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My daughter is doing a couple of weeks of backpacking and dosent want to spend her time looking for shops, but also finds food quite heavy to carry - does anyone have any reccommendations about dried food. Which ones taste like real food? They seem really expensive so are there any that are worth paying for? Thanks

Unless she's going real wild camping witch is pretty hard core there's nearly always shops . I would say from experience its allmost impossible to backpack for two weeks with out resupplying and to be honest food is really important for long trips its what picks you up after along day and sets you up for the next  

Its all part of the planning . Ive always made sure we have at least a days dried food even when you know you can get fresh on route. There are ways to cut down on cost by carrying a small amount of savouries rice pasta in sauce etc and then adding fresh to it . like chicken fish bought fresh cooked fresh . And if that not available just eat the rice pasta not ideal but filling .

Its how Ive always done it . it got us round the world on cycles and even sea kayaking witch you try to add to your supplies by fishing . We use a petrol or multi fuel stove so no issues re gas canisters

It really is planning planning planning .  Where is she planning on doing this trip ?

Rob

In these islands I carry a one day supply of what I call "emergency rations" - a bag of dried trail mix (dried fruit, nuts, seeds, etc).  I'd be happy living on it for 2 weeks, with fresh fruit/veg and meat if and when I pass a shop/pub/cafe.  Emergency rations should also include a few boiled sweets and a bar of chocolate.  If she's going anywhere really remote, she should at the very least include a day's emergency rations.

If she is prepared to make up powdered milk, she might like to consider breakfast cereals and porridge too (isn't there one which you just mix with hot water?), all of which ingredients should be relatively light, and porridge is supposed to be nutritious, although I'm not a nutritionist.

Flapjack squares - make up at home before you go and stuff into small plastic bags, great for energy boost.

Hot chocolate / malt drinks for if and when it gets cold - the powdered variety that you just add hot water to. Invaluable for picking you up and making everything seem better!

Rice and pasta for main meals, boiled up with hot water and with added chilli or curry powder, or take small sachets of sauces.  If she's been walking all day, almost anything will taste good.