The ER Food Bar is prepackaged into a daily ration. Each ration provides 100% of the daily nutrients, vitamins and calories needed to survive an emergency. There is no cooking or preparation require. Emergency rations are specially formulated not to provoke thirst and come in a variety of flavors including lemon-vanilla. There is no cholesterol. For those having food allergies, emergency rations do not have nuts or tropical oils. ER Food Bars have a 5-year shelf life.

MREs have been used by the US Military for years. MREs have a shelf-life of five to eight years. Military MREs are, basically, field rations. However, todays MREs are distinctly different and better tasting than were the old C-Rations. A complete MRE meal will include an entrée, a desert, a snack, a side dish, crackers or bread, a beverage base and an accessory pack which includes instant coffee. MREs are best warmed but may be eaten cold. MREs are not a long-term storage food. The best use for an MRE is to be prepared for an emergency or disaster of short-term duration.  You can buy military MREs or try the various civilian MREs available which are just as good.

Freeze dried foods are generally pre-seasoned and pre-cooked. All that is needed to prepare freeze dried foods is to cook or to rehydrate the foods using hot water. Freeze dried foods are the easiest and fastest of the long-term food foods to prepare. Since most freeze dried foods are seasoned, they generally better taste than other emergency foods.

Dehydrated foods are either a single ingredient food or mix. A single ingredient food would be, for example, rice. Mixes include, for example, soups. The mixes have been seasoned and are a complete meal. However, most dehydrated foods are single ingredient food without any seasoning. Dehydrated foods need to be cooked. Water is added to rehydrate the raw food. Dehydrated food may be cooked either on a stovetop or by adding boiling water and allowing the food to steep. When using only boiling water to cook dehydrated food, preparing the dehydrated food will take much longer than would the freeze dried food because freeze dried food has been precooked. Dehydrated foods have a shelf life of at least 25 years.

mre meal,snacks etc. + a free mystery item    US $9.99

60 ICED TEAD DRINK MIX w Lemon - MILITARY MEALS    US $7.99

Case-A MRE's (Meals 1-12)Test Date 5/2009    US $75.00

MRE MILITARY MEAL LOT OF 23 MRE MENU BELOW    US $59.99

NEW EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SURVIVAL DISASTER KIT MRE    US $134.99

5 MREs New Sealed in original Packaging. $5 each    US $25.00

BRAND NEW MRE CASE A INSPECT DATE 12/2011    US $45.00

Individual Single MRE Military Meal 2011 2012 any Meal    US $15.99

4 MRE military cases A & B test date 2011    US $200.00

MRE's 11 Main Entrees, Sides and Desserts (94 items)    US $20.00

Case-A MRE's (Meals 1-12)Test Date 10/8    US $40.00

MILITARY MRE PASTA LOT OF ENTREE'S, SIDES AND MORE, A5    US $19.99

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Military MREs are subject to stricter requirements than civilian MREs.  This is because these food rations are for operational and field use.  For highly active individuals, MREs must meet their nutritional needs.  Each military MRE is one self contained individual meal package which has about 1200 calories.  Each MRE case has twelve different meals so that provides the service members some variety which in turn encourages that proper nutritional needs are met.  Beyond nutritional requirements, military MREs meals are regulated for proper packaging.  This is to make sure that the MRE meal contents won’t be spoiled with variable temperatures from high altitude drops or scorching desert temperatures.  Therefore, the shelf life of MREs varies according to their storage conditions.  In ideal conditions, MREs are said to be good for as long as eleven years.  In high heat temperatures hitting 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees the expected shelf life is nine months.  For what is considered normal conditions, the shelf life is three and a half years at 81 degrees Fahrenheit or 27 degrees Celcius.

60 ICED TEAD DRINK MIX w Lemon - MILITARY MEALS    US $7.99

MRE MILITARY MEAL LOT OF 23 MRE MENU BELOW    US $59.99

5 MREs New Sealed in original Packaging. $5 each    US $25.00

BRAND NEW MRE CASE A INSPECT DATE 12/2011    US $45.00

Individual Single MRE Military Meal 2011 2012 any Meal    US $15.99

4 MRE military cases A & B test date 2011    US $200.00

MILITARY MRE PASTA LOT OF ENTREE'S, SIDES AND MORE, A5    US $19.99

Military MRE's    US $50.00

MILITARY MRE BEEF ENTREE'S, SIDES AND MORE, A7    US $19.99

MILITARY MRE CHICKEN ENTREE'S, SIDES AND MORE, A6    US $19.99

MILITARY MRE LOT , MEALS, SIDES, SNACKS, 91 ITEMS, A3    US $19.99

MRE Military Case A FRESH Insp Date 10/2011    US $39.00

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MREs have often been compared with freeze dried food as well since it is used by the government to provide for service members as well along with the disaster relief efforts.  Freeze dried food pouches and cans do have the advantage of having longer shelf life than MRE meals.  With the Mountain House freeze dried food, they purport to last up to 25 years in the right storage conditions.  Freeze dried food is easy to consume as well.  All you have to do is add water and it comes out tasting very much like the original menu.  You can also find pretty extensive menus for Mountain House freeze dried food.  As far as cost goes, freeze dried food costs less than an individual MRE meal.

