Cheap Survival Food

[James_Johnson]

I've seen a few ads selling survival food. One was a 5 gallon bucket of food for about $50, $75 or so. I wonder what the lower end of the market looks like. If one was interested in getting as "bare bones" as possible and getting the price as low as possible, what's the cheapest, and most common "survivalist" food?

The reason why I'm asking is that I've always had an affinity for food, survival, and long-term food storage. Also what's an MRE selling for now? I would assume that the price of an MRE is going to be the starting point of any survival food pricing system.

Finally, back in the day we had something called "Lurps" which was "LRP" for "Long Range Patrol". It was a large, single entree that was completely dried and you reconstituted it with boiling water and it was easily the best field chow I ever had. Do they still make them, and if so, how much do they sell for?

 

[jontte]

for my part it started with rice,beans,cans and pre-made ready meals and I do have some 24hr ration packs,one of which is in my BOB.
we don't have the same availability on mre's here as you chaps have on that side of the pond and delivery cost is something away from my preps.

but I know here are alot of ex-mil who should know what the mre's go fo right now,unless some entity is buying them all?

 

[Brent S]

There are lots here that get the long term buckets and other pre made foods. I think your best resource is any discount grocery store you have in your area. Look for sales on canned goods, dry goods like rice and beans, etc. you can buy mason jars reasonably inexpensively and order oxy absorbers from Amazon. Add one oxy absorber to each jar filled with dry goods, screw on the lid, and you have long term storage. One rule of prepping is buy what you normally eat, and eat what you buy, meaning to rotate and use your older stuff before it goes bad.

 

[Gazrok]

Definitely make your own.

With those kits, you're also paying for the convenience of them assembling it all together (including stuff you may not normally eat or want).

Rice, beans, dry cereals, dry pasta, mashed potato flakes, dehydrated camping meals (tastier than an MRE), ration bars, and canned goods. You can put WAY more into such a bucket, and way cheaper, doing it yourself. (and you have control over what's in it).

 

[Brent S]

And if you're really interested in storing food, learn about canning. There's a little bit of up front cost with the jars and supplies, but you will get years and years of use from them. I even use the mason jars as drinking glasses and storage containers for all kinds of things.

 

[FLPrepper]

There is nothing wrong with purchasing food buckets at all, but make sure you read the menus first. There are lots of different suppliers out there and some may just happen to sell buckets with breakfasts/entrees that appeal to you and are worth having as part of your food stores. Having said this, buckets should only be a part of your overall plan. Beans and rice first and build from there.

 

[Gazrok]

And if you're really interested in storing food, learn about canning. There's a little bit of up front cost with the jars and supplies, but you will get years and years of use from them. I even use the mason jars as drinking glasses and storage containers for all kinds of things.

My wife takes mason jars, dollar store candlesticks, and some E6000, and makes Redneck Wine Glasses that we sell in the shop, lol. She does acid etching on them, with western themes.

I can't wait to get into canning. Basically, it will be after we get the garden going in Sept., so not canning until ready to harvest. Hopefully will get supplies as Birthday/Christmas gifts.

 

[Brent S]

My wife takes mason jars, dollar store candlesticks, and some E6000, and makes Redneck Wine Glasses that we sell in the shop, lol. She does acid etching on them, with western themes.

I can't wait to get into canning. Basically, it will be after we get the garden going in Sept., so not canning until ready to harvest. Hopefully will get supplies as Birthday/Christmas gifts.

You can always just hit a farmers market too. If you go early you get first choice of the best looking stuff. I'll never forget, not very long ago I did my first batch in the pressure canner. I was really worried about blowing up the kitchen! It really is safe and easy to learn though. Time consuming, but really rewarding. I've seen the mason jar 'art' around here for sale. I'm in redneck/hillbilly country here. I live about twenty minutes from where they filmed deliverance.

 

[FLPrepper]

Once you get some appropriate long term food in your inventory consider growing some of your own vegetables and fruits - some can be used initially for canning/storage, but if SHTF smaller in-home systems can be prolific (this, of course, assumes you have properly prepared by securing an off grid power source as part of your initial prepping). When the time comes you will be thrilled to have some fresh food to mix in with your canned and freeze dried goods.

 

[Maverick]

I've seen a few ads selling survival food. One was a 5 gallon bucket of food for about $50, $75 or so. I wonder what the lower end of the market looks like. If one was interested in getting as "bare bones" as possible and getting the price as low as possible, what's the cheapest, and most common "survivalist" food?

