# Best emergency meal bar **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 9, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765 "2013-02-09T05:00:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/1 "2013-02-09T05:00:40Z")
I carry a little emergency kit in my backpack. They’ve been threatening us with “The Big One” for as long as I can remember so I figure it can’t hurt. I do have a pocket solid fuel stove and little pan to boil water but I’d like to carry a few meal replacement bars instead of cooking food. Does anyone have any recommendations for good, reasonably cheap, meal bars? I don’t need low calories as I’d be trying to maintain at least a 1200 cal daily amount on the assumption that I’d be moving around and expending energy. I am looking for high cal/energy so that I can carry only a few bars, perhaps three per day for three days. After that either help will have arrived or I’ll be far enough away to be able to get regular food- I hope! If you’re wondering, I also have a foil space blanket and a foil emergency tent which is just a big tube of space blanket material. I also have a change of clothes, including light shoes and a jacket and personal items, something I’ve done since my best friend got burned out. Nothing like wearing a sleep shirt and borrowed hospital pants for three days. My backpack is down beside the bed at night. So Dopers, suggestions? Btw, I also need bar ideas to be available in Western Canada and if possible around $3.00 or less. I don’t shop online either. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/2 "2013-02-10T05:44:21Z")
239 Dopers have looked at this and not one has any suggestions?! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/3 "2013-02-10T07:41:31Z")
Why not just stock up on some MREs? If you’re in a situation where you can’t carry the full meals around, you can strip them down at the time of the emergency and take out what you want. ---
**Author:** ![nikonikosuru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@nikonikosuru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nikonikosuru)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/4 "2013-02-10T13:01:39Z")
I would just pack a jar of peanut butter. Pretty calorie dense, simple, and cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Shiloh2013](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@Shiloh2013](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shiloh2013)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/5 "2013-02-10T13:19:12Z")
Why would something unlikely to be used but on which your life might depend, have to be cheap? Here’s a solution, but you gotta shop online. Less than a dollar a bar and free shipping. [http://www.amazon.com/ER-Emergency-Ration-Survival-Preparedness/dp/B008DEYC86](http://www.amazon.com/ER-Emergency-Ration-Survival-Preparedness/dp/B008DEYC86) ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/6 "2013-02-10T14:37:40Z")
The local Red Cross chapter recommended [Datrex bars](http://www.amazon.com/Datrex-Emergency-Survival-Disaster-Preparedness/dp/B0014EL48S/). They’re definitely “lifeboat rations” in that they’re very small and high calorie but not exactly exciting food. They’re supposed to be coconut-flavored. I have a package of them but yeah, I’m not going to break into them unless I need to. They also last for several years, so you can drop $10-15 on a package and not worry about having to replace them any time soon (hopefully!). Oh, you said you don’t shop online (why not? Amazon is reliable, at least). Try sporting goods-type stores for this sort of thing, then, or maybe your local Red Cross chapter would have some good pointers. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/7 "2013-02-10T19:26:40Z")
Popular Mechanics did a taste test a while back: > **[Emergency Rations Aren't as Gross as You Thought: Taste Test](https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/outdoors/tips/a1883/emergency-rations-during-disasters/)** > > In preparing for disasters, you may want to include energy-packed food bars as part of your survival kit. They last up to five years and are loaded with calories. But we were curious to know exactl... ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/8 "2013-02-10T19:35:51Z")
Oo, lemon! Think I’ll go for Mainstay the next time. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/9 "2013-02-10T19:50:34Z")
Hilariously, Canadian Arctic Rescue says the best emergency ration is… dog food. The reasoning is that people tend to go through their rations too quickly, and people put off eating dog food until they’re seriously hungry. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/10 "2013-02-11T00:48:46Z")
Thanks for the ideas! I need cheap because I make minimum wage and small/light because these will be in my backpack full time, which kinda lets out the jar of peanut butter! I also have no bank account, personal choice, and would rather go across town to shop than fiddle about with online shopping. I’m picking Doper brains because I figure you’re not trying to sell anything and the Red Cross etc will likely want to try to get me to buy their emergency kits. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/11 "2013-02-11T18:52:28Z")
thinkThin bars (pay no attention to the silly name, they are 220-240 calories each 2.1oz bar - I know because I just ate one, haha) are my favorite protein bars. 20g protein in one bar. Where I live they are about $1.60/e. Protein is where ‘meal replacement’ or ‘emergency’ rations usually are insufficient IMO. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/12 "2013-02-12T03:15:59Z")
Our bug-out kits has Datrex bars and [HooAH! bars](http://olive-drab.com/od_rations_hooah.php). Different bars for different needs. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/13 "2013-02-12T03:40:48Z")
> [@rhubarbarin](#): > > Protein is where ‘meal replacement’ or ‘emergency’ rations usually are insufficient IMO. Which is why cans of tuna (that you periodically rotate out by regularly consuming them), are hard to beat for protein. Just make sure you either have a mechanical can-opener, or the cans that open with a tab. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/14 "2013-02-12T07:11:13Z")
If heat is not a problem: Snickers - quite filling, very high cal Heat is a problem: Payday peanuts glued together with enough salt to give a corpse hypertension. What’s wrong with Granola? Seeds, nuts, raisins, occasional nut. I do like the idea of dog food though - toss a pouch of “treats” in the bottom and hope you never need it. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/15 "2013-02-12T15:01:00Z")
It sounds like there’s a market for tuna-PB bars! ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/16 "2013-02-12T15:54:46Z")
MetRX has a line of protein/meal replacement bars that are pretty tasty and filling. They sell in the US for about $3 each for a 3-4 ounce, 320 calorie bar. I rely on them for lunch when I am traveling in the boonies and can’t count on finding a place to eat. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/17 "2013-02-12T18:13:50Z")
Pemmican? > **[Pemmican](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pemican)** > > Pemmican (also pemican in older sources) is a mixture of tallow, dried meat, and sometimes dried berries. A calorie-rich food, it can be used as a key component in prepared meals or eaten raw. Historically, it was an important part of indigenous cuisine in certain parts of North America and it is still prepared today. The word comes from the Cree word ᐱᒦᐦᑳᓐ (pimîhkân), which is derived from the word ᐱᒥᕀ (pimî), "fat, grease". The Lakota (or Sioux) word is wasná, originally meaning Pemmican was w... Brian ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/18 "2013-02-12T19:08:49Z")
I like [Balance](http://www.balance.com/) bars. $1 or less when on sale ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/19 "2013-02-15T20:59:54Z")
Clif Builders Chocolate Mint. 270 calories, yummy! ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765/20 "2013-02-15T22:55:31Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Pemmican? > > [Pemmican - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pemican) I opened this thread to suggest pemmican, which you can make yourself. No point reinventing the wheel, I always say. Lots of [recipes on line](http://www.practicalprimitive.com/skillofthemonth/pemmican.html) which all pretty much boil down to drying out some meat, drying out some fruit, pulverizing them in a blender and mixing the resulting powder with rendered fat. Mmmmm… If the OP wants something store-bought, [Mainstay](http://www.amazon.com/Mainstay-Emergency-Food-Rations-Calorie/dp/B000QZ3CWC) rations are USCG approved and have a five-year shelf life. One can also go the frugal route and simply keep a sealed jar of peanut butter and some pilot bread (hard tack) in your bug-out-bag. 3000 calories per one pound. The peanut butter is probably only good for 12—18 months of storage so you will definitely want to rotate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-emergency-meal-bar/649765.md?page=2)