Great idea. I got hooked on budget prep shopping over the last few years and it's SUPER addictive! Every time I went to the store I would dedicate 10 bucks towards just buying things based on price and nutrition type like you are doing with the "formula " . I might buy something I wouldn't normally get, but it's cheap protein or carbs so I just get it and store it. Asian markets are the best for this . You can get a huge block of various plain noodles for next to nothing . Think I'll package some up now , I can totally see the value of having it be a know quantity for planning out a stretch of time in an emergency .
Yep great idea, I always have my eyes open, especially at Walmart and the Dollar store. What are some of the other budget prepping ideas that you have?
@@mattsgaragediy If had to pick 1 thing, it's get good at soups/stews. You get the maximum nutritional value from meat by boiling it. Armies figured this out centuries ago. And you can buy the cheapest , otherwise unusable cuts . Can even use jerky. Then just learn how to use several methods of thickening ,flour's best because the gluten adds protein, but cornstarch or oatmeal works fine. From there you're bound to have things like beans, canned veggies or rice . It's certainly not new, but I'm surprised how few people do this. For example I can turn 2 chicken thighs into about 3 days worth of stew. But if I just cooked them off I lose lots of the fat and I'm going to eat both in one sitting . Same with the side dishes . 2 cups of rice on a plate vs. 2 cups in a stew is different from a filling and even caloric point . That fatty liquid and thickening agent changes things
@@BradYaeger Great to see someone else using this highly efficient, nutritional and tasty practical approach. Mixed canned veg with vacuum packed dry meats is an excellent choice for camping trips. Even the water the veg comes in makes a great stock base. I've been using this during my camping/fishing trips here in Ireland for decades now. It's very tasty, convenient, enjoyable and takes up very little space, or weight.
great ideas. Forgot about black tape. I'm using the orange fast food plastic containers- I think Waddleburger uses them for salads and family size fries. Perfect size for an mre.
Great tips, thank for sharing! Been trying to put together field ration kits for hunting and hiking. Tired of the last minute toss whatever I have in the bag junk food meals I normally do.
Thanks, its be great to have a half dozen of these on hand. I have found cans of flaked ham and turkey as well which are great if you're not big on tuna or sardines.
Thanks Paul, they are super handy and you can even get the family involved in filling them and finding new and interesting things to pack as part of the meal. Enjoy!
It's pretty close to an 80s 24 hour ration pack minus biscuit brown but you can make hard tack at home if you want to and have a good dentist! I would say be aware of taking the lower calorie options like the tuna if you are putting in the miles on foot, sometimes they're just not enough to keep you fuelled up. The south east Asian options can add a little variety, rice noodles, soba noodles ect and they're light to carry. You can still get cheap dehydrators if you want to go one step further but the way things are going probably not for much longer.
Great idea, personally I would add a pack of roman noodles super cheap last forever, and can be eaten wet or dry, and if there is any extra space bullion cubes. If you want to hit certain daily macros adding a few vitamins can help supplement these incomplete survival foods. The last thing you might consider adding is a couple water purification tablets. Great kit though thanks for the ideas!
The reason for the sodium as high as it is, is to help preserve water by retaining it in the body. In many environments, high salt, carbs, and protein is necessary because of the stresses of combat, and field use. Nothing is the way it is without intent.
military mre s have a shelf live of 5 years had some that were 7-8 years old still good . sure they taste horrible but in a survival , hiking or camping... works great . 1 mre has the nutrition for a whole day 1 mre vs 3 your mre for a day . plus your mre s have to be rotated 1 to 3 years depending what you put in your mre s ever done the math ? 1 mre cost about $ 3.80 a meal . shop around on internet . mil mre s weigh 16 to 20 oz . how much your can food weigh ? mil mre does not need water can opener heat sure they are high in sodium . but hiking all day you will sweat out alot of sodium and you need to replace it .
