This Mountain House Just in Case 5 Day Emergency Food Supply came in a box about the size of powdered laundry detergent, but was very light- 4.6 lbs as listed on the package. The best-used-by date was prominently displayed on the back of the box, "Dec 2027," and it opened up to show 15 separate foil pouches each containing 2, 2.5, or 3 servings per pouch, with 37 servings of food all together. One side of the box listed all the nutritional facts for each type of food pouch, and each pouch had the nutritional facts on it too, along with directions. The food pouches in the box were:
Biscuits & Gravy (2 pouches of 2 servings each- 310 calories per serving) ;
Breakfast Skillet (1 pouch/2 servings- 400 calories per serving);
Scrambled Eggs w Ham (2 pouches/2 servings each-190 calories per serving);
Chicken Fried Rice (2 pouches/ 2.5 servings each- 260 calories per serving);
Chili Mac (2 pouches/2.5 servings each- 230 calories per serving);
Mac & Cheese (2 pouches/3 servings each- 320 calories per serving);
Mex Rice & Chicken (2 pouches/3 servings each- 210 calories per serving);
Pasta Primavera (2 pouches/2.5 servings each- 210 calories per serving).
I wanted to try a pouch of food, so i waited for lunch, and i was really hungry. i picked Biscuits and Gravy cuz i was curious how the biscuit part would be, and whether the light pouch would actually be filling enough for just me, much less me and a second "servee." The directions said to 1) tear open the pack and discard the oxygen absorber. Of course, i couldn't follow even the first direction right, so i left in the absorber... then 2) add 1 3/4 cup boiling water; 3) stir and close zipper (like a zip-lock bag)- optionally, you could stir again at the 4-minute mark. 4) let stand 8-9 minutes, stir and eat.
I guess i was not the only dull person to use these products, who could not follow simple directions, because there was an asterisk after step one, which takes you to a note near the bottom that says, "*if you forgot to remove oxygen absorber before adding water, don't worry. Your food is still safe to eat. Simply remove and discard absorber." whew. I poured/ spooned about 1/2 of the biscuit/sausage/gravy mix in the bag onto a plate. granted, it was chopped up for better rehydration, so didn't look particularly pretty (but really, what kind of plating art could one expect w biscuits and gravy?), but it was quite yummy, and warm and filling. even the biscuits had some bigger chunks that had a few crispy-er, less hydrated parts to go with the softer bits, so that the mouthfeel was similar to what you might expect from a regular plate of biscuits and gravy at home.
i could imagine that after a good hike in cold weather, or waking up from your camp, that this meal would be a very welcome treat. --or, if you were starving because you were in an actual emergency scenario, you'd probably never have tasted anything so good. I could definitely see having zero problems eating this in an emergency (or just for lunch like i just did). Surprisingly, i felt a bit full- it was only about 310 calories per serving, and i only had about one of the two servings in the pouch, so i didn't expect to feel even remotely satisfied, since i started out hungry. If you're a big dude (i'm a smallish gal), you could easily eat the whole pouch. On the other hand, this will keep you going, even at these minimal rations, so u don't feel like eating your shoes (or your neighbors) immediately. the sheer will to survive, i guess, will take you the rest of the way- at least for 5 days...after which,... Terminus (from AMC's Walking Dead) or Thunderdome- so you'd better buy a lot of this product in advance.
I recommend you get good provisions such as these Mountain House Just in Case products for any emergency or camp (or "After") situation- these last for over 10 years, are light to carry, are easy to prepare, and taste really good. Mountain House is a well-known and respected brand, and you'll be extremely glad to have these meals if and when you need them.
Took it on a 4-5 day backpacking trip and really enjoyed how lightweight the meals are. Great source of calories as well. Meals are tasty, but I had horrible heartburn after every meal by day 3. Not sure if that's because there's a lot of sodium, or because I was eating the entire pack at once. Also, I wish there was less sodium overall, because if you're eating 3 of those packs daily, you're getting 200%+ of your daily requirement. It's good because you're probably sweating and exerting yourself, but still, a little too much.
I have a considerable amount of these on hand and have transferred almost ALL my SHTF food storage preps into this type oh dehydrated, ultra-long storage, food. It makes more sense and is easier to manage in a shelf life tracking program to have foods on hand that will basically last well into my 70's than to fiddle around with canning my own garden supplies. Yes, I still have some home preps, but they are becoming less and less as I add more and more 30 year shelf life foods.
