Bug Out Bag Meals

I've been thinking about a light weight solution to emergency food rations should you have to leave your home for a few days in a hurry. We have a food dehydrator and a vacuum sealer. Why not combine the two for an easy to store, easy to pack food source that does not need refrigeration?

I made some seasoned zucchini chips, three kinds: garlic, plain salt and Montreal Steak. No, they don't taste like potato chips, but they are crunchy plus it's extremely good for you and creates a sense of fullness. They can be a good alternative to snack foods when you need a little something. I also dehydrated some heirloom tomatoes which, when finished, are completely flat but retain all the great heirloom flavor compacted into a little bite. The flavors explode in your mouth! Rich and sweet. They can also be used as a snack or thrown into your soups or crumbled onto breads or pizza. They are a good source of vitamin C. As strange as it may sound I am always concerned about scurvy- blame it on my history teachers as they discussed sea crossings!

The food dehydrator also makes pretty good jerky. We've used hamburger in the past but I'm sure you can change that up. Jerky in and of itself was always a good source of preserving food so why not incorporate it into my bug out bag? I've seen my granddaughter fill herself up with a few pieces of jerky. Just think how much meat you have eaten if it would be re hydrated. A little goes a long way.

Now what if you made a packet. I'd put in two or three pieces of jerky, some dehydrated vegetables: tomatoes, zukes, potato slices or peppers. Then I might add some raisins or other dried fruit. I might put these into small sandwich bags and then arrange those on the vacuum bag, just to keep it separate.

Once I'm done I would have a complete meal, ready to eat with the cut of the bag. They are so light I could pack two or three meals for each day I anticipate being gone. I don't have to lug around heavy cans or worry about how to heat them up.

I'd have my water purification cup, available at Wal-Mart or on-line. I hope I won't need to but just in case, I'll grab my bag and off we go.

What do you think? Would this work for you?