I am preparing ration packs for 2 people for a 9 day hike. My fiance
and I are sharing the load between us, he is taking heavier items such
as tent and I have agreed to take the food.

I have never gone for this many days before so in the past weight and
room have not been as much of a problem but after preparing the pack
on the weekend I discovered the food takes up most of the room in the
middle section of my pack (pack is 80L) and weighs 10kg, not counting
pack weight of 3.3kg. The meals I am taking are all freeze dried
(deb/dried rice and backcountry meals) with snacks such as muesli
bars, crackers and dried fruit. We both get quite hungry when hiking
so I don't want to cut down on food.

Can anyone suggest lighter/smaller food? Do other people have this
problem?