I was gonna comment that the gorilla tape was the most expensive part of the meal-but then you pointed out they were reusable, as well as multi-purpose tape/tinder/storage supply. So if you actually do keep using them they will literally halve in “price” with each repeated use. 👍👍
Here are a some links to a few of the items. Walmart and Dollar stores are your best best. Gorilla Tape -> www.gorillatough.com/product/black-gorilla-tape/ Small canned Tuna -> www.saveonfoods.com/sm/pickup/rsid/1982/product/western-family-flaked-light-tuna-lemon-&-dill-00062639307295 Side Kicks -> www.knorr.com/ca/en/knorr-products/knorr-sidekicks/tomato-alfredo-pasta-side-dish.html Uncle Bens rice and beans -> www.amazon.ca/Original-Pulses-Smokey-Flavour-Beans/dp/B09CGF4DQQ/ref=asc_df_B09CGF4DQQ/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292944345803&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7145843676115217990&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001327&hvtargid=pla-1590221244641&th=1
Hi Chris, I have no doubt that you did, if it comes down to it we can eat food well past the recommend expiry date. I am building these for hunting hiking and camping so I have the option to make sure everything is safe to start and to recheck every year or 6 months if they are on the shelf in my basement. What was the oldest MRE you ever had to eat?
@@mattsgaragediy we could never really tell the exact date, we knew they were old by the color of the mre pouch, the older ones were always a dark brown and the newer ones were tan.
Hey, I totally agree that you need more sodium when working and sweating. I was looking at what the US National Library of Medicine recommends for an athlete working out for 10 hours in 95F and they recommend an additional 2300mg of sodium. That equates to 1900 daily plus 2300 exercise = 4200mg for the entire day, 3 MREs a day will give you 11,400mg. Short term and being a young healthy soldier I'm sure that's okay, I just didn't want that as a goal number when making these, especially if I'm not sweating for 10 hours straight. Its a tough number to hit, even with three of the meals I made it still is coming in around 5700 mg a day.
THE REASON FOR THE HIGH AMOUNTS OF SODIUM, SOLDIERS SWEAT A HUGE AMOUNT DUE TO HEAT, CARRYING EXTRA EQUIPMENT, LOTS OF HIGH EXERTIONS, AND HEAT RETAINING UNIFORMS. THE LOW AMOUNT OF FIBER, IN COMBAT YOU CAN'T DROP YOUR DRAWERS WHEN THE URGE HITS, YOU MIGHT BE KILLED.
Very nice idea on the packaging, never thought of that! Thanks for a great idea!
Thanks, it works really well. I have reused them several times and they hold up really well
What an ingenious idea making mre bags with ziploc bags and duct tape! Wow! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Thanks Ray. Always looking for new ideas to try or share, feel free to share any ideas you have tried or that have worked for you as well
Great idea. I got hooked on budget prep shopping over the last few years and it's SUPER addictive! Every time I went to the store I would dedicate 10 bucks towards just buying things based on price and nutrition type like you are doing with the "formula " . I might buy something I wouldn't normally get, but it's cheap protein or carbs so I just get it and store it. Asian markets are the best for this . You can get a huge block of various plain noodles for next to nothing . Think I'll package some up now , I can totally see the value of having it be a know quantity for planning out a stretch of time in an emergency .
Yep great idea, I always have my eyes open, especially at Walmart and the Dollar store. What are some of the other budget prepping ideas that you have?
@@mattsgaragediy If had to pick 1 thing, it's get good at soups/stews. You get the maximum nutritional value from meat by boiling it. Armies figured this out centuries ago. And you can buy the cheapest , otherwise unusable cuts . Can even use jerky. Then just learn how to use several methods of thickening ,flour's best because the gluten adds protein, but cornstarch or oatmeal works fine. From there you're bound to have things like beans, canned veggies or rice . It's certainly not new, but I'm surprised how few people do this. For example I can turn 2 chicken thighs into about 3 days worth of stew. But if I just cooked them off I lose lots of the fat and I'm going to eat both in one sitting . Same with the side dishes . 2 cups of rice on a plate vs. 2 cups in a stew is different from a filling and even caloric point . That fatty liquid and thickening agent changes things
@@BradYaeger Great to see someone else using this highly efficient, nutritional and tasty practical approach. Mixed canned veg with vacuum packed dry meats is an excellent choice for camping trips. Even the water the veg comes in makes a great stock base. I've been using this during my camping/fishing trips here in Ireland for decades now. It's very tasty, convenient, enjoyable and takes up very little space, or weight.
