I believe there was a topic or discussion on this somewhere, but could not find it. I finally assembled my homemade mres completely (They've been sitting in portion-packs since October). I tried to have some sort of a standard on all of them. All come with a pack of matches, a baggy of candy and sugar packets, a side, 2 drinks (usually hot choc. powder and iced tea powder), a main, and a side or soup. Most of the stuff was bought at Bulk Barn. Much cheaper than bought-mres, not to mention tastier.
Mac & Cheese, Low-Sodium No MSG chicken soup, mini cookies, sugar & candy pack, iced tea and cocoa powder.
Pretty much the same, except for hickory sticks chips, and I included some butter packs. They're currently 5 months old, so I opened and tried one. Tasted just like new, so I'm assuming because of pasteurization they'll last a while longer.
Again, similar except I swapped in a box of good ole Mr. Noodles.
I finally mixed it up a bit on this one. The rice is cooked in a powder that essentially becomes chicken stock, so rather than include soup I gave potato flakes. Typical sugary goods, plus a heaping bag of trail mix. The rice and nuts I believe makes a complete protein, something I need better ways of incorporating.
I want to craft some more, as I have lots of leftover trail mix, candy packs, soup mix, and lots of raisins. I want to try and put together another type of pasta, and incorporate more beans and legumes, especially since we don't eat too much at home, so I don't have much exposure to them. I also want to get a homemade rice mix. I also have a big box o' ketchup packs I need to start incorporating. Any good ideas?
Hi RachelM - I can tell no one in your family has health issues 🙂
These are probably ok for a day or two but I wouldn't recommend eating these for longer than that. I'm not sure what your exact purpose is - a grab and go meal replacement for a BOB? Regardless I would suggest some improvements nutritionally. You need more vegetables, fruit, whole grains and proteins - your choices are mostly highly processed carbs and sugar. These combinations have lots of sodium and empty calories as well. For example you could replace the "Uncle Ben's" with a home made version using less salt and additives and more real food in the form of dried veggies and herbs and still come out cheaper and healthier. You could also add a pouch of tuna.
Packaging the food in ziplock bags will not give you much longevity - a few months at the most - especially the trail mix because of the fat content - so make sure you rotate through them quickly.
It's a good start and better than nothing but before you make a whole bunch I would do some pinterest or google surfing for healthier ideas! There's lots of MRE ideas mixed in with food storage ideas here: http://pinterest.com/search/boards/?q=food+storage
Or check out the pics here for more ideas: https://www.google.ca/search?q=homemade+mre&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=uKRBUYDMCaO42gX4h4DwCw&sqi=2&ved=0CC4QsAQ&biw=1600&bih=775
Now technically an MRE is a Meal Ready to Eat. Yours would be a Meal Ready to Prepare because you need to cook the mac and cheese.
If bugging out on foot is why you need these I would switch the food for light weight ready to eat items only. If you're bugging in I would stock extra easy to prepare food in the pantry. I'm not sure of your purpose but perhaps asking yourself the question: what is my most likely need for these in the next 6 months and go from there.
(`'•.¸(`'•.¸ ¸.•'´) ¸.•'´)
*´¨`•.¸¸Anita <>< *.•´¸¸¨`*
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Quack, Cluck, Moo, Hee-Haw, Meow and Baaaaaaa from Shalom Engedi Farm
http://adventures-in-country-living.blogspot.com/
"Hi Rachel
Glad to see you taking the bull by the horns and getting it done, really liked being able to see it in the photos, Anita had some great questions and I look forward to hearing the answers to them, I will admit that for bug in, I am just working on the pantry food, but for travel, I tend to make homemade recipes, this is one of my main books that I use the recipes out of it. I have one or two more books on this same idea, dried meals for camping, backpacking etc, but have not made nearly as many meals from them, as i have from the one below.. I expect that almost all the meals could be made with things gotten at the bulk barn
http://www.amazon.ca/The-Dehydrator-Bible-Includes-Recipes/dp/0778802132/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1
http://livingmydreamlifeonthefarm.wordpress.com/
Hi RachelM - I can tell no one in your family has health issues 🙂
These are probably ok for a day or two but I wouldn't recommend eating these for longer than that. I'm not sure what your exact purpose is - a grab and go meal replacement for a BOB? Regardless I would suggest some improvements nutritionally. You need more vegetables, fruit, whole grains and proteins - your choices are mostly highly processed carbs and sugar. These combinations have lots of sodium and empty calories as well. For example you could replace the "Uncle Ben's" with a home made version using less salt and additives and more real food in the form of dried veggies and herbs and still come out cheaper and healthier. You could also add a pouch of tuna.
Packaging the food in ziplock bags will not give you much longevity - a few months at the most - especially the trail mix because of the fat content - so make sure you rotate through them quickly.
It's a good start and better than nothing but before you make a whole bunch I would do some pinterest or google surfing for healthier ideas! There's lots of MRE ideas mixed in with food storage ideas here: http://pinterest.com/search/boards/?q=food+storage
Or check out the pics here for more ideas: https://www.google.ca/search?q=homemade+mre&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=uKRBUYDMCaO42gX4h4DwCw&sqi=2&ved=0CC4QsAQ&biw=1600&bih=775
Now technically an MRE is a Meal Ready to Eat. Yours would be a Meal Ready to Prepare because you need to cook the mac and cheese.
