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Wednesday, March 11, 2026

A Navy SEAL Would Never Use This Gun

There is a reason elite warriors choose their weapons with extreme care. A Navy SEAL does not carry a firearm based on brand loyalty, marketing hype, or internet rumors. Every weapon in their hands has been tested under brutal conditions, such as extreme weather exposure or urban combat. They know that if a gun fails […]

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10 Best Chicken Breeds for Laying Eggs

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

The best egg-laying chicken breeds will earn their keep in their first year. When you keep hens just for the eggs they produce and not for the meat, both the quantity and quality of eggs are critically important. And the fact is, some breeds are just better layers than others.

All quality egg-laying breeds produce at least 225 eggs per year. Now that might sound like a lot of eggs, but if you spend a few moments tallying up how many eggs your family consumes at breakfast and in cooking recipes annually, it might not seem like such a large number.

Even the best chicken egg-laying breeds slow down or cease production entirely during the winter months. Keeping consummate egg-laying chicken breeds allows you to stockpile eggs to preserve when they hit their peak laying months so that you can still bake and cook using naturally raised farm-fresh eggs year-round.

1. Ameraucanas

Ameraucana Hen

Hens from this chicken breed commonly lay more than 250 eggs on an annual basis. Ameraucana hens are generally docile, except when they are sitting eggs, and then they can go extremely broody. You may need to wear thick gloves when wrestling eggs away from your otherwise docile hen.

Chickens of this breed are well suited for coop living but will tolerate free-ranging. They can struggle a slight bit when the thermometer drops or raises significantly, but are typically regarded as a fairly hardy and healthy chicken breed.

Ameraucana hens start laying later than white leghorn hens. Typically hens of this breed do not begin laying until they are about 25 weeks old. Mature hens weigh between four and a half to five pounds, on average.

These birds are also known as “Easter Eggers” because the large eggs they lay are neither white nor brown but come in a vast array of beautiful muted shades of blues, greens, and pinks.

2. Australorps

Australorp Hen

These hens are perfect for newbie chicken keepers. They are exceptionally smart and easy keepers. Australorps usually lay between 250 to 300 large light brown eggs each year.

Hens of this breed are not only excellent egg layers, they make great meat birds too. Australorps weigh about five to seven pounds. They begin laying when they are approximately 22 to 24 weeks old, a start that is a lot later than most top egg-producing chicken breeds.

The only drawback to keeping Australorp hens is their tendency to seek out weaker and more docile members of the flock and attack them on a whim, sometimes eating the eggs laid by other hens.

3. Barred Plymouth Rock

Barred Plymouth Rock Hen

Hens of this breed are often thought of more as farm pets than livestock. They are incredibly gentle and attention-seeking – a favorite among farm kids all across the country. Barred Plymouth Rock hens lay between 250 to 280 light brown medium to sometimes large eggs. Some keepers experience more peach-colored eggs than brown when raising these birds.

This laid back chicken breed is hardy, quiet, and free-ranges with great ease. These birds also adapt well to coop life and do not tend to get broody. 

A hen from this chicken breed weighs in at roughly six and a half pounds. Barred Plymouth Rock hens typically begin laying eggs when they are 18 to 20 weeks old.

The only drawback with this breed of hen is that their high production rates tend to fall once they reach the age of two. All chickens reduce laying with age, but it seems to hit the Barred Plymouth Rock breed earlier and harder.

4. Golden Comet

Golden Comet Hen

Hens of this chicken breed commonly lay between 250 to 300 eggs each year once they reach maturity. Golden comet chickens are great free-rangers and perhaps one of the most cold-weather hardy breeds you can raise.

Golden comet hens are very large and typically weigh between five and a half to seven pounds. The hens from this breed do not generally go broody and are usually docile and quiet in nature. They cohabitate well with other chicken breeds, ducks, and guineas.

These hens begin laying medium to large brown eggs once they are roughly 15 weeks old. 

5. Golden Laced Wyandottes

Golden Laced Wyandotte
Image via Inohae / CC BY-SA 4.0

These attractive hens lay approximately 260 medium to large brown eggs annually. Golden laced wyandotte chickens are a heritage breed and multipurpose bird, meaning they are equally sought after by keepers for both eggs and meat.

These hens typically weigh six pounds once they reach maturity. Golden laced wyandottes usually being laying once they hit about 19 weeks of age. These hens do have a tendency to go broody and might lash out when you reach in to snag some eggs.

Golden laced wyandottes are adequate free rangers and also become quickly accustomed to coop life. They are a hardy bird that withstands temperature fluctuations well.