That was the best DIY MRE video I've seen.
Thanks! I appreciate the feedback.
Good one with the zip lock bag mod, new idea to me. Thanks!
Nice idea with wrapping the zip lock bags with gorilla tape. Woulsnt have thought of that one. Will be testing this
Yep real handy, I have reused the same bag several times. Also used it for a cold weather kit in my glove box. Tons of uses.
Brilliant idea on the duck tape baggies! The first thing I was wondering is where did he get those black bags. Lol
Ya, super handy and reusable
I ask for xtra Condiments pkgs salt and pepper pkgs napkins and anything free from drive throughs and save them in bags to add to my home made mre
free stuff is good stuff, keep it up
Good ideas, no outrageous claims, budget sense advice and choices. Thanks for sharing. Great video.
Thanks!
Great solution, really helpful.
Thanks
great ideas. Forgot about black tape. I'm using the orange fast food plastic containers- I think Waddleburger uses them for salads and family size fries. Perfect size for an mre.
Interesting that's a good idea too
Great tips, thank for sharing! Been trying to put together field ration kits for hunting and hiking. Tired of the last minute toss whatever I have in the bag junk food meals I normally do.
Thanks, its be great to have a half dozen of these on hand. I have found cans of flaked ham and turkey as well which are great if you're not big on tuna or sardines.
Just found your channel. Awesome advice. Thanks for sharing this. Can't wait to make some for my family.
Thanks Paul, they are super handy and you can even get the family involved in filling them and finding new and interesting things to pack as part of the meal. Enjoy!
Awesome idea for the MRE bag!
thanks!
Beauty set up!! I always add a sachet of instant hot chocolate powder and some fun size halloween chocolate bars... for the kids. 😜😜😜🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Yep great idea, gives some variety
Awesome video
Thanks
It's pretty close to an 80s 24 hour ration pack minus biscuit brown but you can make hard tack at home if you want to and have a good dentist! I would say be aware of taking the lower calorie options like the tuna if you are putting in the miles on foot, sometimes they're just not enough to keep you fuelled up. The south east Asian options can add a little variety, rice noodles, soba noodles ect and they're light to carry. You can still get cheap dehydrators if you want to go one step further but the way things are going probably not for much longer.
Great idea, personally I would add a pack of roman noodles super cheap last forever, and can be eaten wet or dry, and if there is any extra space bullion cubes. If you want to hit certain daily macros adding a few vitamins can help supplement these incomplete survival foods. The last thing you might consider adding is a couple water purification tablets. Great kit though thanks for the ideas!
VITAMINS, GREAT IDEA.
Awesome bag idea
thanks, it holds up really well and I have used variations of it for a bunch of things
as one that lives in cal we have a slight fire problem here. and seeing your camp fire and NO dirt around it just dried grass. is scary.
thank you! great channel, you definitely deserve more subs.
I appreciate that!
You can put water for the meal on the pouch and vacuum seal it with the meal pack.
Yes and no, don't just seal tap water into vacuum bags. I would suggest Datrex emergency water packs. 125ml and I believe a shelf life of 5 yrs
Unbelievable...brilliant work! Thanks
Thanks!🙂
Great tips!
Thanks for the tips, and the upload!
The reason for the sodium as high as it is, is to help preserve water by retaining it in the body. In many environments, high salt, carbs, and protein is necessary because of the stresses of combat, and field use. Nothing is the way it is without intent.
AND SOME PAPER NAPKINS ARE GOOD FOR A LOT OF SITUATIONS
u bet! Good addition
I have a vacuum sealer. I just use that to seal my dyi mres.
Great idea, if I had one I would give it a try.
Great video! Thanks
U bet, if you find other great items to add please share them in the comments.
Cool good job 👍
Thanks
Nicely done
Thanks👍
Putting the tape on the bags is great idea!!!
comes in super handy, i have re-used the bags many times and peeled tape off too
Just came across your channel. New subscriber.
Thanks!