For you that are concerned with prep privacy I suggest ordering TWO at a time as Amazon has an ANNOYING habit of sticking a shipping label on a single box, and announcing to the world that YOU bought emergency supplies. I highly recommend that you never share with anyone that you have items such as food and water, as YOU will become a convenient shopping center for roving thugs.
Lastly, don't forget a GOOD high quality water filtration device (such as a Life Straw and the Life Straw for families) as storing 30 years of clean water is practically impossible. :)
This mountain house emergency kits are great for camping. This 5 day has a good variety. One pouch feeds 2 people comfortably. I try to purchase these when they are on sale for under $5 a meal pouch.
As always, Mountain House doesn't disappoint. My husband took this with him on a 5 day camping trip, and was pleased with the variety, and the taste of all the items included. Just wish it wasn't quite so expensive!
Feature Product
- FREEZE DRIED FOOD - 37 total servings with approximately 1,850 calories per day.
- 15 POUCHES INCLUDED - 1 Breakfast Skillet, 2 Scrambled Eggs, 2 Biscuits and Gravy, 2 Chicken Fried Rice, 2 Pasta Primavera, 2 Mexican style Rice and Chicken, 2 Macaroni and Cheese, 2 Chili Mac with Beef.
- JUST ADD HOT WATER - You'll have a filling, comforting dish ready in 10 minutes for your devouring pleasure.
- 30 YEAR TASTE GUARANTEE - With the longest proven shelf life in the industry, it's easy to see why emergency preparers and daring explorers choose Mountain House. Allergens include: Egg, Milk, Wheat & Soy.
- PORTABLE - Enjoy anywhere around the world at any given time. NO CLEANUP - The perfect camping or backpacking food.
Description
Now you can easily customize an emergency food supply with Mountain House just in case...emergency food supply multi-day kits. Are you looking for a 7-day supply? Consider combining the 2-day with the 5-day kits. Or select the variety of meals that are included with the 3-day and 4-day kits instead. Customize your emergency food supply foundation to fit your taste preferences and budget. This stackable 5-day boxed kit contains a variety of popular breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees for one person. Includes 15 total pouches: biscuits & Gravy (2) - hot, fluffy buttermilk biscuits with Creamy pork sausage Gravy make for a hearty family-favorite. Breakfast Skillet (1) - Hash browns and scrambled eggs mixed with pork sausage, peppers & onions. Eggs with ham & peppers (2) - scrambled eggs with savory ham, green peppers and red peppers. Chili Mac with beef (2) - spicy Chili sauce with beef, Macaroni Noodles, onion and beans. Chicken fried rice (2) - made with long grain rice, delicious chicken, scrambled eggs, chopped onions, savory mushrooms, green peas, red peppers and diced carrots. Macaroni & cheese (2) - Macaroni Noodles in a smooth, Creamy, and very cheesy sauce. Mexican rice & chicken (2) - perfectly seasoned rice and chicken in a savory sauce accented with pimentos. Pasta Primavera (2) - Zucchini, spiral Macaroni, cauliflower, broccoli, red & yellow peppers and green beans in a Creamy, parmesan cheese sauce.
Pretty tasty overall. Purchased as testers for which large cans we will order for our emergency kit. It's been fun as an occasional dinner and we have all been impressed with the flavors.
I would give it a 5 if it had more of a selection of meals. I bought the 5 day and only packed the ones I like for my 4 day trip. Seems that the 5 day had most of what I like but a few things I don't. Very important note is read the instructions and if it says to stir X amount of minutes after adding hot water make sure you do! or else it will clump and not cook evenly no matter how long you leave it in. (Just a tip, not a complaint) I also make sure to strain from the bag before I transfer into my dish/Bowl to avoid any possible runny mess. ALWAYS follow the instructions and NEVER EVER cook in your pot so you can keep your gear in great condition for years.
Mountain house makes good tasting food. Not expensive if you use each pouch for two people. When I'm solo, I will try to save half for next day (if possible). I usually supplement a meal with an apple or trail bar. The 5 day is a good starter kit and every once in a while, I'll add a 6 pack to it. I use these for camping but MH gives me a little peace of mind just knowing it's on the shelf in case of an emergency. So far, I haven't had a meal that I didn't like.
Went "camping" to Nevada desert with friends, who thought "Emergency" food is only for emergencies, and frowned upon me buying those. At the end of the week everyone was wolfing them down, as they taste like real food. We found that we needed to keep the hot water in a bit longer than pouch says.
My wife and I eat these on almost every hike or road trip. Good filling meal and amazing taste!!! They take up a bit of space but are super light. The 12 year keep is nice also.
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