• When you're car camping bring two coolers, one for drinks and one for food. Fill the food cooler with frozen meat, fish and chicken, then defrost and grill the most perishable items first.
• Use fresh salads, vegetables, canned pasta, little canned potatoes (great for grilling) to complement the meats. You'll like the convenience of boxed mixes of rice pilaf or couscous that just require hot water. Bring plenty of bottled water for cooking and drinking. If you drink or prepare foods with untreated water, boil it for ten to twenty minutes first or use a commercial purifier (available in outdoor-supply stores).
• Other easy dishes include macaroni and cheese or penne pasta with pesto sauce (bring frozen pesto). Hummus and flat bread make an easy appetizer with fruit. Toasted marshmallows and, of course, S'mores, are the preferred desserts.
• For breakfasts try instant oatmeal, or eggs and bacon. Be sure to fry up any leftover potatoes. Sandwiches and fresh fruit are great for lunch. Just be sure to pack plenty of snacks, which especially come in handy during long, energy-sapping hikes.

More Tasty Tips

• For backpacking, rolled-up tortillas make sturdier sandwiches than bread.
• Freeze juice in a reusable plastic juice container. Powdered drink crystals are much easier to pack than soft drinks.
• Firm-fleshed fruit, such as oranges, pack better than soft ones (bananas, pears).
• Carrots and onions for adding to dehydrated mixes and side dishes pack well and stay fresh.
• Store vegetable oil for grilling, in a small pump spray bottle; carry in a resealable plastic bag.