HJL,
With limited storage space, cost not a concern: Is it better to store the typical dry beans, rice, etc.? Or would you obtain a higher calorie count with something like the Mountain House cans?
HJL’s Comment:
It really depends upon your budget and what means you have to store food. Dry beans and rice (and similar foods) are easy to store and can provide a basic sustenance, dense calorie count diet with very little supplementing from other food sources. However, it is a very bland existence. If just surviving is the name of the game, it will work, but I like more variety. If you are willing to add herbs and spices to your survival pantry, you will be much happier. More expensive items like freeze dried foods work very well when you need to minimize the cooking aromas (so as not to draw attention to yourself) or are on the move. They take very little time and effort to prepare and are lightweight.
I do not personally use commercially prepared freeze dried foods because we own a Harvest Right freeze drier and we prepare our own foods using that, but it is a significant expense. You also need to be cautious about commercially prepared foods because many companies use smaller portions than what you really need to eat. Rather than use their meal count, use a calorie count method to determine how much you need to store. There are several SurvivalBlog advertisers that sell freeze dried foods of high quality.