If you are looking for the 2009 military MRE menu, you can find it below:

01  Chili with Beans
02  Pork Rib
03  Beef Ravioli
04  Maple Sausage
05  Chicken Breast
06  Chicken w/Noodles
07  Brisket Entree
08  Meatballs with Marinara
09  Beef Stew
10  Chili & Macaroni
11  Vegetable Lasagna
12  Veggie Burger with BBQ Sauce
13  Cheese Tortellini
14  Spicy Penne Pasta
15  Beef Enchilada
16  Chicken Fajita
17  Sloppy Joe
18  Beef Patty
19  Pot Roast with Vegetables
20  Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
21  Tuna
22  Chicken with Dumplings
23  Chicken Pesto & Pasta
24  Buffalo Chicken

Freeze dried camping meals and MRE packs are a complete individual meal designed to meet your nutritional needs after strenuous physical activity.  Whether you prefer freeze dried food or MRE meals, there are advantages to both.

If you buy military MREs, you know that they have met the most stringent of tests in terms of field readiness.   Military MREs also contain flameless ration heaters that just require water activation so you can enjoy a hot meal without the need of a camp fire.  With civilian MREs, the FRH is optional on some packages and they are generally more expensive too averaging seven to eight dollars per meal.  Camping freeze dried food pouches on the other hand average four to five dollars a meal.  Obviously, in both instances if you buy in bulk MRE cases or freeze dried food cans, this will reduce the overall cost.  Another advantage for freeze dried food is that it weighs less than MREs.

FREEZE DRIED STRAWBERRIES FRUIT SURVIVAL EMERGENCY FOOD    US $25.99

LONG GRAIN WHITE RICE 50 LB EMERGENCY SURVIVAL FOOD    US $79.99

6 Cans Freeze Dried Food PASTA PRIMAVERA in #10 CANS    US $197.20

19 CASES NATURAL HIGH FREZE DRIED FOOD IN POUCHES    US $647.39

6 Cans Freeze Dried Food - CHICKEN TERIYAKI in #10 CANS    US $188.14

43 VARIETY EMERGENCY SEEDS 251,000 NON-GMO NON-HYBRID    US $99.00

1 Case - Dehydrated Food - Emergency/Survival Food    US $109.95

One #10 Mountain House Freeze Dried Macaroni & Cheese    US $22.44

1 case - Freeze Dried Chili Mac - Emergency/Surval Food    US $148.74

Freeze Dried Strawberries, 1 #10 can    US $39.73

EMERGENCY FOOD SURVIVAL SEED NON-GMO NON-HYBRID 2010    US $21.99

Mountain House Freeze Dried Rice & Chicken #10 Can CAMP    US $107.68

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There has also been some debate on which tastes better, freeze dried food or MRE meals ready to eat.  Obviously, this is up to personal tastes – literally.  The process of freeze drying food does preserve the taste very well and rehydrating it with water makes it a hearty meal.  And while there have been jokes at the expense of MRE meals with respect to taste, both the military version and the civilian version are always making new menus to style to accommodate their clients.  This also includes providing vegetarian meals and Kosher/Halal MRE meals.

There are many positives to freeze dried food for camping or MRE camping meals.  In both instances, you’re getting a convenient ready to eat meal.  Moreover, there are also other advantages such as keeping these food rations in stock for emergency food supplies.  Freeze dried food has a greater shelf life than MREs but if you’re going camping, hiking or backpacking often, you’ll undoubtedly need to restock no matter what camping food you pick.

Most survival experts say that in case of an emergency, you should have a kit prepared to provide you with food and shelter for the first 72 hours.  That is how long you are expected to hold out for until help arrives.  Looking around your house, if you were to be stuck in there without clean food or water, can you make it?  That is why you should have a clean source of drinking water available and emergency ration packs such as MRE meals ready to eat stocked up.

For drinking water, that is easy enough to get as you can buy gallons of pure bottled water.  For survival food supplies, there are many options such as canned food, freeze dried food or MRE meals.  All are excellent options in an emergency and it just depends on your preference of taste, storage and the convenience factor.

mre meal,snacks etc. + a free mystery item    US $9.99

60 ICED TEAD DRINK MIX w Lemon - MILITARY MEALS    US $7.99

Case-A MRE's (Meals 1-12)Test Date 5/2009    US $75.00

MRE MILITARY MEAL LOT OF 23 MRE MENU BELOW    US $59.99

NEW EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SURVIVAL DISASTER KIT MRE    US $134.99

5 MREs New Sealed in original Packaging. $5 each    US $25.00

BRAND NEW MRE CASE A INSPECT DATE 12/2011    US $45.00

Individual Single MRE Military Meal 2011 2012 any Meal    US $15.99

4 MRE military cases A & B test date 2011    US $200.00

MRE's 11 Main Entrees, Sides and Desserts (94 items)    US $20.00

Case-A MRE's (Meals 1-12)Test Date 10/8    US $40.00

MILITARY MRE PASTA LOT OF ENTREE'S, SIDES AND MORE, A5    US $19.99

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Obviously for canned foods, you will need to know where to find your can opener in an emergency.  Will you need to reheat it or can you eat it cold?  For freeze dried food, they can also come in cans or vacuum sealed bags for individual meal packs.  All you need to do is pour water and it tastes just like the original recipe.  For MRE meals, they also come in individual ration packs and if the pack calls for it, a flameless ration heater to eat up the entrée.  Regardless of what decision you make on emergency food supplies, these are also very good options for hiking, camping and backpacking for their convenience, portability, and being lightweight.  Also, let’s face it, sometimes it is also fun to eat out of your individual meal pack and explore the different menus.  Some of these are quite delicious to eat and families have even incorporated them into their regular meal plans.

While it is all fun and games to taste test the emergency rations, there comes a time when you have to decide what you should have in an emergency situation.  Do yourself a favor and be prepared for a crisis situation by having a disaster kit stocked in your house with MRE meals and freeze dried food cans and pouches available.