are really easy and tasty. Those recipes can at least give you some ideas.

I have been doing a few winter backpacking trips getting ready for the summer push and found to really hate all of the dehydrated meals (Backpacker Pantry etc), I end up waking up in the middle of the night with major indigestion. Also, on trips requiring major effort these store bought meals weren't even close to my calorie needs (I'm 5'6" and about 115lbs and I was starving). So I've been experimenting with home made foods. Benefits: healthier and way cheaper. Backpacker Magazine has tons of fun recipes too. Using things like instant brown rice and chicken or fish packs you get in canned tuna isle. Its a lot of fun experimenting with what you can get at the grocery store like Stove Top stuffing with chicken, cranberries, and pine nuts you get a thanksgiving meal! Or mac n' cheese with span for those really long and strenuous days, don't worry you'll use up the fat, carbs and sodium the next morning on that final climb

Perhaps I'm a bit lazy but nowadays I mostly bring the freeze-dried backpacker meals. They're a lightweight solid meal, but best of all you don't need to bring as much fuel since all you have to do is boil the water. Some of these meals can taste a little bland (especially texture-wise) but one thing that really helps is to bring a bag of tortilla chips to eat the meals with. If you're careful about how you arrange the chips you can fit a lot into a ziploc bag, and store them inside your pot to protect them from getting smushed.

I also often pack a dry salami log, some waxed Babybel cheeses, and a large French bread, all of which can provide a small lunch for up to about 4 days.

Jerky can be a good option, but I usually only eat that if I make my own. Otherwise too expensive (and not as good).

Trail mix, lots of nuts, chocolate, granola bars, and lots of fruit "leather" for the sweet tooth.

For multi-day, I always used freeze-dried meals from REI. I especially liked the Turkey Tetrazinni. For just 1 overnight with 2 days of hiking, I will sometimes just take a couple of strawberry jam sandwiches, apples, and grapes and some cookies or Quacker Breakfast squares.
I don't do nuts, since I've got a nut allergy.

Try powdered water..it can save a lot on weight of your pack and you can add it to those freeze dried meals

We make our own meals - the pre-packaged meals are heavy on sodium and light on calories for my lumberjack appetite. You'd amazed what you can concoct with a few simple ingredients like dried mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, dried potatoes, spices (especially heat), dried spinach, etc. The nutrition is good, the cost is minimal. Bell peppers and onions stay fresh for days, hard cheeses last a long time and pesto does well for a couple of days - just don't let it leak in your pack. Crackers hold up in Pringles containers and hard-boliled eggs need no refrigeration. The idea is to have a dozen ingredients on hand and be ready to go any time. And although bars get very tiresome, Pro Bars are packed with natural ingredients and calories.

Ooooo I want to go backpacking with Chef Showalter!

My sister-in-law picked up this cool backpacking food book a couple years back. It basically told you how to build your own meals from the ground up. In other words, how to dehydrate the ingredients and how to put it back together. Most of the recipes really sounded good.

But as I said in the other thread, my favorite freeze dried food is Alpine Aire and their Summer Chicken is particularly good.

Mountain House freeze dried isn't bad - especially their veges like corn and peas - outstanding.
Jerky - good, but expensive Don't buy the national brands
Gallo dry salami is very good but heavy
Top Ramen soup is good, cheap and light.
If you don't use all the Ramen seasoning, you can put the extra in rice.
Dry lemonaid mix has good energy.
Any dried fruit is great. They have interesting mixes of fruit available now.
Whole Food stores have a great assortment of trail mixes.
The traditional big bar of Hershey's chocolate is always good.
I'm currently trying several Cliff bar type products - I'll try to post when I know more.

Mmmm..good stuff and good info. I'm getting hungry.