How do you keep yourself fed during emergencies?
I have written several articles about staying prepared for “SHTF” scenarios or if society as we know it falls.
Usually my focus is on the technical side, such as generating electricity with solar panels or filtering water, but today I am shifting to something just as vital for survival: food.
More specifically, I am going to cook and eat an MRE (Meal, Ready-to-Eat).
Meet the MRE STAR Complete Meals
The team at PreparedBee.com, a site dedicated to emergency readiness, sent over a case of MRE STAR Complete Meals for me to test.
The box comes with 12 complete meals featuring six different menu varieties (two of each) per case.
What is really cool and essential for an emergency is that each meal comes with its own flameless ration heater. You do not need a stove or a fire because all it takes is about 2 ounces of water to activate the chemical heater and get a hot meal in minutes.
The Heating Element: First Impressions
This was actually my first time testing a heater bag, and I have to say I was impressed by how fast it activated. It started reacting almost immediately and quickly became too hot to touch. In about 15 minutes, the meal was steaming hot.
I will break down exactly how the heating process works in a second, but let us look at what you actually get inside the bag.
What is included in an MRE STAR kit?
Each of these kits packs about 1,195 calories, which is about half of the calories most of us men eat during a day. You can see the full macro breakdown in the image below.
In the example below, I opened the Chicken and Rice meal. Along with the main entree, the bag includes:
- Sides: Toasted corn, crackers, and an oatmeal cookie
- Extras: A cheese spread for the crackers
- The Accessory Pack: A spoon, napkin, sugar, instant coffee, creamer, salt, pepper, a toothpick, and even crushed red pepper flakes for extra flavor
- Hydration, Hygiene, Candy: Vitamin-enriched lemonade drink powder, a hand wipe, and a piece of candy
How to Heat Your Main Dish
The main meal comes in its own cardboard sleeve, which also holds the heater bag. Here is the process:
- Rip the top off the heater bag and slide the sealed entrée pouch inside.
- Add about 2 ounces of water (up to the fill line) and fold the top of the bag over.
- Slide the whole thing back into the cardboard box for insulation.
You will immediately hear the “hiss” as the bag activates. Let it sit for 15 minutes, and you’ll have a hot dinner ready to go.
The Verdict: A Complete Survival Meal
As you can see in the photo below, it turns out to be a pretty substantial meal. To be honest, the quality is high enough that I would happily take these on a camping trip.
While 1,200 calories might feel light for a large adult, it should be enough for a lunch or a dinner.
Conclusion
I will be honest: I expected the food to taste a lot worse than it did. I ended up finishing the whole thing.
I would definitely recommend these for anyone looking to build up an emergency food supply or even for travelers and RVers who want a hot meal on the road with minimal cleanup.
Check out the full selection of MRE STAR Meals at PreparedBee.com.