The reason why I'm asking is that I've always had an affinity for food, survival, and long-term food storage. Also what's an MRE selling for now? I would assume that the price of an MRE is going to be the starting point of any survival food pricing system.

Finally, back in the day we had something called "Lurps" which was "LRP" for "Long Range Patrol". It was a large, single entree that was completely dried and you reconstituted it with boiling water and it was easily the best field chow I ever had. Do they still make them, and if so, how much do they sell for?

I keep and good stock of Augason Farms Emergency Food buckets but I also have my own garden and do my own canning and meat preservation, MRE shelf life is relatively short thus I really don't stock MREs.

Back in the day of LRRP - C/LRP-rations were the order since Uncle Sam had a pretty good stock of MCIs, they switched over to MREs Army wide around the mid 80s with the occasional C/LRP-rations thrown in the mix I still like the C-rations. With the LRP rations we were always struggling for water in certain locations thus on certain patrols we opted for the C rations.

 

[FLPrepper]

I carry dozens of Augason Farms products in my online store and I have always been a huge fan of them. You may want to take a look at Relief Foods - they don't have the product diversity of Augason Farms (not sure anyone does) but their food tastes great.

 

[Silent Bob]

First take a look down into the food forum. Tons of info posted there about food. Here is one example of pdf's placed, but they are all in the food forum. Their is a major blend of operational rations (SoPak and Ameriqual (also goes under the name APak), MRE Star (which I bought about 70 cases, they offer free shipping based on the number of cases you buy), commercial rations (Mountain House, Augason Farms, Emergency Essentials, Legacy, etc are mainstays for my preparedness and these are a blend of number 10 cans, bulk and also when it comes to the buckets/individual pouches are used in our INCH gear). Like above, I would start simple and slow, as everyone else stated as above. Also like most of the folks in here, big advocate of buying what you would eat out of your pantry. So sugar, salt, flour, etc...that is all bulked, is rotated in/out and used during normal cooking to replaced with a run to the SAMs, Walmart or when on sale. Example, salt...I have them stored in 5 gallon BPA free canisters, with about 20 containers that is a bunch of salt, but a necessity. I don't buy too much enriched flour or wheat that is already grounded, most of them are in number 10 cans, dated with purchased date, but the bulk wheat can be grounded with a mill.

http://www.doomsdayprepperforums.co...u-and-other-mil-ration-facts.4794/#post-55609


As for LRPS, they were pretty much rotated out during the early 80's, MRE's were their replacement and during the Iraq/Stan operations, Natick and Defense Supply authorized the implementation of a new LRP, but they do not resemble the old ones used in Vietnam. The news one are simply freeze dried MRE' lines made by Mountain House. I know of only a few distributors who have them and because of rotations made by Defense Supply, stocks are somewhat limited to the last 2015 run. I think Epicenter sells some, attached is the link. Personally, I'd just go buy a bunch of freeze dried packets as mentioned above, the cost for LRPS and the fact that their shelf life would be suspect, would be the two things I'd be concerned about.

http://theepicenter.com/lrp-long-range-patrol-rations-mountain-house.html

Lastly, I have stored the better part of all my operational rations and MRE's in a humidity and temperature controlled storage unit, the setting on it is about 50 degrees for a reason, to extend the rations shelf life after purchasing them. Most people who buy operational rations or emergency rations don't think of where to store them. All told, I have about 20 MREs, 20 buckets of commercial, bulk and 10 cans in my home. This is a real pain in the butt, when your trying to find a nook to place them in closets. If you store them in a shed or garage..just take a look at the temperature of said material during the summer, your shelf life will be cut very quickly. My thoughts, but then I spent 20 plus years eating them and also testing them for wholesomeness/operational use. Don't believe me, well here is a good test to see if the MRE's are heat stressed, open your accessory packet, find the hot sauce, if it is dark red, not the red orange color of normal hot sauce, you know that the rations have been stressed. In this case, ration items like noodle {Tuna Tetrazzini), will be suspect for heat stress.

Also one last thought, never buy off Ebay...sure you might be getting a deal, but you never know what the shelf life is and going by pack date, they wouldn't be unloaded on EBay if they were ration ready.

 

[Silent Earth]

MRE's = Meals Refused by Ethiopians

 

[Gazrok]

You can always just hit a farmers market too.

That's a good point, to learn the skill before a harvest is ready.
We have several produce stands around (as we're in an agricultural area).

