HJL,
S.B. talks about the high levels of sodium in freeze dried commercial meals. As a hobby backpacker and working in the outdoor industry for some time, I know why. It is because they are designed for high activity situations, where you exceed your normal calorie consumption and have expended large amounts of sweat. Just like those working out will take some sort of beverage, like Gatorade, to replenish salts and other minerals, freeze dried meals are designed to do the same for backpackers. They will be good for those who are required to do heavy manual labor; they are not made for those of us who continue the average sedentary American lifestyle. – M.