Snacks? Don't look at hiking as 3 meals - see it as 4 to 5 or more snacks per day plus dinner.

An energy bar, a candy bar and a handful of dates a day won't cut it for most people (some can).

As for dinners...sure you can eat rice and protein. I might suggest adding in flavors - be it gravy mix, veggie soup mix, Parmesan cheese, etc for more taste. Vegetables and fats add more as well.

On snacking....you need to think about what will fuel you. Will a Cliff bar fuel you from 6 am to lunch? Most likely not.

Add in some variety!