Kim's Question.

— Kim Jones, Tifton, Georgia

Steve Jones's Answer.

	Steve Jones The author of four mountain-biking books, Steve Jones has logged thousands of miles of trails and backroads. Meet Steve Answer Archive Biking Forums

It's easy to pack a snack if the ride's only going to be for the day. A box of raisins, an energy bar, or something similar works well until you can get back home and put the chopping board into play. But for those times when you head off for at least one overnight, it takes a bit more planning (see my article about Bike Camping).

I have traveled with bikers who enjoy the challenge of fixing a gourmet meal out on the trail, and, when I have the choice, that's what I plan for. A cast-iron Dutch oven is among the best for outdoor cooking, especially over a fire, but it is a lot of dead weight on single-track, even if you're pulling a trailer and equipped with panniers. So an even more creative approach is needed.

Just Add Water (JAW) meals pretty much make up the bulk of my diet when I'm out in the woods. They taste pretty good, don't add much weight, and prepare quickly. In addition, there are many JAW (sometimes labeled"instant") meals to choose from. Starting with breakfast, you can have a filling and satisfying meal by fixing a pack of instant oatmeal or grits. A buddy of mine simply tears off the top of the pack, adds water, and stirs. Good enough for you? It depends on how hungry you are, but what it lacks in imagination and flavor is made up in cleanup time.

For lunch (or dinner) you can quickly fix a cupful of noodles containing dehydrated broth and veggies. Outdoor adventure stores carry a wide assortment of these meals that are inexpensive and, depending on how hungry you are, tasty. In this category, you can also purchase MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). It's not something I enjoy eating for long periods, but sinking my teeth into a meal-in-a-bag gets the job done with a minimum of fuss.

Another food that has gained a spot in my food sack comes from the Middle Eastern menu: couscous. It is a pasta made from semolina wheat flour and it often comes pre-mixed with a variety of vegetables and other tasty herbs and spices. Preparation could hardly be simpler. Boil water. Add a seven-ounce pack of couscous, stir, take off heat, and cover for five minutes.

Another variation on the JAW theme is to soak a handful of beans in a sealed plastic container while you're riding. That way, when you reach camp, you can simmer the beans while you're setting up camp, and they'll be nice and tender by the time you're finished. Then you can add them to couscous or rice.

But if you want to get serious about preparing trail foods that taste great and cost next to nothing after the initial investment, make your own dehydrated meals. You will need a dehydrator and a special vacuum sealer, but if you're organized about it, you can put leftovers to great use with a minimum of trouble. Preparation is the same for these as all the other JAW meals: Just add water.

For an afternoon when I'll be setting up camp early along a creek or river, I'll break out the telescoping fishing pole, bait my hook, and — more often than not — catch supper. If you're really hungry (and desperate for some creek meat), you can turn over rocks and catch a few crawdads (that's crayfish to some of you) to toss in with your couscous or rice.

Be creative and invent your own menus. Try them out ahead of time to make sure you don't have to choke it down. Don't worry about getting too fancy or elaborate; peanut butter and crackers have made many a fine and filling meal for me out on the trail.