Ready to revolutionize your emergency food strategy without breaking the bank? In episode 860, Todd discusses a pain point for preppers: expensive commercial MREs that families simply won’t eat. He reveals the straightforward approach to creating DIY MREs that cost a fraction of store-bought versions while delivering meals your family will actually consume during stressful situations. You’ll discover the essential mindset shift between bug-out scenarios versus camping trips, and why this distinction completely changes how you should approach emergency meal planning.
Todd also shares a 5-day menu, breaks down the vacuum sealing process that keeps your meals compact and safe from critters, and explains which readily available grocery store items work best for grab-and-go emergency situations. Whether you’re building your first bug-out bag or upgrading your existing emergency food storage, this episode provides the practical roadmap for creating professional-quality MREs that prioritize both nutrition and family acceptance. Stop gambling with expensive commercial options and start building emergency food your family will thank you for during their time of greatest need.
Sample DIY MRE Menu
Use the same DIY MRE Menu to mix and match the items that would best fit your family’s eating preferences. The goal is to have items that won’t require a lot of prep time and can be eaten quickly while you are getting to your bugout location.
5-DAY NO-COOK DIY MRE PLAN
DAY 1
- Breakfast: Granola bar + peanut butter crackers + instant coffee
- Lunch: Tuna pouch + mayo packet + Ritz crackers + fruit leather
- Dinner: Ready-to-eat chicken salad kit (comes with crackers) + jerky stick
- Snack: Trail mix pouch + hard candy
DAY 2
- Breakfast: Pop-Tarts + shelf-stable protein shake
- Lunch: Summer sausage (mini) + shelf-stable cheese (Babybel or Laughing Cow) + flatbread or crackers
- Dinner: Dinty Moore beef stew can (or pouch) + granola bar
- Snack: Fruit snacks + nuts
DAY 3
- Breakfast: Breakfast cookie (BelVita) + nut butter packet + tea bag
- Lunch: Chicken or tuna salad foil pouch + tortilla + applesauce cup
- Dinner: Hormel Compleats (no fridge needed) + crackers
- Snack: Chocolate bar or protein bar
DAY 4
- Breakfast: Instant oatmeal packet (can eat dry or add cold water) + jerky stick + powdered drink mix
- Lunch: Peanut butter & honey sandwich (Uncrustable-type or DIY vacuum-sealed) + dried fruit
- Dinner: Vienna sausages + cheese crackers + fig bar
- Snack: Trail mix + gum
DAY 5
- Breakfast: Cereal bar + powdered milk packet (drink cold) + raisins
- Lunch: Salmon pouch + tortilla or rice cakes + pudding cup
- Dinner: Spam singles pouch + instant rice cup (eat cold) + sunflower seeds
- Snack: Energy bar + mint or hard candy
Links for this Episode
Of Interest
Walmart sells shelf stable Walking Tamales that are good for hiking trips.