 

[Brent S]

That's a good point, to learn the skill before a harvest is ready.
We have several produce stands around (as we're in an agricultural area).

Canning is really easy to learn. It's really labor intensive, but is simple. You don't want to know how much I would charge you for one of the pint jars of tomatoes I've put up! It's almost hard to justify the work it takes to plant, water, harvest, prep and can. I saw crushed tomatoes for 70cents a can at Walmart tonight..... One day Walmart may not be an option, so I'll continue learning.

 

[FLPrepper]

If you are willing to take some time on Friday and/or Saturday morning you may have a chance to pick up your canning supplies for next to nothing by hitting some yard sales. Check craigslist for upcoming sales and on occasion you will find canning supplies listed as an item for sale in one of the locations. I have purchased mason jars for less than a dime apiece and acquired all of my canning equipment in this manner. Some prepper supplies like these don't have to be purchased at retail. Also, there have been times when I have seen canning supplies in addition to other equipment for cheap that you can scoop up at the same time so you can check multiple items off your preppers checklist.

 

[Gazrok]

One day Walmart may not be an option, so I'll continue learning.

There is that, but really, I'm sure it tastes better too. Plus, you know everything that went into it, including your own satisfaction that you did it.

Main expense of getting started is the pressure cooker. The other stuff isn't too bad, but getting the cooker AND the other stuff at once, and you're looking at a couple hundred bucks. Not too horrible, but still enough to have to fit it in with other priorities.

 

[Brent S]

There is that, but really, I'm sure it tastes better too. Plus, you know everything that went into it, including your own satisfaction that you did it.

Main expense of getting started is the pressure cooker. The other stuff isn't too bad, but getting the cooker AND the other stuff at once, and you're looking at a couple hundred bucks. Not too horrible, but still enough to have to fit it in with other priorities.

I like to compare the cost of eating out to prepping items I want. If I skip a restauraunt meal and eat at home for 1/4th the price, I can usually afford the item I want that week. Some things take several skipped meals out, but you get the idea. All I'm sure of is there are tons of excuses not to prep. The real cost will be after you are in a situation and realize you don't have something you need.

 

[FLPrepper]

Don't forget to have some fun along the way - don't always calculate the cost of not being able to check one more thing off your prepper list. I have started spending more time having fun (cheap fun, mind you) as I am terrified of what is going to happen after this election - might as well have some fun while you can! I still add to my prepper supplies every week and don't regret not having more as a result of enjoying myself with friends.

 

[jontte]

and prepping is more effective too,when you have fun from time to time
this is something I don't always remember,tend to focus on the serious side...

I know we prep for doom and gloom,but that will be that day then.my granny told me a couple of times;don't take your sorrow in advance,otherwise you'll end up having experienced it twice,when it actually hit you.

 

[Gazrok]

Lately, we've made some of these preps into little family activities, so that's been good. Granted, some of these are also more for comfort, but the kids are kind of excited about the prospect of a garden, and having fresh veggies at hand, possibly even canning, so we'll see.

 

[Brent S]

Don't forget to have some fun along the way - don't always calculate the cost of not being able to check one more thing off your prepper list. I have started spending more time having fun (cheap fun, mind you) as I am terrified of what is going to happen after this election - might as well have some fun while you can! I still add to my prepper supplies every week and don't regret not having more as a result of enjoying myself with friends.

I couldn't agree more, everything in moderation. I've met people that were so obsessed with saving money that they forgot to live. Money, and everything else, is just part of a balance in life. I'm really lucky in the aspect of most of the prepping projects I undertake are actually fun to me. I love to work with my own two hands and then stand back and see the results. It's cool to know you created something from scraps and recycled junk that would have been wasted.

 

[SheilaT.]

I echo what a lot have said, if your situation allows, start growing your own fruit and vegetables. If not then start with the simple things, the staples that you use every day. Flour, oil, protein foods, vegetables.
A good store of herbs amd spices can make a very boring diet edible.

USU probably have the best resource for online for preppers. I follow a lot of their advice and it has made a huge difference to my food storage programme. I only wish I'd found the resource years ago.

http://extension.usu.edu/homeandfamily

This is a link to their food storage guide PDF. I'd say it's probably the best advice out there.

https://extension.usu.edu/foodstorage/htm/book

I don't know what kind of climate you live in, but I would look on utube and find some videos on home dehydrating you could probably use air drying, If not the best bit of kit you could probably start off with is a simple Nesco dehydrator. There are literally hundreds of videos about dehydrating and if you are unable to access a decent farmers market, I have a lot of frozen veg from the store dehydrated and stored in canning jars.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the buckets, but you are limiting your diet both in flavour and texture.

