[trailjunky]

I'm leaning toward a new strategy when backpacking. I have always cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But lately, i have found that stopping to cook a lunch often requires to much time and precious daylight, especially when hiking from camp A to camp B. I would like to hear some of your ideas for meals that don't require any cooking. I'm having trouble coming up with anything other than nuts, and granola/energy bars. Thanks.

[GeoTom]

Dani and I like the various tuna or salmon packets. They aren't especially light weight food though.

[Andrew]

You prepared three meals a day while backpacking? I may have to get out with you this year. I've always had breakfast and dinner with a bunch of snacks in between.

[strider]

Hard sausage (salami, summer sausage, etc), good cheese (Tillamook Sharp Cheddar is my personal fav) and crackers. If you want to toss a hoagie roll in the pack (sourdough hoagies keep well) and some packets of condiments, you can make a full blown sandwich with the fixin's above. Make the sammie up at B-fast and drop it in a zippie. A nice bagel, and a packet of cream cheeze. Add a couple handfuls of dried fruit chunks (pineapple or mango are my usual choices) to any of the above, and I'm good to go. For a super quick lunch, a can of kippered fish on crackers is mighty fine and mighty fast. Yah, you have the can to deal with afterwards, but this is a very hi-energy meal. Perfect for that 10 minute lunch in inclement weather. I usually carry one or two cans as emergency food - one can will carry ya a long ways if things go awry....

[Conrad]

Here's a thread I started last fall which has some ideas: No-cook backpacking

[Opus]

Packaged tuna, chicken, and salmon are quite good. I usually bring them along and roll it up in a tortilla with other things. A pouch of tuna, tortilla, packet of mayo, packet of relish (swiped from 7-11) and you've got a tuna salad sandwich. On one night trips I sometimes make a sandwich to bring along for lunch. Delis sell single-serving tube of cream cheese, add that to a bagel with some smoked salmon, very tasty. Oh yeah, and hummus mix!

[LizzyBob]

[M-Dart32]

Summer Sausage (seems to be a favorite here), and goldfish always work out well. I like to buy the gatorade powder too instead of buying individual bottles. Some dry lucky charms always make a good breakfast.

[sarbar]

I am a grazer all day, and quite often only prepare dinner. Works well! Lost to do that doesn't require cooking You can even make a number of "salads" for lunch (cous cous and pasta ones) that just take cold water and a sit in your pack for 30 minutes.

[captain jack]

Beef jerky, and a whole fresh tomato with a little salt sprinkled on it, and I also like the little cans of fishies.

[Quark]

[the Zachster]

Peanut butter on a cinnamon and raisin bagel. Yum. Sticks to yer ribs all day. And you can stuff it, cram it, pack it any way you want and it always comes out the same.

[Allison]

I was going to pipe up, but you people know what you are doing. Carry on. Edit: Uh, no one has mentioned PB and bacon?

[runnerodb83]

Well if its only a day or two, you will probably do fine with some dried fruit, beef jerky, and some hearty granola bars or shredded wheat. If you really want a carb boost and don't care that much about taste, take some uncooked pasta and chew carefully. It's not the best, but its easy, has a punch, and takes up very little room. I would think angel hair pasta is the easiest on the mouth. The only downside to all of the above is that its not a hot meal, likely to leave you wanting more, and make you thirsty with all the sugar in the fruit and sodium in the jerky. But its light packing! And I'll stress, don't live off that for more than a weekend worth of hiking, either you'll get sick or your taste buds will rebel!

[phillyjon]

MREs