Emergency rations.

I believe this type product has been mentioned in the podcast in passing, so I am adding my two-cents in this brief blurb. It took me a few years to recognize just how useful these are. This class of product is a problem solver in my book, maybe it will solve some similar problems for you as well. If you are new to these emergency food rations read on.

Mainstay, Datrex, SOS, and others. were designed to be carried as emergency food rations in life boat applications but have found their way into all types of preparedness applications. Emergency food rations are generally available in 2400 and 3600 calorie packages. These rations are highly compressed, and vacuum packed in heavy, metallized Mylar, almost foil like packages, they resemble small bricks in your pack. Inside the package, the food bars are scored or subdivided to facilitate eating a measured portion. If you open the package carefully, you can use the package to store remaining portions for a few days. Note, the package does not reseal after opening, but is handy to hold what is left.

The shelf life of this product is excellent, rated at 5 years, which is a real plus. The various manufacturers make similar products, each brand with a slightly different flavor (Mainstay has a slight lemon flavor, Datrex coconut, etc). I suggest you try several brands to find what works best for you. These rations are good for use in an emergency, for short term use, but are not designed to be eaten 24/7, so don't try to put away a huge supply until you have personally tried them. Some of you will insist these rations are best used as a projectile weapon to acquire real food, ha.

As I said above, these can be real problem solvers. They do not require cooking, and are not thirst provoking when eaten. One of the best applications I have found is in my vehicle kit, as they are tolerant of the high summertime temperatures seen in vehicles. According to Mainstay, their product can be stored from -40F to 300F, and that is pretty amazing. Storing food in your vehicle in the summertime will destroy most packaged foods. Keep in mind, MRE's wont take much exposure to the temperature cycling in a vehicle.

Another application for these food rations may be for your BOB. If you think there is a chance you may have to evacuate on foot, you will probably be lugging a backpack, remember weight and bulk is your enemy. Most sensible hikers will try to keep their base weight (everything except food and water) as light as possible. In an evacuation, you wont be so lucky, you will want to carry as much as you can, and that is not a good idea. I pack the emergency rations in my pack, as I can forget about rotating the food inside, and have a reasonable amount of calories for the volume and weight.

As always, I suggest you do your own research, and see if these will work for you. Don't just buy and store these for a rainy day, actually taste them, then make your decision. I have passed a few of these to my friends and received a range of comments, some just don't like the taste, some think they are gritty, others say it was good. I suspect all would love them if they were in the lifeboat when these were the only food available.

Additional thoughts....

The foil like packaging is reasonably robust, but you can puncture the package with sharp items in your pack, something to be aware of, or you may want to protect the packages. You may also want to carry a zip lock bag to store uneaten portions, I use the original packaging, your choice.

My personal taste preference in 2400, or 3600 calorie sized food rations is Datrex. These food rations are only mildly flavored (lemon, coconut etc), it is not overpowering, but you may grow tired of the same taste before you have finished your first ration, your personal testing is important.

If you like a variety of flavors (blueberry, raspberry, tropical fruit etc), consider, Millennium bars, a smaller, 400 calorie individually wrapped food bar, made by SOS I believe. I really do like the stronger flavoring in Millennium bars, but do keep in mind they are only 400 calories. If you plan to feed this type food ration to kids in an emergency, I would suggest you try the Millennium bars. Try sending the millennium bars in their lunch as a snack to get them accustom to the taste. I personally pack a variety of the larger rations, along with the smaller Millennium bars for variety in my various kits.

As usual, I do appreciate your comments or suggestions. Hmmm, If you have a unique food ration experience, been able to bring down game using a ration food bar as a projectile, used your flint knapping skills to make a usable point out of a ration bar, or maybe even used the food rations to block your tires preventing a run away vehicle on a grade let me know, ha.

I'm petty sure we've talked about these in a past podcast. You're 100% on the mark with your comments on these. In my view, these food bars are the *only* real solution to storing food in your vehicle. Vehicle temps vary greatly and even MREs don't do well when stored in the trunk. Here in the desert, where temps can easily reach above 120˚F in a closed vehicle, there is no regular food that can withstand that for long, not even MREs. You would have to rotate every 30 days, and frankly, who wants to be bothered with that? (Answer: no one, which is why it's a poor solution),

These compressed food bars are the perfect solution to this problem. Their taste is similar to shortbread, but who cares when you're hungry. The taste is good enough that no one should be turning their nose up at it when their stomach starts to growl.

This is the ONLY food I carry in my main Fast Pack. The foil packaging is durable, but not as durable as I'd like.

Just thought I would toss my two-thumbs-up into the ring for the Millennium Energy Bars. I bought some of the cherry flavor ones just a few weeks ago and was very pleased with the taste. While obviously not in the realm of a lunch at Golden Corral, the taste was good for a survival bar.

http://beprepared.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_FM%20R040