Finlly and to me this is this is the most imprtant skill you can have; if you can't already, learn to cook from scratch. If you have that skill, you can make a meal with anything.

Good luck with your endevours.

 

[Brent S]

I echo what a lot have said, if your situation allows, start growing your own fruit and vegetables. If not then start with the simple things, the staples that you use every day. Flour, oil, protein foods, vegetables.
A good store of herbs amd spices can make a very boring diet edible.

USU probably have the best resource for online for preppers. I follow a lot of their advice and it has made a huge difference to my food storage programme. I only wish I'd found the resource years ago.

http://extension.usu.edu/homeandfamily

This is a link to their food storage guide PDF. I'd say it's probably the best advice out there.

https://extension.usu.edu/foodstorage/htm/book

I don't know what kind of climate you live in, but I would look on utube and find some videos on home dehydrating you could probably use air drying, If not the best bit of kit you could probably start off with is a simple Nesco dehydrator. There are literally hundreds of videos about dehydrating and if you are unable to access a decent farmers market, I have a lot of frozen veg from the store dehydrated and stored in canning jars.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the buckets, but you are limiting your diet both in flavour and texture.

Finlly and to me this is this is the most imprtant skill you can have; if you can't already, learn to cook from scratch. If you have that skill, you can make a meal with anything.

Good luck with your endevours.

It amazes me how many 20 somethings don't cook at all. Fast food is fine every once in a while, just not everyday....

 

[Brent S]

I echo what a lot have said, if your situation allows, start growing your own fruit and vegetables. If not then start with the simple things, the staples that you use every day. Flour, oil, protein foods, vegetables.
A good store of herbs amd spices can make a very boring diet edible.

USU probably have the best resource for online for preppers. I follow a lot of their advice and it has made a huge difference to my food storage programme. I only wish I'd found the resource years ago.

http://extension.usu.edu/homeandfamily

This is a link to their food storage guide PDF. I'd say it's probably the best advice out there.

https://extension.usu.edu/foodstorage/htm/book

I don't know what kind of climate you live in, but I would look on utube and find some videos on home dehydrating you could probably use air drying, If not the best bit of kit you could probably start off with is a simple Nesco dehydrator. There are literally hundreds of videos about dehydrating and if you are unable to access a decent farmers market, I have a lot of frozen veg from the store dehydrated and stored in canning jars.

I don't think there is anything wrong with the buckets, but you are limiting your diet both in flavour and texture.

Finlly and to me this is this is the most imprtant skill you can have; if you can't already, learn to cook from scratch. If you have that skill, you can make a meal with anything.

Good luck with your endevours.

Thanks for the links

 

[rachaelk]

You can always just hit a farmers market too. If you go early you get first choice of the best looking stuff. I'll never forget, not very long ago I did my first batch in the pressure canner. I was really worried about blowing up the kitchen! It really is safe and easy to learn though. Time consuming, but really rewarding. I've seen the mason jar 'art' around here for sale. I'm in redneck/hillbilly country here. I live about twenty minutes from where they filmed deliverance.

That is interesting, you live very close to where I do, just a mountain away. I can and enjoy it. This week I will be canning greasy beans, pickled beans, and freezing cream style corn. Our garden is expansive but the severe drought has taken its toll this year on production. I take mason jars to school to drink water from, because unlike plastic, no chemicals, and you can sterilize them. The kids give me funny looks though and accuse me of drinking moonshine, which I have of never done. Add a packet of herbal tea and a few marigold flowers for arthritis pain and you really get some funny looks. We have some costly antique mason jars in our basement, really hate when those get accidentally broke. Best cheap food source in my opinion is knowing what readily grows in your area, and for the winter, home canned vegetable soup mixed with a can of campbell's tomato soup is a lunch staple my kids love to eat.

 

[Brent S]

That is interesting, you live very close to where I do, just a mountain away. I can and enjoy it. This week I will be canning greasy beans, pickled beans, and freezing cream style corn. Our garden is expansive but the severe drought has taken its toll this year on production. I take mason jars to school to drink water from, because unlike plastic, no chemicals, and you can sterilize them. The kids give me funny looks though and accuse me of drinking moonshine, which I have of never done. Add a packet of herbal tea and a few marigold flowers for arthritis pain and you really get some funny looks. We have some costly antique mason jars in our basement, really hate when those get accidentally broke. Best cheap food source in my opinion is knowing what readily grows in your area, and for the winter, home canned vegetable soup mixed with a can of campbell's tomato soup is a lunch staple my kids love to eat.

