Thinking about putting a few MRE Full meals in my 72 hour kit. This would be the kit I grab on my way out the door if the need to rapidly evacuate my residence.

Any pro's or con's on the use of MRE's in a 72 hour kit ?

Any flavors to avoid ??

Con: They're big and heavy
Pro: they're easy, don't need to be rehydrated and they taste okay. They store fairly well in moderate conditions

I hate the Turkey and Potato and the vegetarian pasta with vegatables. I really like the ravioli, spaghetti and cheese manicoti - the beef tariyaki is good too - so, surprisingly, is the veggie burger.

Check out mreinfo.com for more information.

Lee

As wolf said, they're bulky and heavy. I wouldn't rely on them 100% for that reason, but maybe one per day that you plan on being in the pack, along with a heater for each of the entrees, along with wet wipes and something like rice to for the base of your other meals, and snacks between. And a few maindays or datrex packs just in case at the 72 hour mark you realise that what you really needed was a 100 or 120 hour pack.

Just remember to strip your MREs, there is a lot of stuff you won't need. Example, break down your accessory packets- you'll only need one spoon, and the matches suck. I actually suggest the entrees and maybe some sides, and build the rest of it yourself, you'll be able to align it more to your personal taste and it might even cost less. Even if you don't pull anything, they're smaller and a bit easier to pack if you do that, IMHO.

http://www.longlifefood.com/

They have some of the best prices I've found for the entrees, and a great selection. Thier red beans and rice isn't quite jagd, but it is pretty close, and if you are stressing, the milder heat is probably better for your belly.

http://theepicenter.com/mre_military_meal_ready_to_eat.html

The prices aren't as good, but if you have a hankering for something that isn't part of the menu list any more and want to be sure it was properly stored, these are good people to try.

minimus.biz

If you are building your own accessory packs, a great resource. The only place I've ever seen where you can buy 1 (one) ketchup packet! (If you are bugging out by car, and have room, a coffee can full of things like soy sauce, mustard and so forth might be handy trade items if you find yourself in a public shelter, although some of us might think that sleeping with the storm is about on par.) They've got just about every condiment you might want in the little single serve squeezies, along with other odd single use or small package items, like rolls of toilet paper about the size of a roll of quarters.

Emergency foods should be treated like any other piece of kit. You need to evaluate what works, but more importantly become familiar with everything. Anything that calls for a kit's use can be listed under one word, STRESS. This is no time to go experimenting with dehydrated tibetan tea and butter and barbequed sushi. Whatever you select, get an extra one and enjoy it ( one hopes) watching some survival program on the TEEVEE.

MREs have a LOT of salt in them. I would think that in an emergency situation you want to stay away from foods that will make you more thirsty.
I now have only Coast Guard style food rations in my kit.

As others have said they are bulky but that can be dealt with. As far as taste goes I have yet to run into one that I could not finish, but some are better than others. Obviously tastes vary. They have between 1200-1400 calories each. With my metabolism I would not carry more than 3 for 72 hrs, but of course your requirements may be more/less.

I have a few in mine, but I agree with others regarding the bulk. I also highly recommend stripping them down as IronRaven suggested. Lots of things you won't need.

I prefer to make my own..check the meat aisle at your local grocery store, you can find several kinds of tuna in foil packs, here locally in OK, they even have precooked hamburger meat in foil packs.

I also highly recommend having a condiment selection. I have one too, but I just acquired mine from local eating places. ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, parmasean cheese, hot peppers, soy sauce, barbecue sauce...etc. That website is pretty cool, but you shouldn't have to buy this stuff, just use one less ketchup each time you go through McDonalds...it builds up fast.

Probablem with those is low bulk when they get in your belly, even though they swell. When you are hungry, your body wants to feel full, and they can't warm you up like a hot meal can.

Food plays a much greater role in morale than most people think- that's what gets Les Stroud, his body is doing all kinds of funny things to conserve energy before it starts to autocannibalise. I'd bet (a little) money that he's mostly fine in terms of caloric consumption when he's gone three days without so much as a cricket. Instead, I wouldn't be at all suprised if it's neurochemistry messing with him. Tired, feeling a bit blue, we've probably all seen him hit that point around the third or fourth day. That isn't so much starvation as it is depression. They've known for decades that below a certain caloric consumption, you emotions and ability to think start to shut down, but if you still have sufficent reserves on your body and you get some food in you, you are good to go. (Thank you Herr Mengelev (sp), may he rest in torment.)

I know from my experinces that holds true, at least for me.

MRE's can be a useful option - if you don't mind the extra weight and bulk. However, switching to dehydrated foods (like Mountain House) may seem like a lighter option unless one also has to carry all of the water in to your location. If you can't rely upon water sources, the MRE might be a better choice for you in the 72 hour pack. Also, eating the MRE might be quicker than having to cook a dehydrated meal.

The cost, and uncertainty about what will be put into the 12 meal case have also been a negative for me. I've had good luck making my own MRE-like packets by stopping at the local Wal-Mart. There are numerous products packed in retort packages that are probably less expensive and more familiar to you and your family. It helps to customize the packet to what I and my wife (an insanely picky eater) already eat as part of my normal diet.

My local fast food places have been great sources of condiments. Most entrees will taste better with enough ketchup! <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />