I am trying to figure out food portioning for a CT thru-hike (or any hike) next summer and would like the forum's advice on the following: I have read in various places that I should budget two pounds of food per day while hiking. Let's say that is an accurate assessment. For the sake of simplicity, let's also say that dinner is the only meal of the day not ready to eat and that I need to add two cups of boiling water to it for it to be ready for consumption. Finally, let's also say that this dehydrated dinner weighs four ounces before water is added.
The two cups of water I need to add will weigh 16 ounces. When calculating my daily food weight needs, does this meal count as four ounces (just the dehydrated food) or 20 ounces (the dehydrated food plus the water)?
For this question, please disregard protein, carb and fat concerns. I can do that math separately.
Thanks.