When it comes to emergency preparedness, there are a few things that you and your family definitely need to have on hand. Disasters can happen at any time and it’s so important that you and your family have everything ready that you need to be able to shelter in place until help can arrive. It’s so important to have clean water for drinking and hygiene, as well as gear to be able to keep you warm in cold weather. The other big essential, of course, is food. Many of us have enough food on hand to last us for a few days or even for a few weeks, but without power or gas it can be difficult to cook complete meals during an extended emergency situation. If you want to ensure that you are going to be able to feed everyone in the house, it’s a good idea to consider both how much food you need as well as how you are going to prepare it. MRE’s are the answer to the problem!
If you haven’t heard of MRE’s before, the acronym stands for ‘meals ready to eat’ and they are the kind of food you want to have on hand when you don’t want to spend a lot of time and resources cooking. You can get these meals dehydrated or freeze dried, depending on your preferences, and you can explore options that are packaged as complete meals with a protein, vegetable, fruit, and dessert or you can choose to get each part of the meal packaged separately. When you shop, you will find them offered both individually or in big packages.
However you choose to buy your meals, it’s a good idea to consider where you will be storing them first. Many brands will recommend that they try to keep them out of the extreme heat you might find in your garage, and sometimes the packaging can take up a lot of space.
Once you know the amount of room that you have for storage in a safe space, you can shop for the best choice for your family while considering several key factors. Are the meals delicious and nutritious, and do they offer meals that your family will enjoy? What is the shelf life of the brand you are considering? Do the meals have any special instructions for preparing them? And can you afford the minimum amount that you want to have on hand in an emergency? You are sure to find the right fit for your family’s needs with this guide.