One thing that bears repeating, too, is to make sure and check the expiration dates of what you're getting so that you get the most longevity out of the purchase as possible.

I recently purchased two packages of Uncle Ben's Ready Rice for use in backpacking later this year, and pulled both out of the same container on the grocery store shelf. On the one package I looked at, the expiration date was 11/2006. When I got home, though, I noticed the other was "best before" 02/2006. Certainly not the end of the world since I plan on using it by then, but I would have much preferred to have both packages with November expiration dates for flexibility.

Another thing to consider is variety. Make sure not to lay up too much of any one thing, and put some though into how you might be able to mix different things together out of different cans to create meals that, if not gourmet fare, will at very least not become too monotonous too quickly.

So, a short list might consist of:

Dinty Moore beef stew. (It really IS good!)
Canned chili
Tunafish, salmon
Canned fish steaks (these smaller fish don't contain the mercury levels found in tuna, salmon, and other larger fish, possibly a serious issue depending on total intake)
Beans, dry (protein)
Beans, canned
Canned soups
Powdered soups
Rice, parboiled &/or regular (Not currrently sure regarding difference in shelf life of parboiled as opposed to uncooked rice)
Oatmeal
Instant grits
Canned vegetables (corn, mixed, tomatoes, yams, green beans, etc.)
Instant mashed potatoes.
Bisquick. Lots of bisquick.
Honey.
Salt, iodized
Pepper, unground corns.
Condiments (ketchp, mustard, mayo, etc. Tabasco gets its own line.)
Tabasco sauce <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
Tea
Coffee
Cocoa
Powdered milk
Condensed milk
Powdered eggs.
Ovaltine (chocolate, vitamins)
Vitamins (coincidentally, also has vitamins)
Hershey's chocolate bars w/o nuts
Hard candy (Jolly Ranchers, etc.)
Ramen. (Ick.)

As mentioned, pasta water can be used for a number of things after the pasta's done. You can use it to soak beans for the next evening's meal, or use as the basis for a soup. As luck would have it, this is particularly convenient if you're making some sort of noodle soup!

In keeping with Benjamin's post, ramen can be eaten uncooked, too, (and this is actually the only way I personally find most brands palatable). I believe that pasta can be soaked to reduce cooking time, but my culinary training has kept me from experimenting with that particular blasphemy to date.

Maybe this weekend... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />