Allow me to insert my standard blurb about Dino Valley being a great place to dayhike or car camp with the kids, but a sorry backpacking destination. Lake Mineral Wells has a lot more land to explore with a compass, a lot fewer mountain bikes, and a nice quiet backcountry camping area.
Find where ever you are going on Topozone.com and print your own maps.
I think the standard evolution of backpacking meals is MREs - expensive dehydrated Mountain House/Backpackers Pantry meals from gear stores - much cheaper dehydrated noodles/rice and foil pouch meat from WalMart - bulk dehydrated gourmet stuff from new age health food stores.
Have a great trip - you are going to love the transition from G.I. overkill to modern lightweight backpacking gear.
