Cole's Question:
I am going on a sailing race around the world with crew members who are not chefs. Do you have information on meals that only need boiling water?
— Cole, New ZealandDorcas' Answer:
Look for"no cook" items at the sites listed below and read "Choosing Food for the Trail" in my Food Expert Archives. Also consider:
Servings and portions: If the envelope contains two servings of
1.25 cups each and your mates can eat 2.5 cups each, then plan
for one envelope per meal per person. If 2.5 cups is not enough,
include side soup, dishes, or dessert.
Bulk products: AlpineAire sells entrees in bulk. For example,
you can buy a can of Mountain Chili that makes 9 cups (or, three
servings of 3 cups each).
What's the best deal for you: Comparison shop and then get out
your calculator to figure out the price per serving. Remember to
include the cost of shipping.
The consistency of quick-rehydrating meals: Anything that can
rehydrate in 10 minutes is not going to have much texture.
Include crunchy foods such as nuts, seeds, crackers, and
croutons.
You are paying for convenience: If the prices seem high,
remember that someone else did a lot of work so you can just add
water. (Want to make your own no-cook meals? Refer to my book,
Backcountry Cooking: From Pack to Plate in 10 Minutes.)
Food web sites:
Adventure Foods: www.adventurefoods.com
AlpineAire: www.alpineaire.com
Harvest Foodworks: www.harvest.on.ca
MSR Gourmet: www.msrcorp.com
Richmoor and Natural High: www.richmoor.com