This really is one of the most beautiful places to live in the country. I live just a couple miles from panther creek, it's really a beautiful hike back to a great rock faced waterfall. It's cool to be away from civilization just down the road.
I enjoy cooking but soups and stews are my specialties. I can just about everything from the garden and use it all year long in them. I have a pretty well stocked pantry, that's about half of my own canned goods. My goal is to have 90% of the stuff from my own garden one day. I had chickens and rabbits for a while, and learned to clean and cook them, but mostly did it to learn how to care for them to be sure I can do it if ever needed. I never really got used to offing the rabbits though. I guess they were just too cute. For now I'm just preserving the vegetables, and buy meat from the store. As far as using mason jars for everyday use, oh yeah. I like to describe my decorating style as early Cracker Barrel esk. I have all kinds of old country stuff everywhere. How many people do you know where their prized art consists of an 8' crosscut saw and an oxyen yoke

 

[rachaelk]

This really is one of the most beautiful places to live in the country. I live just a couple miles from panther creek, it's really a beautiful hike back to a great rock faced waterfall. It's cool to be away from civilization just down the road.
I enjoy cooking but soups and stews are my specialties. I can just about everything from the garden and use it all year long in them. I have a pretty well stocked pantry, that's about half of my own canned goods. My goal is to have 90% of the stuff from my own garden one day. I had chickens and rabbits for a while, and learned to clean and cook them, but mostly did it to learn how to care for them to be sure I can do it if ever needed. I never really got used to offing the rabbits though. I guess they were just too cute. For now I'm just preserving the vegetables, and buy meat from the store. As far as using mason jars for everyday use, oh yeah. I like to describe my decorating style as early Cracker Barrel esk. I have all kinds of old country stuff everywhere. How many people do you know where their prized art consists of an 8' crosscut saw and an oxyen yoke

Are you in the Panther Creek area down past Bryson headed towards Fontana? I teach in Bryson but live next to WCU. It is a bit of a commute to work but where we live on family farm land is beautiful. The family inherited away our painted saws and oxen yokes. Most of what we eat we grow, but still I spend so much on groceries it is unreal. My husband hunts up wayah and that usually helps a lot. We have gone camping a couple of times up Panther Creek campground, it is a beautiful area and my kids love the trout pond there.

 

[rachaelk]

Lately, we've made some of these preps into little family activities, so that's been good. Granted, some of these are also more for comfort, but the kids are kind of excited about the prospect of a garden, and having fresh veggies at hand, possibly even canning, so we'll see.

My kids are competing against each other for who can grow the biggest candy roasters and watermelons.

 

[Brent S]

Are you in the Panther Creek area down past Bryson headed towards Fontana? I teach in Bryson but live next to WCU. It is a bit of a commute to work but where we live on family farm land is beautiful. The family inherited away our painted saws and oxen yokes. Most of what we eat we grow, but still I spend so much on groceries it is unreal. My husband hunts up wayah and that usually helps a lot. We have gone camping a couple of times up Panther Creek campground, it is a beautiful area and my kids love the trout pond there.

I'm just south of talluha falls, so in NE Ga., not NW. I grew up near the beach, but the first time I saw the mountains I fell in love. I got up at 4:30 to peel tomatoes, which I'll can tonight. I've been busy working outside so much for a week that I'm having a hard time getting to the things I like, and need to do. I don't hunt, but would like to learn. Does your husband ever get any elk? I remember when they reintroduced them over in cataloochee. They took off without any natural predators around. One day I'd love to try the meat.
What is a candy roaster? I had no luck with the watermelons this year. It just got too hot too fast. I'd like to hear what crops you've had success with. So far I've had great yield with tomatoes, okra, beets, carrots, onions, kale, turnips, cukes, potatoes, beans, and peppers. I'm always looking for new things to try. I used to get a lot of squash and zucchini but the last two years were too hot for them. I planted a lot of peach, apple, plum and fig trees too. The apples do great, but the others are so much work that I don't think I would plant them again. I am looking fowards to the first apple pie of the season! Oh, I planted a bunch of blueberries and thornless blackberries too that thrive here in Ga. I have wild ones too, but the cultivated ones produce so much better.