MREs are not all that great. They started out bad bad bad. Hockey pucks (meat or pork, freezedried) and solid fruit - just add water and let sit for 2 days, and it would be crunchy still.

I make my own now. Just go to the local grocery, buy fruit in a cup, meat in a can/pouch, some crackers, peanut butter in a pouch, and maybe a ramen. Add salt and pepper packs, a handy wipe, some candy - ready to rock. You can splurge and add stuff to drink, as in coffee or cocoa.

There is not much weight savings going the MRE route. The freeze dried stuff sucked anyhow.