Freeze Dried Meals
Most commercially available backpacking meals are freeze dried. If your budget allows the purchase of freeze dried meals, this is by far the easiest way to eat on the trail.

Freeze dried meals are prepared by boiling water and then pouring the water into the meal container. Most meal containers are designed with a wide base so they can stand upright on their own. Most meals are fully hydrated (ready to eat) in approximately five minutes.

There is basically no clean up. Just role up the empty food container and place it in your 'trash bag'. Due to the way the food is designed, generally only a spoon is needed. It is handy to bring a small collection of baby wipes to wipe off your spoon.
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