Truth in Advertising?

[majorhavoc]

I've had cause to research a particular type of emergency food rations (commonly known as lifeboat rations).

This one stood out to me.

Not because of price or quality or product attributes.  But because of this one promotional picture accompanying the product listing. None of these rations are supposed to taste particularly good - that's the trade off for calorie density and shelf life. But the look on this little guy's face? They say a picture's worth a thousand words and children can be brutally honest ... 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

First time I tried one of those lifeboat rations, I had pretty much the same look on my face as that kid.

[Optimist]

It's been a long time (probably over ten years) but I tried eating nothing but both Mayday and Datrex rations for a day each. They were advertised as 1200 calories a day but I ate double that because I wanted a good amount of energy and not just enough to keep me going while floating in a lifeboat.

I actually thought they tasted okay. The coconut of the Datrex was a better, milder flavor than the strong artificial lemon flavor of the Mayday bars.

They weren't great, and I wouldn't want to eat them for a long stretch, but I thought they were far from bad. They were as good if not better than the average protein bar I've eaten.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

It's been a long time (probably over ten years) but I tried eating nothing but both Mayday and Datrex rations for a day each. They were advertised as 1200 calories a day but I ate double that because I wanted a good amount of energy and not just enough to keep me going while floating in a lifeboat.

I actually thought they tasted okay. The coconut of the Datrex was a better, milder flavor than the strong artificial lemon flavor of the Mayday bars.

They weren't great, and I wouldn't want to eat them for a long stretch, but I thought they were far from bad. They were as good if not better than the average protein bar I've eaten.

Only reason I ate the bars I did was because I had compromised the foil package and I didn't want to waste them.

They weren't the worst thing I've ever ate (that title goes to some nasty Atkins peanut butter cups my oldest sister got one time), but they weren't good either.

I'd say they were kind of mediocre at best.

And I get they're probably designed to be just tasty enough that you'll eat them, but not so tasty that you're gorging yourself on them in a survival situation.

[Optimist]

And I get they're probably designed to be just tasty enough that you'll eat them, but not so tasty that you're gorging yourself on them in a survival situation.

That makes sense. I've actually heard the same thing about Atkins and keto snacks, that they're purposefully made not to be too tasty so people won't binge on them.

I keep pilot bread crackers in some of my emergency bags because they don't taste bad but they are also not something I would eat unless I was hungry. If I put a snickers bar in my car's emergency supplies I'd be digging around for it the first time I stopped at a red light.

[EBuff75]

I bought a sample package of the Millennium Energy Bars a while back to try out.  I've tested most of the flavors and they're okay.  I did notice that some flavors have a slightly smoky/burnt taste in addition to whichever flavor the bar is.  Overall, the bars aren't bad, although getting them open generally requires a knife (the wrappers are tough and are vacuum sealed onto the bar).  My favorite flavors were either the tropical fruit or the vanilla.  My multipack didn't include lemon or orange, just 3 each of vanilla, tropical fruit, cherry, raspberry, blueberry, and apricot.  The only one I haven't tried yet is apricot.  They're fairly firm, but can be crumbled and the texture when eating them is slightly gritty/grainy at first until you chew. 

They're supposed to be good for up to 5 years and they're all 400 calories each.  I plan to split up the remaining bars between my two vehicles as emergency by-the-side-of-the-road food that should withstand being in the trunk year round.

[Moab]

Mayday apple and cinnamon are not bad. Actually pretty good. But its like eating a loaf of very hard/chalky bread. Like a brick of carb. Totally fine for lying around a lifeboat. But I couldn't imagine trying to hike with only that in my stomach. And the certain constipation. You would feel like an energy less blob within a day.

They are also extremely heavy.

I think something like Gorp(sp?) or Clif bars or even beef jerky would be a better option. Or a combination of freeze dried vegetable heavy meals (mountain house etc), beef jerky, tuna or salmon packets, and a peanut butter based bar. Like a protein bar or clif or gorp. 

Beef jerky and gorp would be the simplest option. As you can mix in anything to gorp. Its like a clif bar with nuts and fruits basically. Some fat maybe. Or even some vegetable too. Problem is I have not found a beef jerky that lasts a long time in storage. And gorp although long term storage friendly is not like a dehydrated meal that would store for a long time without mainentance. 

I think I would like to try my hand at dehydrating. But until then I store Mountain House and store bought items in our BOBs. As much dehydrated stuff as possible. Its real food, super light weight, and lasts forever. 

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I've got some Sopako reduced sodium MREs and I keep those as part of my SHTF supplies. Mostly because they're not the greatest.

Matter of fact, I think they might be against the Geneve Convention because of how awful they taste.

They're edible, but I'd have to be pretty hungry to eat one of them.

[Ever (Zombiepreparation)]

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