Best Food Brands

None of the above. I prefer Mary Janes.

I prefer Real Turmat/ Montain House and my own mixture

I prefer to freezer bagging it for 90% of my meals. Better taste, less expensive and healthier.

THERE IS FAR TOO MUCH SODIUM IN THE COMMERCIAL FREEZE DRIED FOODS! (Mary Jane's excepted.)

When are the major freeze dried manufacturers going to make healthy meals???

I agree. I like the taste of some of the meals but I know its not good for you. I assume the reason they add so much sodium is to help preserve the foods longer and to provide "electrolytes"

Another topic is why the heck do all the dehydrated fruits have so much sugar added. I make my own and it tastes so much better..

You may also want to look at Hawk Vittles.

http://www.packitgourmet.com/

And salt covers up the taste of lower quality ingredients.

Mary Janes is good, as is Packitgourmet. PIG can be higher in sodium but nowhere as bad as say many of MH meals. They are quite good for those who want home-cooked taste but not the time or effort to make it themselves. :-)

Yes, if you have not, you should check out Hawk Vittles.

http://hawkvittles.com/

I have never seen Hawk Vittles until today. I have to say that I am going to purchase some to try out. Looks good! Thank you for the heads up!

Lawson,
Found out early that freeze dried foods, no matter how pure, do not provide the energy I need for trekking.

So I buy different forms of starch at the supermarket, enriched noodles, macaroni, vermicelli, rice, powedered potatoes etc. I get the best brands, which are indeed much tastier.

Then buy various mixed seasonings also at the market. May favorite is the goulash for macaroni, but many of the orientals are excellent also.

Then buy freeze dried meat by the can: beef, turkey, chicken etc. Dehydrated would probably be better, but don't have the patience to do it.

Also, powdered milk is sometimes used.

These ingredients are mixed in the correct proportions for one cup of boiling water.

The mix is bagged in plastic bag heat sealed with a U-line machine – looks like a big stapler. The seasonings are sealed and bagged in a smaller bag that is sealed in the bigger bag with the hard stuff – the meat and pasta. The latter are simmered first until soft, then the seasonings and thickeners are added. The sealed and cut larger bags are a little over an inch in diameter and 5-6 inches long.

Ever since, dinnertime trekking has been much more enjoyable. Usually with Sleepytime tea at some point.

For breakfast, Instant Breakfast powder is mixed in the same type bag with powdered milk and a dash of the best instant coffee powder available. Enough for a cup and a half of boiling water. Also have a dried fruit bar.

Lunch is a Tiger's Milk bar and a choice of instant tea or bug juice to drink.

Also take multi-vitamins, various supplements and meds that I take at home also.

This costs me a whole lot less, and consistently tastes good. The biggest investment was the U-line heat sealer. Never feel hungry – the typical dinner fills the bowl in my kit. But my treks don't go over three weeks at a time.

Hope this is helpful to someone.

Harmony House Dehydrated kits are my new favorite. Healthy and endless variety since you make the meal. Thanks to everyone who sent me recipes.

Mary Janes can be expensive unless you get it on sale or get a discount, but it tastes the best.

However, after a long day of hiking Mountain House really tastes good too.

Ramon noodles too.