+1 on couscous. Sometimes I take those packets of tuna or salmon, cashews or other nuts. Good energy that keeps untill needed. I use a alcohol stove so prefer things that cook quickly/simply(no simmering). If your stove is a cannister or bottled fuel then regular larger pastas and other things that come in packets for stove top prep work. I Use olive oil when it calls for butter, and bring some powdered milk in a bagy if I want to do it right. otherwise hunger seasons the heck out of things. Another thing to take, if you have a big appatite and just want bulk with little wieght is stovetop stuffing. Cheap, no hassle and really easy.
If you have a fry pan, then stir fry veggys(from grocery store earlyer in day) over instant rice/couscous, add canned shrimp for some decadence. This can be done with the alcohol or cannister stoves. If you have not used your stove much, try it in your own kitchen/backyard once or twice to get a feel for it.

One of the most important things to think about is snacks. there are sections that people refer to as the "Katy Tedium". bannanas, muffins, fig newtons ect in the handlebar bag, mostly for backup if you get hungry in the middle of nowhere and don't want to cook something.

The Katy can be dodgy this early on resturaunts that happen to be open right when you need them. there are several grocery stores, one in pilot grove(pretty sure)that you can get fresh fruit/veggys at and another, quite large, that you will see on your second day(not sure where it is exactly). that one requires a slog pushing your bike up a hill to the road and a very short trip on pavement. It has lots of stuff like asprin, vaseline, donuts and grapefruit. thats what I got there last time...

If the weather is nice, then hotdogs/brats over a campfire rocks. One of the coolest things about bike touring is making a better meal than the folks in the big RV at the roundhouse...