That's why I decided to make my own and it is easier than you may think. For several weeks now, I've been pricing, researching, and taking notes on different types of food during my usual shopping. I was amazed to see how long regular food can last. I did have some requirements for the food to meet, a few were cost, ease of rotation, and mobility.
I started with the entree meal,which I found Starks tuna in a packet. It was in light water and lasted for around one year. The cost was a dollar per pack and didn't need to be cooked, since it was done before packing.
Just like the military MRE I consumed while in the Army, I wanted crackers and cheese. So to fulfil this I used cheese on wheat, which is both fiber and a processed milk. They come with six packs for 2 bucks. I couldn't find an expiration date on the box, but I'm guessing right at or just over a year.
For the fruit, which has vitamins, you'll need for the end of the world, I'd chosen apple sauce. It's packed in the lunch cups, cost just over $2 for a six pack, has all the vitamins I might need to avoid from being turned into a zombie or taken out by a rogue militia.
The last thing I packed was a sugar/energy source. I choose M&Ms with nuts in the larger individual pack. This gives me plenty of sugar and some protein to boot. They last over a year and cost just under a dollar each.
To pack all in I got the heavy duty Zip-loc bags. Which works great as they're also reusable.
I made only three MREs right now, but I've plenty left over to make three more once I get more tuna. All together it ends up being around $2.67 a meal. I do have to replace these once a year as the exiration dates come up, but at least I can rotate them into everyday meals, unlike the MRE.
10 comments:
That's a great idea. I wish I would have thought of that before buying a couple cases of MRE's, but I think I'll put some together anyhow. Thanks.
What is the total calorie count of this MRE?
You may want to add an powdered energy drink. I have seen "tubes" that were made for a 16 oz water bottle. An energy drink may be helpful..
Toilet paper or a small packet of baby wipes.
I've thought of making my own also. I plan on vacumn sealing them in one meal pouches.
Nice! All the prepackaged food that is available at the super market nowadays is great. A guy could make a lot of different styles to prevent boredom. If that was mine I would throw a couple packets of Miracle Whip in there. More calories & I like with Tuna or Salmon.
After staring at my packet of Starkist I googled 'Homemade MREs' as I had this idea too. Thank you for doing the research for me, this is EXACTLY what I was looking for :)
Hey guys! Im planning to go on a trip to Turkey this summer and i was planning on bringing a couple of these homemade rations along.. Anyone know if the high temperatures there might influence the contents of the mre?
do not pack condiment packets (especially mayo). I had a friend who used to work for the company that made these. The shelf life for those are 3 months(a little longer if kept refrigerated).
I'm not personally a big tuna fan, but I just found out that Hormel makes Spam in a single pack (also about $1, you get one slice maybe 3"x5"x1/2"). Not the best tasting meat ever, but could be useful for variety (of if you, or your kids, don't like tuna fish)
It rough caloric content of that is 426. You would have to eat 5 of those to meet 2,400 and 9 to meet 3,600. You really planning on eating that much?
I've been making meals similar to these for months now. For mine, I have added the following:
Assorted nuts and beef jerky, a little plastic toothpick/flossing tool, toilet paper, paper napkin, salt packet, pepper packet, plastic spoon, three jolly ranchers candies, two chicklet gums, three wooden "strike anywhere" matches, honey packet, high calorie energy drink powder, and powdered milk.
I would also recommend individual servings of "Beennie Weennie", Chef Boyardee pasta meals, sardines, Dinty Moore canned stew, Spam, and any other precooked canned meat based meal. Manufacturer's suggested shelf life on these is around three years, but will last up to six years if kept under 60 degrees, in totally dry, dark storage boxes. I don't recommend adding or using anything that you wouldn't normally eat on any given day, so that you can rotate out your stock and still benefit from the food that you purchased years ago.
I have also been researching how to make "meals ready to COOK". Where all ingredients are included in dry or powdered form, and only require water, fire, and cooking utensils. These are unbelievably light and compact, and if packaged right, store indefinitely. You may be amazed at how far powdered milk and powdered eggs will get you with a $30.00 vacuum sealer from Walmart...
hey i know this thread is old but for anyone who may be looking here check out the coastguard survival rations, 3600 bars i think they call them, they come individually packaged of 9 bars each 400 cal, they have a slight lemon cake taste/texture there non thirst provoking and cheap, quakekare.com is where i got mine, full days meal for under 4.00 and the shelf life is 5 years, + heat and freezing temps dont effect it. get yours before they become popular like MRE's and get expensive.
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