Very boring question about ice blocks and hiking

[Garminharmony]

Evening!

The below will be a random question but please bear in mind that I have bad food intolerances so cannot just grab things on the go and ambient temp options are very limited for me!

Has anyone got recommendations for ice packs that can keep lunch cool on long hikes that also fit in a backpack? We have catering blocks which we use for picnics but it is quite limiting because the bag is much too heavy to carry around (and picnic bag shaped!) so looking to split food into two and carry separately. We usually have a few pots each with dips, fruit and veg as well as a sandwich. I know most people will roll their eyes but hopefully someone else understands my pain! Thanks.

I'm coeliac and lactose intolerant so I can relate. In addition to the frozen water bottle hack, I have also tried freezing my (GF) sandwiches with some success. If they are out of the freezer at 6am, they are cold and defrosted by noon in one of those thinner insulated bags. They can be a bit crumbly, as GF so often is, so I like to use sourdough if possible. Also HM cheese scones don't need to be chilled for quite some time; mine lasted fine all day in the same bag at a meltingly hot festival.

Walking is very good for digestion, so you'll probably find it helps your health overall.

Have you tried making pasta salads with legume based pasta? Or rice salads? Potato salads. I would find hummous okay to carry and wouldn't worry about the temperature too much. Yoghurt in pouches can be ok (with greek yoghurt being the only kind I can have). Basic sandwiches with gluten free bread. Hard boiled eggs. Rice crackers. Home baking. Stewed fruit. Nuts.

I don't worry too much about a perfectly constructed diet when I'm hiking. Just whatever is filling and fits with my diet.