Homemade Mres... or almost ready to eat

[Outdoorsman98]

I took up the challenge of making my own mre and I have since stocked up on seven of these. They are designed to be a day's worth of food and soem items need water to be boiled while others don't. They vary in items but most have these things,

Ramen
Pasta Side
Hot cocoa, coffee, tea bag
Crystal light or Kool aide
Spoon
Granola Bars
Trail Mix
Spam Single
Instant Mash Potatoes
Beef Jerky
Salt, Suger, Tabasco, etc.
Oatmeal
Small candies
These are just some of the examples that I put in my mres. The calorie count for each is 1500-2000+ calories
Even if they dont have a long shelf they are easier to access than military mres + they are cheaper
I hope you will take my advice

[ibosserman]

Wow nice. I didnt think about using ramen or instant mash potatoes. Good ideas.

[BENESSE]

Another thing I carry is single serve Tuna in a pouch. I err on the side of no prep, no hot water required, something I can eat on the move. Although it's nice to have something warm once in a while.

[crashdive123]

<snip>....I hope you will take my advice

What advice is that?

[intothenew]

Kinda looks like a list one of the varmints would make. Pick it up a little in the Fruit/Veg department. Paper towels are nice, not only for clean up but to add any notes on cooking (water ratio, cooking time, just what the meal is, etc.). Multi-vitamin/daily meds. I would lose the Ramen and replace it with couscous. It's almost as easy to cook, takes less water, and is way better for you. As BENESSE mentioned, tuna. Lose some of the spam and jerky and replace it with tuna, and chicken foil packs. Bullion cubes: chicken, beef, and veggie. You can also get them in paste packets.

I like to vacuum pack them in individual meals.

[Outdoorsman98]

Thanks for the suggestions and I dont know why I wrote "I hope you will atek my advice"

[jfeatherjohn]

I have a little toy called "Food Saver". It uses bags much like normal, but with a disk (one way valve) that you set the vacuum on and take the air out.
Bags come in quart and gallon.
Works great creating longer shelf lives in the refer, but is really handy packing food for "the bag".

[jmarshnh]

I like to make up my own also, and bought one of them small rechargable vacuum sealers
that has the valve. Have not used it yet but hope it holds a seal like my regular vacuum sealer does.
Jim

[hunter63]

Kinda reminds me of a cooler kit I saw a few years back.
Great minds think alike....Good post.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago104.html

Quote from Backwoods Home mag

QUAN. ITEM SERVINGS
Food Items
1 Knorr chicken and pasta dinner 2
1 Knorr beef and rice dinner 2
1 Knorr chicken and rice dinner 2
2 Maruchan ramen noodle soup 2
1 Idahoan home-style instant potatoes 4
1 Idahoan four cheese instant potatoes 4
1 McCormick onion gravy mix 4
1 McCormick mushroom gravy mix 4
2 Armour treat in metal can 2
2 Armour Vienna sausage cans 2
1 Star Kist tuna in foil pack 1
2 Sardines in soybean oil 2
10 Single serving coffee pouches 1
6 Nestle instant cocoa pouches 1
10 Herb-ox beef bouillon pouches 1
4 Country Time lemonade pouch 2
4 Bigelow herb tea pouch 1
2 Peanut bar candy 1
Free Salt, pepper, creamer, sugar pouches --
Other Items
1 Small sauce pan --
1 Enameled metal cup --
3 Canned heat --
-- Matches and/or lighter --
-- Water purification tablets --
1 set Eating utensils --
1 Pocket or kitchen knife --
1 LED-type flashlight --
3 Extra batteries --
-- First-aid supplies --
-- Aspirin, Tylenol, Unisom, Benadryl, and Advil caplets --
3 Plastic trash bags & ties --
Other items to consider stashing in your trunk
QUAN. ITEM
** Toilet tissue**
2 Water -gallon jugs
1 50-foot roll of 1/8 inch nylon rope
1 10x10 ft. plastic sheet
2 Duct tape
1 Sleeping bag
1 set Extra clothing
50 Paper/plastic plates
2 rolls Paper towels
1 each Toothbrush &toothpaste
1 each Shampoo, hand lotion, bar soap, hand sanitizer
2 Disposable razor
** Since a standard toilet paper roll is huge to pack, I always tell people to save the roll from their bathroom when it gets to a much smaller size, compress flat, and place in a zip lock bag.

[Dagar]

Since I am the "food" guru in the house I have been watching several you tube who do meals in a jar, mostly from dehydrated food. Those same meals can be (due to being dehydrated) sealed up in mylar with o2 or vacuum sealed. Definitely eat what you store and store what you eat. Check them out they are pretty good videos and some great ideas.