a 14 oz can of powdered ensure is only 8 bucks. Thats 2100 cals. Ditch the can though. Part of my backpacking experience is a hot meal in the evening. I have thought about using this until dinner. but you could use it all day long, get rid of the stove and you have lost some weight in your pack. I have a friend of mine who is a triple crowner. He said all he ate on all his through hikes was junk ( snickers and ramen) and didnt ever carry a stove