DIY Ration Kits
Cause you gotta eat, eventually...
Food is not often talked about in Minuteman circles beyond MRE’s and Mountain House meals but it is vitally important to your existence in the field.
Sure, we all wish we had a fully stocked field kitchen (you do have one, right?) But that isn't always going to be the case. You are going to have to have a means of sustaining yourself while out on patrol or manning an OP/LP. MRE’s and Backpacking meals are nice but can get really expensive and may not always suit one's tastes or preferences. So after years and years (decades really) of planning rations for trips I have realized that the best ration kits are the ones you put together yourself.
I break mine down into 24 hour kits. These contain anywhere from 2,000 to 2,500 calories and are filled with proteins, fats, salts, and carbs. They are easy to pack and contain what I like to eat in the field.
Here is a photo breakdown of some of my ration kits…
Now this is generally how I eat throughout the day.
Breakfast: I'm not much of a breakfast person at home so the same goes for on the trail. I usually have a cup of instant coffee or two and a granola bar of some kind. This is enough to get me going in the mornings.
Lunch: Snacking commences an hour or so out of camp. I will just lightly snack on a mix of jerky/Slim Jims, nuts, granola bars, and dried fruit/nut mixes as the day goes on. This doesn't require and long stops and can be easily eaten while on the move. I will also keep one water bottle filled with some kind of electrolyte mix to drink as well.
Dinner: This is my one and only “meal” for the day. It is usually late and requires minimal cooking. I fancy Ramen with tuna or chicken mixed in with it or rice meals with beans and tuna/chicken packets. These are easy to make and can be heated in a canteen cup. Sometimes a specific outing may require no cooking where I will then substitute out the Ramen for precooked rice/tuna bowls like the Starfish Smart Bowls.
Each days worth of rations are kept in a large zip lock bag and includes a disposable spoon and extra zip lock bag that can be used for garbage or for water collection. You could also add daily vitamins, individual wet wipes, or even gum or candy to these kits for a bit of extra convenience in the field.
I keep these stored in 5 gallon sealed buckets at home and when heading out can grab 1, 2, or more of the ration kits inside depending on the length of the trip. I have found that 2 ration kits will fit in an ALICE pack pocket and 3 will fit in a Bergen side pocket. These also work great in prepackaged sustainment kits for delivery to the guys in the field. Quick, simple, and effective!
At the end of the day, it's up to you how you want your chow in the field, and I've learned through my own experiences that simple is better for me. The above is a tried and true system that has never let me down, whether it be on the side of a mountain, on a backpacking trip, or out on a property patrol or hunkered down in an OP, it just works!
What works for you?
Solid choices, pretty inexpensive options as well. A little thought goes a long way when preparing for field time. Roaring fires and large meals arent an option when the shit hits the fan.