Creating your own Ration packs for long term storage and lightweight use.

Individual Rations Packs such as Freeze Dried Mountain House and Expedition Foods are very convenient, lightweight, has simple preparations but are expensive. Dried foods from Supermarket sources generally have 2-3 years of normal storage. By using commercial resealable Food Grade Mylar Pouches and Oxygen absorbers, longer term storage of up to 5 years and the ability to arrange individual pouches into multi day ration packs to supplement the commercial Freeze dried pouches if cooking facilities are available such as a camp stove and pot.

http://www.fresherpack.co.uk/sections/33/stand_up_pouches/

Smaller pouches for items such as brew kit, coffee, hot chocolate, malted drinks, sugar, electrolyte powders, dried soups are available.

http://www.fresherpack.co.uk/sections/21/ziplock_foil___mylar_bags/

Various dried supermarket foods such as the following can be used.

Dried Milk.
Dried Soups.
Quick Cook Oats.
Granola
Cous Cous (various flavours such as roasted vegetable).
Quick Cook Noodles.
Quick cook rice (Basmati through to Pudding) and various rice meals.
Pasta and Various quick cook pasta meals.
Home baked Protein Bars.
Protein Milk shakes.
Dried fruits.
Etc.

Supermarket examples;

http://www.ainsley-harriott.com/products/ranges/amazing-grains

A labelling system is required to label the pouches showing Mylar pouch contents and cooking instructions if required, repackage/resealing date.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dymo-Labelwriter...ywords=dymo+450

A heat Sealer will be required to seal the Mylar bag after contents and Oxygen Absorber in place in the Mylar Bag.

http://www.fresherpack.co.uk/sections/14/heat_sealers/

The cost per Mylar bag in the UK is approx 40 pence or 60 cents per Mylar Bag per 100 purchased excluding the initial purchases of the Labeler and Heat Sealer tools.

Buying food in bulk, then measuring and putting the food into individual reasealable Mylar bags can save considerable sums of cash. I can get 2 commercial meal packs (around 1200kcal)

http://adventurefood.com/en/

then use my own long term Mylar supermarket pouches to supplement those commercial ration pack to produce 24hr ration packs with 3000 kcal per day.