Some important points to consider.

• Food should be easy to prepare (you might be tired, wet and cold when it comes to dinner time)
• Food needs to have a high energy and nutritional value for it's weight
• Hiking is no time to be choosing low fat, low sugar and low sodium foods!
• On a multiday trip your body will require some protein (Meat, nuts, diary products) for muscle repair, some fat (chocolate, salami, cheese, oil, nuts) for slow burning energy and warmth, plus plenty of carbohydrates (cereals, nuts, pasta, rice, bread, lollies, chocolate) for faster burning energy.
• An average hiker will use around 3000-4000 kilocalories a day, compared with perhaps 1500-2000 sitting on the couch

The following rules of thumb are useful for estimating quantities.

• An average hiker will use around 3000-4000 kilocalories or 12.6-16.8 mega joules a day
• Approximately 850 grams of dry food per day will provide 3000-4000 kilocalories (depending on the food selected)
• With care and experience, many lightwight trampers can get their food down to around 600 grams of dry food per day for trips of a few days duration, by careful selection of 'calorie dense' foods

How are you going to get that good nosh hot? Here are some are some of the good and not so good points of different cooker options.

• GAS (propane, butane, LPG) stoves are light, easy to light and relatively safe. Fuel canisters (non refillable) are affordable, readily available in outdoor stores and safe. They begin to lose efficiency and heat output at altitude and in severe cold.
• Alcohol/meths stoves are proven and simple. They are slower burning, and most designs struggle in alpine environments, but are generally light and very simple. The classic and best known meths stove is the Trangia. Trangia have been making reliable and popular meths stoves and accessories since 1925! There are also a number of excellent unltralightwight homemade designs on the web, check out http://zenstoves.net/Stoves.htm for some ideas if you are into DIY.
• Liquid fuel or spirit stoves are generally heavier than gas stoves but have higher heat outputs. Spirit stoves are a little more complicated to light as most require pre heating. Spirit stoves maintain good efficiency and heat output at altitude and cold temperatures. Fuel is readily available in outdoor stores.
• Fire is rarely used nowadays for cooking in the back country but still has a place in some situations. In many areas dry firewood is limited. In some popular or sensitive areas firewood collection has also resulted long term damage to local vegetation. So take care to only collect dead wood, don't damage live plants. Make sure that fires are permitted in the area you are travelling through to as open fire may be banned during the high fire season. Always ensure that your fire has been properly extinguished before you abandon it, use copious water or mineral soil to bury the embers. If you are responsible for a wildfire you are legally liable for the cost of putting it out and the damage that it causes!

Most accidents around the home happen in the kitchen...

• Wear closed footwear while cooking
• Put cups or bowls down on a level surface before pouring hot drinks or boiling water
• Keep the kitchen organised and leave throughfares clear
• Keep malingerers out of the kitchen, give them a job elsewhere if necessary!
• Maintain a generous 'free fire zone' around the stove, with no flammable materials that could ignite if the stove malfunctions or is knocked over

Don't leave your best hygiene practices behind next time you head into the hills, you might live to regret it! Most illnesses experienced in the back country are not a result of bad water but due to poor hygiene when handling food.

• Carry your own small supply of soap or alcohol based hand sanitiser (take care not to allow soap into waterways)
• Always wash your hands before handling food
• Always wash your hands after toileting
• Store food that spoils easily deep in your back pack where it will be cooler
• Clean or rinse pots and utensils with a modest amount of boiling water after use (if you use detergent make sure you drain it well away from water or steams, and carry it in a small bottle that won't leak!)

Drape a wet bandana over a bowl or billy in the shade to act as an evaporative cooler for your cheese or chocolate on a hot day