Mainstay makes a special version with lots of protein, but it is not sold as survival food, because you have to have more water to eat it.

It is sold for relef programs...
You first ship in the regular Mainstay for the first week or so, untill you can insure a stedy water supply, then you send in the high protein Mainstay for the months that follow...It is expecially important to get childred on the High protein stuff as soon as possible, because the need a LOT more than an adult to avoid long term developmental problems.

I have some OPENED Mainstay bars that have been in my car for over 4 months in 95degF heat(in the shade! The inside temp is usually WAY over 105degF). I am planing on opening it up and trying it in another month or so(say a prayer for me...) <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I was told that AFTER opening, that it is good for weeks(I THINK that is what they said!)

This experment was NOT planned... I just found some that I had opened and used half of, and forgot it was in the car.
It has been in a Glad ware soup & Salad container all this time and a lot of it in the back window in the sun, so this should be a pretty good test...
I will report as soon as I get the courage to open the container and smell it <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have heard of the mainstays with protein but never found a vendor that sells them to the general public. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Anyone ever think of making their own survival food?

There are plenty of readily available ingredients to work with (Total cereal, nut butters, dehydrated fruits, etc).

I've made some very special ranger cookies out of rolled multi grains, total cereal, flax seed, raisins, dates, tahini, coconut, and flour. They lasted about 3 months and were gobbled up every time I took a batch in to work. I figured three or four 4 ounce cookies a day were enough to get by on. They were better with a large glass of cold milk, or some hot coffee or tea <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Then of course there's the two year old pemmican balls that just keep going, and going, and going... I estimated about 5,000 calories at least in each of those 8 oz balls, though I'd be hard pressed to consume one at a sitting (too much fat normally). Huckleberries sure make a difference in those things.

Still, I may have to give those ration bars a try. Back in Baghdad, we get "Hooah" bars at the DFAC, which is just a high energy highly viscous carb bar with a enough fat mixed in to keep it fluid (think cookie dough consistency). They have apple and chocolate. They don't seem to change consistency regardless of the temp. Go figure. They ain't bad, but I'd get tired of eating them after the third one. Got a few in the BOB, along with a supply of jerky and some vitamins.

>I have some OPENED Mainstay bars that have been in my >car for over 4 months in 95degF heat(in the shade! The >inside temp is usually WAY over 105degF). I am planing on >opening it up and trying it in another month or so(say a >prayer for me...)

You are a braver man than I. Keep us posted. It really is a good experiment since to foil packaging on these bars is so vulnerable to wear and tear.

TR