6. ISA Browns

ISA Brown Chicken

ISA Brown hens are among the most prolific egg layers you can add to your flock. These hybrid birds were specifically bred for high production and can lay up to 300 to 350 large brown eggs per year. Yes, you read that right. More than 300 eggs annually, and sometimes closer to one a day for the first year or two.

These hens are gentle, curious, and extremely easy to handle, making them an ideal choice for first-time chicken keepers or families with kids. They are known to be very human-friendly and even a little clingy once they bond with you.

ISA Browns typically begin laying eggs as early as 16 weeks old and maintain steady production through their second year. Their only downside is longevity — because of their intense laying schedule, they tend to burn out sooner than heritage breeds, and their egg production can drop sharply after year two.

While they aren’t the hardiest bird in extreme cold, they do fine in mild winters with a properly insulated coop. They’re also not especially broody, which is a bonus if you want eggs but not chicks.

7. Lohmann Browns

Lohmann Brown Chicken

Lohmann Browns are another hybrid breed developed for commercial egg production, but they’ve found a solid home on many small farms and backyard homesteads due to their reliability. These hens average between 280 and 320 large brown eggs annually, making them one of the most efficient layers available.

Hens of this breed are low-maintenance and hardy, with a calm demeanor that makes them great for mixed flocks. They’re known for being highly adaptable, thriving in both confined coops and more open free-range setups. Their social nature helps them integrate well with other breeds, though they can be a bit bossy if not given enough space.

Lohmann Browns usually start laying around 18 weeks of age and, like the ISA Browns, tend to stay consistent through their first two years. These hens do well in a variety of climates and rarely show signs of broodiness, which helps maximize egg output.

The only real knock against Lohmanns is that, like other hybrids, they tend to experience a steep decline in production once their prime years are over. But while they’re producing, they’re among the best.

8. Speckled Sussex

Speckled Sussex Hen

These demure beauties are capable of laying between 200 to 300 large brown eggs each year. Speckled Sussex hens weigh between seven to eight pounds on average. Although they are incredibly large hens, their docile personalities often make them targets of more aggressive breeds in the flock.

I would highly recommend against keeping speckled Sussex hens with white leghorns – especially if you are also keeping a rooster of the same breed. 

Hens from this chicken breed begin laying when they are approximately 16 weeks old. They are a curious bird and take well to free-ranging, but are generally content inside a nice safe coop.

9. Rhode Island Reds

Rhode Island Red Hen

These friendly and calm hens lay roughly 250 delicious large brown eggs annually. Rhode island red hens typically weigh around six and a half pounds. They are a large and hardy hen that was once part of the breeding mixture for the vulnerable heritage breed of Buckeye chickens.

Conventional chicken keeping wisdom maintains that Rhode Island reds are excellent free-rangers that can become “bossy” or aggressive with smaller hens in the same coup. In my personal experience, I have found hens of this breed to prefer the safety of a spacious coop, perish more easily than any other breed that I free-range, and are demure to the point of frustration inside the coop.

I have kept Rhode island reds multiple times simply because I love their large brown eggs. They are probably one of my biggest disappointments from a breed perspective because they tend to have the greatest difficulty learning the free-range and dusk put-up routine and do not seem naturally inclined to grasp boundaries and dangers when outside of the coop. 

Their egg production is excellent and even though they are lousy sitters, a banty hen or two is always willing to step up and shoulder that burden. I do not want to discourage anyone from getting Rhode island reds—they are nice birds—I just personally do not count them among my favorites due to the shy nature of all those that I have kept and their lack of ability to develop “farm smarts” when free-ranging.

10. White Leghorns

White Leghorn Hen

White Leghorn hens are not only capable of laying more than 280 eggs per year, but they are also a very hardy bird. In my personal experience, white leghorn hens are less likely to succumb to illness than at least five other breeds I have also routinely kept.

In addition to their robust health, white leghorn hens also seem to be more resistant to the cold and struggle far less with frostbite during the winter months than multiple other breeds.

White Leghorn chickens are officially known as being better coop-kept poultry birds than free-rangers, but I have always free-ranged my flocks and have found the reverse to be true. They are a truly adaptable bird that can spend the bulk of their time in a fairly small coop, or they can easily be trained to free-range and forage on their own.

There are only two downsides to keeping white leghorn chickens and they both are related to the breeding process. The hens are great layers, but not good sitters. I recommend investing in an incubator or some bantam hens to incubate any eggs laid to keep flock numbers up.

White Leghorn roosters are notoriously rowdy and can be highly temperamental. One of my white leghorn roosters, A.K.A. Flock Leader, hated everyone but me, although he would tolerate small children and not flog them until they bled like he did for sport with everyone else over four feet tall.

