No Fail Options for Survival Rations

In a survival situation, water is one of the most important items you can have in your kit. Another item in my top three is food. Specifically I am talking about survival rations. Since we are looking to cover ourselves for an initial 72 hour period, we have a few options to consider. In my opinion, these include MREs, freeze dried and ration bars.

I realize that there are other options available. I personally like these because they meet 3 basic requirements for our survival bag.

1. They are light-weight
2. They require very little preparation, if any
3. They have a long shelf life

Freeze Dried
These meals come packaged in a special laminated film pouch. This pouch can be used for preparation and serving. The variety of meals available is extremely varied. Shelf life can be several years with proper storage. Optional heating units allow for a warm meal if hot water is not available.
Pros - light weight, long shelf life, wide variety
Cons - requires water (preferably hot) for preparation, takes 5 – 10 minutes to prepare

MRE
(Meal Ready to Eat) These meals are also packaged in a special plastic laminate pouch that can be used for serving. Unlike freeze dried, these meals do not require preparation and can be eaten directly from the package since the food has already been cooked. Although slightly heavier than freeze dried, these do not require water or time for preparation. These can be warmed by placing the pouch in hot water or using an optional heating unit.
Pros - shelf live of several years, no preparation
Cons - slightly heavier than other types, less menu variety

Ration Bars
Think of these like as being the size of a brownie. They tend to be more like a thick, square cookie or pressed cake. The variety of flavors is very minimal. Normally, each section is approximately 400 calories. These come packaged in a foil-type wrap that holds anywhere from 1,200 to 3,600 calories.
Pros - long shelf life, resistant to extreme temperatures, no preparation or heating required
Cons - limited flavors, mentally does not feel like a meal but more of a snack.

So, you're wondering which one is right for you? I think some of each is your best choice. I like to keep some of the ration bars in my car kits since they can withstand the extreme temperatures and take very little room. For my home kits, I like the variety I get from the other two types. The MREs are nice since they do not require any preparation, but having some freeze dried meals helps reduce the weight of my survival bag if I have to carry my items to another location.

No matter your choice, try some of each before you need them. During a crisis, you want to be familiar with the use of your items. Preparedness is not only getting your supplies, but knowing how to use them.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on these items. If you have comments or suggestions, please share them in the section below.