<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

First I would like to thank everyone for their letters.  I was surprised by
the amount of mail that I received.  I hope that everyone received a thank
you. Some of the suggestions were more appropriate for camping or "light
backpacking" than what I need but deeply appreciated.  My husband and I
usually hike 7-10 miles a day with elevations of 3,000-6,000 feet. Some of
the suggestions were cup-a-soups which would not offer the required nutrients
and power carbs/protein/fat needed.  I can easily consume a couple of
thousand calories a day and still loose weight on these trips. These trips
usually last 4-7 days.

So here goes what I learned.

Here is a good one for ready prepared food:

> Well, I have an answer for you!  My son is a boy scout and went to Philmont,
> NM two times on high afventure backpacking, hiking etc...he has celiac
> disease.  I found(by the grace of God, I really mean it!)  I found a company
> that is family owned and she special packaged his food for the two trips(10
> days long each)  and  it was packaged for two people, just had to add hot
> water.  The lady ordered a corn thickener and special did it!
>
> Adventure Foods
> 481 Banjo Lane
> Whittier, NC 28789
> 704-497- 4113
> phone: 828.497.4113
> fax: 828.497.7529
> e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> http://www.adventurefoods.com (web site)

Here is another prepared food:

>I used Essentials 2000 for GF backpacking food last summer and they worked
>with me on the ingredients (AlpineAire Food) to make certain they were all
>GF so I had zero problem on the trip.  Everything was tasty except the
>scrambled eggs (need lots of seasoning to make them eatable).

Essentials 2000 is a middle man so I found the following on the internet and
this is direct with Alpine Aire Food
http://www.alpineairefoods.com
AlpineAire Foods(r)
4031 Alvis Court
Rocklin, CA 95677
1.800.322.6325
Fax: 916.824.5020

I have had ALpineAire Food and Adventure Food products before and
they are ok as far as taste and meet the other criteria that I need.
Probably should have looked up their web sites before coming to the group.
What I didn't realize was that they offer a lot more than what I have found
at the five major loutdoor stores here in Phoenix.  If you go on the websites
you can find a number of products.  Not all of them acceptable but as the two
previous emails stated they are worth the effort to look into.

I found three other companies called Richmoor, Mountain House, and Natural
High but could not find so far one of the Richmoor and Natural High products
that did not state that it had wheat in it plus I have heard from my
nonceliac friends that they really aren't that good tasting.  I did receive
one mail stating that there are a couple of Mountain House products that are
GF, but have not checked up on these. I have looked in numerous stores and
found that all I could find had gluten, but looked at their website and maybe
some are GF.

Mountain House
http://www.mountainhouse.com/index.html
Mountain House, a division of Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc.
For questions about this Web site, Email us at: [log in to unmask]

Some suggested that I freeze dry the foods myself. My concern was how to cook
them.  Water is not always plentiful so we need to be sparing in how we use
water. Great for drinking and adding to freeze dried food, but the less
dishes to wash the better.  Also weight and bulk-wise the less pans the
better (we are photographers so we carry heavy camera gear). If I could find
a sealable pouch that is similar to the comercial products where I could cook
the food  in the pouch I would.  On some of the cup a soups like Fantastic
(that have beans and rice) I decided I could take some (cooking them in the
cup would save dishes) and then squash them to reduce bulk.

Also the next was suggested :

> There's a company called Just Tomatoes that makes freeze-dried fruits and
> vegetables (nothing added).  They are incredbly light weight, and tasty.
> GF, salt free, no preservatives, etc.  I use them as snacks, and to "beef
> up" otherwise plain cup of soup types of meals.  You can get peas, carrots,
> corn, tomatoes, peppers, onions, even garlic.They also make blends.
> I personally (forgot about these as an alternative)have purchased these and
> they are tasty even uncooked or could be added to a cup a soup with legumes
> and rice.
>
> Trail mix with nuts always offers fat and protein and are relatively light
> weight and >can be put in baggies to reduce the outtake load.

Someone suggested the following:

>There is a outdoors school I went to 15 yrs ago where I learned most of my
>outdoor cooking skills, they have a cook book called the NOLS Cookery.
>They have a web site you could find the book if your interested.
>http://www.nols.edu/NOLSHome.html

I have investigated a couple of outdoors cooking books but most cover
relatively short trips or camping.  I also found a couple of lightweight
ovens (6-8oz)

>A suggestion for protein was beef jerky.

From another serious hiker came the following

> Beef jerky - I happen to make my own to avoid soy and corn products, it is
>    really easy
> Peanut Butter or Cashew Butter - I eat it on rice cakes
> Peanuts and Cashews - as a snack or part of a meal
> Minute Rice - then I add my own seasoning that I prepare
> Rice Seasoning - usually a dried vegetable soup mix, freeze dried peas,
>    extra dried red or green peppers and celery
> Black Bean or Pinto Bean Flakes (by Taste Adventure) - these can be added to
>    the rice or made into a soup mixture of your own.
> Dried fruits that are acceptable to your diet, the more variety the merrier
> I have made my own rice granola the past few years, but I can't get the
>    crispy rice >I was using - don't know what I'll do this year.  But, there
>    are other products out >there you can use if you don't have a problem with
>    corn and soy.
> A powdered milk product acceptable to your diet.
> Instant potatoes, powdered tomato are two other products that are good to use.
>
> My husband eats normally - we will boil my water and dried vegetable first,
> I add (Lipton) or macaroni and cheese or mashed potatoes.  He will eat bars,
> off the shelf granola, off the shelf jerky and sausage.  Most good stick
> sausage is good unrefrigerated for the length of our trips (10 days or so)
> unless it is really hot.
>
> Count on taking about a pound of food per person per day.