For any hiker, one of the critical components of a trip is what you are going to eat. As always, planning and preparation are essential parts of a backpacking trip, and meal planning is no exception. There is a large variety of advice when it comes to what to eat and what to bring, but here are some rules of thumb when preparing for your next trip. Planning: When planning for a trip, don’t forget to spend time figuring out what you want to eat on the trail.