Emergency Food Supply Kit... A Review...

[Tim Horton]

Readywise Emergency Food Supply​

From Costco, 1/7/25.. $64.oo…

Kits like this have been mentioned regularly on different forums this winter.. So I got this one to do a ...test… Being the good, efficient prepper I am, I got one in a reusable, secure plastic bucket.. It is a square bucket, close to 5 gallon size, with a hinged lid like on cat litter buckets. The kit weighs 12 ¾ net pounds.. Labeled ..Just Add Water.. ..25Year Shelf Life.. 132 servings..

Opening the bucket I find 2 pages of preparation instructions that cover many more items than in this kit.. Obviously meant to be used in multiple kits.. There are 17 pouches of items in this bucket.. In no particular order..

2 packs Brown Sugar Maple cereal 6 servings each

2 packs Apple Cinnamon Cereal 6 servings each

2 packs Chicken Flavored Noodle Soup 6 servings each

2 packs Creamy Pasta Vegetables appear to be 6 servings each

1 pack BBQ Beans appears to be 8 servings

2 packs Orange Drink mix 16 servings each

1 pack Whey Milk mix 12 servings

1 pack Vanilla pudding 8 servings

1 pack Tomato Basil Soup w/pasta 6 servings

1 pack Southwest Rice and Beans 6 servings

1 pack Cheesy Macaroni 6 servings

1 pack Teriyaki Rice 6 servings

LUCKILY….. The Preparation Instructions give one serving instructions as well as the whole pouch instructions.. This is good as my plans are to make these meals as if I were working with the pouch ingredients, and water over my old trusty wood fired HOBO camp stove.. Unfortunately, I don’t find this particular bucket selection on the Readywise web site to link a picture and such.. More later..

 

[montanabill]

Is it sold as a vegetarian food bucket....Interested in how many calories that would provide per day for how many days...

 

[Magus]

Add some corned beef, tinned chicken, and tuna.

 

[Morgan101]

Is it sold as a vegetarian food bucket....Interested in how many calories that would provide per day for how many days...

I agree. I have several buckets from different manufacturers in my long term storage, but there is a wide gap between what they consider a "serving" and what I consider a serving. Nothing wrong with it. It will be a good addition to your larder. I would calculate the number of servings myself, and not rely on their data.

 

[RJ2019]

Update us on the edibility of the contents as you're able. From what I've seen the buckets don't tend to be a good investment as far as nutrition per dollar, but maybe this has better packaging or something that makes it worth the price.

 

[Magus]

I expect the apocalypse is imminent now that my supply has dwindled after two years of back to back disasters.

 

[Weedygarden]

I expect the apocalypse is imminent now that my supply has dwindled after two years of back to back disasters.

Isn't that how life works?

 

[montanabill]

The good thing about such buckets is that at least they are something....buy it taste it then store it for that day when it will be a blessing..
My plan for feeding a group leans heavily towards soups and stews... Throw in some animal parts and some of the packets from the bucket and viola, food to fill the belly.

Bread and water can just as easily be tea and toast.

 

[Magus]

Isn't that how life works?

Life only works when I do bad things. Unfortunately, my conscience plays rough.

 

[Weedygarden]

Bread and water can just as easily be tea and toast.

I imagine that this was a very common meal in centuries going back. Meat was not commonly eaten by peasants and serfs, maybe once a week, on Sundays. They lived on estates and were only allowed to hunt with permission of the nobleman in charge. Peas were also commonly eaten in a soup, because they grew fast. My dad's family often had bean sandwiches during the Great Depression.

 

[Tommyice]

My dad's family often had bean sandwiches during the Great Depression.

Can of baked beans and toast is some good eats

 

[Hardcalibres]

Is this the nutritional label on the bucket?

Note that the average person needs 1500-2500 calories per day (depending upon many factors including the level of physical activity).

Note also from the nutritional table for the bucket, it provides a significant percentage of the daily recommended intake of salt and sugar.....but not protein, carbs or fats.

If the average calories per serving is 120, then the 132 servings equals a total calorie count of 15840 or about 7 days for one person.......but that will not be a balanced diet......and health/morale will decline over that time if it is all you have to eat.

For those who have been into prepping food over the long term, different companies that provide emergency foods have earned different reputations.

Mountain House has about the best reputation and Wise has the worst. Most people who have tried eating Wise products (and the alternatives) rated the palatability and value for money as poor.

Someone wanting to prep emergency food is better off buying bulk dry LTS foods and packaging those themselves (in mylar bags with O2 absorbers)....then combining those with commercial canned foods. Doing so will get you better food that will feed you for longer.....and keep you functional/happy.

Wise Foods Inc is currently owned by a Mexican company Arca Continental

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wise_Foods

 

[Mountain trapper]

Can of baked beans and toast is some good eats

Years ago when we were poor we couldn't afford meat very often so we'd eat bean tacos. They were pretty good.