White Leghorn hens typically weigh about five pounds and start laying their first eggs when they are roughly 17 weeks old. They lay large white eggs.

How to Increase Egg Production

Even if you pick one of the best egg-laying chicken breeds, there are still a few things you can do to help your hens produce more consistently. A good layer can only do so much if her care is lacking.

  • Give them enough light. Hens lay best when they get roughly 14 to 16 hours of light per day. That is why production often drops during the winter. Adding a little supplemental light in the coop during darker months can help keep egg production more steady.
  • Feed a quality layer ration. If your hens are expected to lay regularly, they need feed made for laying birds—not scratch grains and table scraps as the main course. Layer feed is formulated with the protein, vitamins, and minerals hens need to keep turning out eggs.
  • Make calcium available at all times. Eggshells take a lot out of a hen. Free-choice oyster shell or another calcium source helps support strong shells and steady production, especially in heavy layers.
  • Keep fresh water in front of them. A hen that does not drink enough will not lay like she should. In hot weather and freezing weather alike, water problems can cause egg production to dip fast.
  • Reduce stress in the flock. Overcrowding, bullying, constant disturbances, poor ventilation, and sudden changes can all hurt production. Calm birds in a clean, comfortable setup are far more dependable layers than a flock that is always on edge.
  • Watch for parasites and illness. Mites, lice, roundworms, coccidiosis, and respiratory illness can all reduce laying. If egg numbers suddenly fall off, do not just blame the season, check the birds over carefully.
  • Cull poor performers. Some hens are simply past their prime, and some never produce like they should. If you are serious about egg output, it may be worth removing non-layers so your feed bill goes toward birds that are actually earning their keep.
  • Do not let them get too fat. Overfed hens and birds getting too many treats can have production problems of their own. It is fine to spoil your flock a little, but the bulk of their diet still needs to be balanced feed.

A few small changes in feed, light, water, and flock management can make a surprisingly big difference. If your hens are healthy, comfortable, and getting what they need, they will usually reward you with more eggs.

Final Thoughts

There are pros and cons to every type of chicken breed, but the ones on this top egg-laying list are the cream of the crop when it comes to the consistent production of quality eggs.

Whether you're new to chicken keeping or seeking to increase the eggs produced on your homestead, try sticking to just one breed at a time to learn their quirks, strengths, and weaknesses to avoid becoming overwhelmed by dealing with lots of different feathered personalities all at once.

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150 Topics to Have Conversations About

Girls With Hand in The Air On The Beach

Today, I’m sharing “150 topics to have conversations about” that have nothing to do with politics. We live in a world that constantly nudges us toward hot-button debates. But some of the richest, most memorable conversations happen in the spaces between controversy, in curiosity, laughter, nostalgia, and genuine wonder about each other’s lives.

Whether you’re on a first date, catching up with an old friend, or trying to break the ice at a dinner party, having a list of go-to conversation topics can be the difference between an awkward silence and a two-hour talk that flies by. This post offers over 150 conversation starters and topics organized by mood and setting. No debate required.

150 Topics to Have Conversations About

Getting to Know Someone: Personal Stories and Background

Personal history is one of the richest wells to draw from. These topics invite people to share their stories without feeling interrogated.

Childhood and Upbringing

Asking someone about their childhood opens a window into who they are and how they think. Good conversation topics in this category include: what they wanted to be when they grew up, the neighborhood or town they grew up in, their favorite childhood game or toy, the most memorable family vacation they ever took, and what their first job was like. These questions are warm, non-threatening, and almost universally easy to answer. Most people have a story ready and waiting.

Family and Relationships

Conversations about family can build quick intimacy. Ask about family traditions they still keep as an adult, what their parents taught them that turned out to be true, or the most interesting person in their extended family. You can also ask how they met their closest friends, or whether they prefer large family gatherings or small, quiet ones.

Education and Learning

This goes far beyond talking about school. Ask what subject they wish they had studied more deeply, what they would go back and study if time and money were no object, who the most influential teacher in their life was, or what skill they recently taught themselves. People tend to light up when they talk about learning something they genuinely care about.

Hobbies, Interests, and How People Spend Their Time

How someone spends their free time tells you everything. These conversations feel natural and low-stakes, making them ideal for early conversations or casual settings.

Creative Pursuits

Ask whether they play an instrument, have ever written anything that may have been published, or dabble in any kind of visual art. You might ask: Have you ever made something with your hands that you were genuinely proud of? Do you have a creative project sitting unfinished that you’d love to return to someday? These questions often reveal something unexpected and deeply personal.

