| If you're looking to stock up on your food | | | | for an individual meal pouch. If you get a #10 can |
| supplies for emergency situations, then | | | | of freeze dried food, then the cost per person is |
| congratulations are in order as you are taking | | | | even cheaper. The storage life on freeze dried |
| responsibility for your well-being as well as those | | | | food is great as well. It can last for as long as 25 |
| of your loved ones. | | | | years although some manufacturers say it is good |
| When purchasing emergency food rations, there | | | | for 40 years if stored in the right conditions which |
| are a few things one should consider: cost, shelf | | | | generally just means a dry and cool place. Freeze |
| life, convenience and taste. | | | | dried food really is a buy and forget type meal. |
| One particular type of emergency food that | | | | However, just as with canned foods, you can eat |
| almost everyone has around the house is canned | | | | it cold when hydrating it with cold water but |
| goods. The reason is because it's cheap, good to | | | | warm water is always preferred to have a hot |
| eat, and readily available in grocery stores, and it | | | | meal. The question is will you have hot water in |
| is easy to prepare. But let me ask how one will | | | | an emergency? |
| eat such an item if there were no heat source | | | | The third type of emergency food ration is the |
| available to warm the food? Would you be willing | | | | MRE or meal ready to eat. Originally, the MRE |
| to eat it cold? Of course, if you're hungry enough, | | | | meal was designed for the U.S. military but the |
| it wouldn't matter but it is always nice to have | | | | demand proved strong enough that |
| warm comfort food. Canned food items are | | | | manufacturers sold civilian versions to the public |
| usually meant to be eaten in two years. However, | | | | as well. An MRE package is the most convenient |
| it does depend on the acidic level of the canned | | | | of all the emergency foods discussed so far as it |
| item. Lower acidic food like meats have a longer | | | | is a complete meal with a main entrée, |
| shelf life and higher acidic food like fruit and | | | | side entree, dessert, beverage mix, crackers |
| vegetables have a shorter shelf life. You can take | | | | bread and a spread mixture. To top it off, the |
| a chance on eating expired canned goods but that | | | | package provides self warming flameless ration |
| is at your own discretion. | | | | heater, something that is lacking from the other |
| Another popular type of emergency food is the | | | | two options. Of course, all this convenience will |
| freeze dried food. The process takes all the | | | | cost more as a package will run around $6-$7 per |
| water out of the food making it extremely | | | | bag. MREs also last on average 3 years before |
| lightweight to carry. This is why freeze dried food | | | | they expire. The taste of MRE is also quite good |
| is particularly popular with hikers, campers and | | | | as well and some people eat this as they would a |
| backpackers. Surprisingly, when the food is | | | | casual night indoors like they would a TV dinner. |
| rehydrated with water, it keeps much of its | | | | All three options are good to have on hand in |
| original taste as well and can be quite delicious to | | | | case of emergency situations. The type you |
| eat. These packages are not cost prohibitive and | | | | decide to buy are up to your budget, preference |
| can be found for as little as four to five dollars | | | | and lifestyle. |