Based on experience with camp cooking, the main problems with pasta, unless you know a different way of cooking than I do, are:

A. It takes a large amount of water, that you have to drain off. Unless you drink the pasta water (yuck) you are using up the one thing you really need to conserve. I supose that if you are short of water, the pasta water could be added to soup or something.

B. Normally you heat water to a full boil and cook at a full boil for 8-10 minutes (depends on the pasta). That takes a good source of heat. I can do that on my old fashion Coleman stove (and have done so on camping trips where water was not an issue), but really doubt that you could get it done with Sterno. I have used Sterno to heat water, but it is slow.

My kids like the canned stuff and in a pinch it would be safe to eat without cooking. Kraft Easy Mac is an "instant" mac-n-cheese product that you just add water and microwave for about 3 minutes. It only uses the amount of water that is actually absorbed so there is no waste. It is a little more expensive than the regular mixes, but tastes about the same. My kids like it. I have not tried this, so do not trust me without a field test, but I think you can make it by just adding boiling water and letting it set for a few minutes.

You were thinking about putting together a box(s) of meals and mentioned adding fork/napkin packets. Also, consider paper/plastic cups, bowls and/or plates. With a shortage of water, they are easier to store than the water it would take to wash regular plates.

I am reminded of the Holiday Inn commercials. I am not a survival expert, but I have spent the night in the woods with cub scouts.