If bugging out on foot is why you need these I would switch the food for light weight ready to eat items only. If you're bugging in I would stock extra easy to prepare food in the pantry. I'm not sure of your purpose but perhaps asking yourself the question: what is my most likely need for these in the next 6 months and go from there.
omg - I am going to be on here for days 😯 http://www.budget101.com/frugal/seasoning-mix-recipes-198/
The bag I put these in is a very simple "Get Home" style bag. As I discussed with a few people on the forum here, with the farm and our acreage, it makes more sense to bug-in, but if I'm far from home, I'll need something to tide me over. Meats and vegetables are a problem I encountered. I'm trying to put together some more. I figured a small can of tuna/ham/chicken etc would be a good, not too heavy, start. I'm going to see if I can find small portions of freeze dried or canned vegetables, or just include a little fruit cup or something. So far most of my shopping has been on a budget at Bulk Barn. There's a few cheaper grocery stores around, so I'm going to explore and see what I can come up with.
I can't find it atm but someone did a post with pictures of the MRE that they put together.
I made a post about mine on the blog site a while ago...
http://www.canadianpreppersnetwork.com/2011/09/homemade-mres-meal-ready-to-eat.html
Since you are using this for a get home bag scenario only and not long term, you really don't need a balanced diet. You DO need calories and short and mid term energy. Carbs, some salts and a little protein daily such as canned ham, turkey or chicken. Some fats would be good too. Spam comes to mind. It will live forever in a Get Home Bag. Also look at things you don't need to hydrate or cook. You will be on the move and either can't or won't have time or resouces to cook. Just my 2 cents.
JAB
Went out shoppin' and picked up some canned meats to try out. I've got canned ham, turkey, chicken, and chicken vienna sausages. I also got some canned fruit cocktail, a 341ml can of no salt sweet corn and a tuna kit that comes with a small can, crackers, and a spoon. Also, various things from Bulk Barn to try out (mung beans!). I made a quick little meal out of the ham, 1/2 cup potato flakes, and the corn. Tasted very similar to corned beef hash. Doesn't need to be cooked (Although it is better if it is), has 24g of protein, and is pretty filling. Also tried the Viennas, not realizing until later I bought chicken instead of beef. Wasn't a fan, tasted too chickeny (I don't like most chicken sausage). Sliced some thin and fried them and added some corn, not real tasty. I would eat it if I had too though.
I also want to try the potatoes with some jerky or bacon bits and cheese powder, for a hash.
I think that this is all good but if you want to be able to keep your food for much longer you should look at freezer dried food some of it is good for up to 25 years the other weekend I had product that was 15 years old and it was like if it was made today it was good I have a site that could provide this to all itès new here in Ontario and especially Ottawa area check this out www.GeorgesV.mygofoods.com you can also reach me at villeneuve.georges@bell.net
Howdy Rachel!
I am with JAB,
since it is meant as a quick get home bag and not living and eating in the bush for a fortnight, it works. Yes, there are systems that will last up to 25yrs, but that is not what your trying to do.
That being said, the energy to weight ratio of Homemade Trail mix is something that can not be beat. Drop the yummy patato sticks, add in the Trail mix.
Now, the little bags are a problem, they do not seal very good at all. Those will start to loose freshness in a week or so. Take a peek at the system for quick vacuum seal that they sell at the Home Hardware store. Quick seal and quick pump, much better than the little zip locks. Maybe put the little ziplocks inside the Quick Seal bags.
I would then put each meal in a Mylar bag.
Dual purpose;
a. Mylar lasts way longer
b. you can cook/boil/re-heat food in it thus avoiding plate, eat from the bag.
Make sure you have a Military Canteen set, holder, cup, bottle total cost is anywhere from 12-20 so pretty cheap. This will hold water, you can boil up water in there, add in the Mylar to re-heat (caution.. if you put the mylar in the cup of water to boil it up.. never drink the water!!! use for washup, washing only)
add in;
coffee individual packs
tea, make your own individual packs, or buy in larger box the individually wrapped teas
lemon mix
all can be drank, hot or cold (yuk to cold for coffee,, but) they will give you needed warm inside to re-stoke the fire as well as giving you the needed water replacement with some needed side benifits to boot.
wind proof matches, water proof matches
small pouch with some Vaseline coated cotton balls, wrapped
look into Cat Can Stove or Liver Can Stove (my blog) small bottle of methyl hydrate in fuel bottle, remember an once boils water in canteen cup.
put the stoves inside a re-cycled can with holes in it, and voila.. very light weight inexpensive, dirt cheap really, cooking and boiling system.
put the stoves in a pre made Hobo stove made from Apple Juice / Tomato Juice can, internet search total weight, including the fuel is only ounces
(pr.. brave girl for trying the Vienna weaners, they sucketh.. blaaaaa)!
http://wildernessreturn.wordpress.com/2013/03/14/alcohol-stoves-improved-liver-can-stove/
Here is the Cat Can Stove / Liver Can Stove showing build and in action. Very light weight, see the pics and notes I added in there. Cost 1 meal = $2 for both tins, slap on bread or add to pasta or rice for a meal, so $2.25 total for a cooking system.
edit: that is a one time investment of only $2 bucks for a cooking system, not even close the MSR High Mountain stove that my Ex destroyed! ($285)
there are lots of things you can make with old cans, Hobo Stoves, improvised stoves, penny stoves, rocket stoves, even saw a guy build most of a Rocket Mass Heater out of cans that were metal taped together! Crazy but it worked