[The Tamster]

I'm hiking this weekend with my 15 yr. old daughter who just had braces put on last week. She is still needing to eat foods that are on the soft side as her gums and teeth are still tender. In addition to braces she has a special retainer that she has to eat with- making it all the more difficult. Besides soup, does anyone have any ideas on lightweight, soft (easy to chew), hearty/healthy foods. She can't eat nuts or any sticky or chewy foods.

[Brain]

Instant Idahoan mashed potatoes are one of my favorite trail foods and would be very easy to eat with braces. The potatoes are very lightweight, filling and pretty tasty (I like the southwest and loaded baked flavors the best).

[Canuck]

[napali2004]

Smoked salmon with cream cheese rolled up in a whole wheat tortilla. Cream cheese usually keeps ok out of the fridge for a little while. If you are going to have a stove & water, rice & bean packages are good. I've taken some canned chicken with before and added that in as well. I think Zatarain's has some ok ones, red or black beans. You can also put this mixture in the tortillas as well and add some cheese. Yum!

[Marc]

Hummous and Pita. You can buy Instant hummous at some stores, I usually add some dill to it. It seems to make it more "fresh" tasting.

[Bryan K]

yogurt (sp?) works good too

[nuclear_eggset]

Clif Nectar bars! Ok, a bit sticky for braces... But you don't really have to chew them...

[Tricky]

The red bean and rice burritos were going to be my suggestion I live off the stuff when I'm out.

[sarbar]

Creamy rice dishes would work, as would mashe dpoattoes (The Idahoan brand mentioned is great). Another idea on a first night is fresh pasta witha tub of alfredo sauce

[solohiker]

cous cous - easy to make and can be swallowed without chewing - can be flavored with anything you want - cheese, curry, pesto, tomatoe sauce, salsa, buillion, you name it ... many additives increase the nutritional value as well as provide flavor. Falafels are also easy to chew, and again the flavor can be varied by choosing a dipping "sauce" of choice. You can make them using a box mix. Someone mentioned yogurt - Go-gurts (yogurts in a plastic tear-open packet) are really convenient for b-packing because they aren't as likely to break open as a regular yogurt cup. They also keep longer without refridgeration. For trailside food - skip the gorp and let her indulge on a chocolate bar!

[sgwizdak]

Apple sauce.

[Starjumper7]

This may not work with braces, but I've found that the best way to get some teenagers, at least mine, to hike is to walk in front of them with a bag of small candies like Skittles and dole them out in ones and twos. If you walk behind them with the Skittles then they no go forward too well.

[The Tamster]

Thanks for all of the great idea. Luckily she isn't very picky and she's very motivated. Solohiker- she must know you. That's the first thing she said, "Since I can't have trail mix, can I just have Hershey bars?"

[Canuck]

[cheakamus]

You might also consider the possibility of carrying a small pair of pliers or at least some extra wax in case a wire comes loose. I seem to remember my son complaining about a wire that was sticking into his cheek for most of our trip to the Foss lakes a few years ago.