Thanks for the video! Really great tips! Now if I could find a cheaper source of gorilla tape!
Ya I hear you.
military mre s have a shelf live of 5 years had some that were 7-8 years old still good . sure they taste horrible but in a survival , hiking or camping... works great . 1 mre has the nutrition for a whole day 1 mre vs 3 your mre for a day . plus your mre s have to be rotated 1 to 3 years depending what you put in your mre s ever done the math ? 1 mre cost about $ 3.80 a meal . shop around on internet .
mil mre s weigh 16 to 20 oz . how much your can food weigh ? mil mre does not need water can opener heat
sure they are high in sodium . but hiking all day you will sweat out alot of sodium and you need to replace it .
This is genius, can you provide links for all the items if possible?
you bet, give me a few days to put it together
Added then now
@@mattsgaragediy awesome thanks 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Gorilla tape is expensively. Did you factory it into the cost of per meal?
I did not, with some quick calcs that would be about 65 to 75 cents extra per bag
I'm expressed!
I was gonna comment that the gorilla tape was the most expensive part of the meal-but then you pointed out they were reusable, as well as multi-purpose tape/tinder/storage supply. So if you actually do keep using them they will literally halve in “price” with each repeated use. 👍👍
I was thinking the same thing.
You bet, I have reused/refilled bags a half dozen times with no issues
I was going to suggest that. Of course it's not true-- You don't use a whole roll of Gorilla tape per meal. But that is a pretty high cost.
The Gorilla tape is the most expensive item of the whole MRE.
Yep, dollar store tape would work just as well in this case. I just went with what I had at home
Here are a some links to a few of the items. Walmart and Dollar stores are your best best.
Gorilla Tape -> www.gorillatough.com/product/black-gorilla-tape/
Small canned Tuna -> www.saveonfoods.com/sm/pickup/rsid/1982/product/western-family-flaked-light-tuna-lemon-&-dill-00062639307295
Side Kicks -> www.knorr.com/ca/en/knorr-products/knorr-sidekicks/tomato-alfredo-pasta-side-dish.html
Uncle Bens rice and beans -> www.amazon.ca/Original-Pulses-Smokey-Flavour-Beans/dp/B09CGF4DQQ/ref=asc_df_B09CGF4DQQ/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292944345803&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7145843676115217990&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001327&hvtargid=pla-1590221244641&th=1
Heh, we (Army) ate MREs a lot older than what you stated....
Hi Chris, I have no doubt that you did, if it comes down to it we can eat food well past the recommend expiry date. I am building these for hunting hiking and camping so I have the option to make sure everything is safe to start and to recheck every year or 6 months if they are on the shelf in my basement. What was the oldest MRE you ever had to eat?
@@mattsgaragediy we could never really tell the exact date, we knew they were old by the color of the mre pouch, the older ones were always a dark brown and the newer ones were tan.
Ahh I see, doesn't sound tasty :)
If you are going to be sweating alot, you make want that extra sodium.
Hey, I totally agree that you need more sodium when working and sweating. I was looking at what the US National Library of Medicine recommends for an athlete working out for 10 hours in 95F and they recommend an additional 2300mg of sodium. That equates to 1900 daily plus 2300 exercise = 4200mg for the entire day, 3 MREs a day will give you 11,400mg. Short term and being a young healthy soldier I'm sure that's okay, I just didn't want that as a goal number when making these, especially if I'm not sweating for 10 hours straight. Its a tough number to hit, even with three of the meals I made it still is coming in around 5700 mg a day.
i am sick of the hf commercial. they say do it for less. but show a $100,000car.
You used more calories than gained making your baggie.
THE REASON FOR THE HIGH AMOUNTS OF SODIUM, SOLDIERS SWEAT A HUGE AMOUNT DUE TO HEAT, CARRYING EXTRA EQUIPMENT, LOTS OF HIGH EXERTIONS, AND HEAT RETAINING UNIFORMS. THE LOW AMOUNT OF FIBER, IN COMBAT YOU CAN'T DROP YOUR DRAWERS WHEN THE URGE HITS, YOU MIGHT BE KILLED.