Sports, Movement, and the Outdoors

Sports and outdoor activities are rich conversational territory. Topics include: what sport they wish they had gotten into earlier, the most beautiful natural place they have ever visited, whether they prefer mountains or oceans and why, their relationship with exercise, or the last time they felt genuinely physically challenged in a good way. Even people who don’t consider themselves athletic often have strong opinions here.

Food and Cooking

Food is one of the great universal connectors. Ask about their most memorable meal, a recipe that has been passed down in their family, the most adventurous thing they have ever eaten, or their opinion on a wildly contested food debate (pineapple on pizza, anyone). Ask what they would cook for someone they really wanted to impress. You will rarely run out of road in a food conversation.

Books, Movies, Music, and Pop Culture

Shared taste in media creates an instant bond. Great topics include: the last book that genuinely moved them, a movie they can watch over and over without ever getting tired of it, a song that always brings them back to a specific memory, a TV show they think is wildly underrated, and what they are currently reading or watching. Ask what fictional world they would most like to live in. The answers are almost always fascinating.

Travel and Places

Travel conversations tap into adventure, culture, and aspiration; a powerful combination.

Places They Have Been

Rather than just asking where someone has traveled, ask: What is the most unexpectedly wonderful place you have ever stumbled into? What city or country changed the way you see the world? What is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen in person? Where do you wish you had spent more time? These deeper questions lead to far richer answers than a simple list of destinations.

Places They Dream of Going

The bucket list conversation is a classic for a reason. Ask where they would go if money and time were no obstacle, what draws them there, and whether they prefer to plan trips meticulously or go completely off the cuff. Ask if there is a place they have always felt drawn to for reasons they can’t quite explain. These conversations open up discussion about values, personality, and what people find beautiful.

Home and Where They Belong

Not all travel is abroad. Ask someone whether the place they grew up in still feels like home, or whether they have found a stronger sense of home elsewhere. Ask what makes a place feel like home to them. This is a surprisingly rich conversation topic that often gets philosophical quickly.

Work, Purpose, and What People Care About

People spend enormous amounts of time and energy on their work. Conversations about career and purpose can be surprisingly moving when approached with curiosity rather than competition.

Just Listen

Sometimes people just need someone to talk to, not judge them, not tell them how to fix something, or give advice about something they don’t want to hear. They just need someone to vent to or care about them. That’s it, just care about them.

Career Paths and Unexpected Journeys

Ask how someone ended up in the career they have, whether it was the path they expected, and what detour or accident led them somewhere they never anticipated. Ask what they would do professionally if they had no fear of failure. These conversations often reveal resilience, humor, and unexpected passion.

Meaning and Motivation

Some of the best conversations happen when you ask what someone actually cares about in their work, not the job title, but the deeper thing. What problem do they love solving? When do they feel most energized? What would they still do even if they weren’t paid for it? These questions move past surface pleasantries into the kind of honesty that builds real connection.

Dreams and What Got Left Behind

Ask if there is a career path they considered but didn’t take, and whether they ever wonder about it. What did they want to be when they were 10 years old? At 20? These questions are gentle windows into identity, and the gap between those early dreams and real life is often where the most interesting stories live.

Thoughtful and Philosophical Topics

You don’t need to be in a philosophy class to have a good philosophical conversation. These topics are open-ended, genuinely interesting, and tend to reveal how people think.

Big Questions About Life

Some topics never go out of style: What does a good life look like to you? What is something you changed your mind about as you got older? What advice would you give your younger self? What is something you believe that most people around you don’t? These questions invite genuine reflection rather than performance.

Hypotheticals and Thought Experiments

Hypothetical questions are wonderful tools for light but deep conversation. Classics include: if you could have dinner with any three people from history, who would you choose? If you woke up tomorrow with one new skill mastered, what would you want it to be? If you could live in any decade of the past, which one? If you could only keep five possessions, what would they be? These are playful but often reveal deeply held values.

Personal Growth and Change

Ask people about a time they were wrong about something important and what changed their mind. Ask what habit or mindset shift made the biggest difference in their life. What is something they are still working on? What do they know now that they wish they had known 10 years ago? These conversations reward honesty and often lead to surprisingly vulnerable, memorable exchanges.

Light, Fun, and Playful Conversation Topics

Not every conversation needs to be deep. Sometimes the best connection happens through laughter and lightness.

Nostalgia and Throwbacks

Nostalgia is a powerful bonding agent. Ask about the TV show they watched obsessively as a kid, the toy or game they would bring back immediately if they could, the first concert they ever attended, the best Halloween costume they ever wore, or a fashion choice from their past they now look back on with either pride or horror. Laughter almost always follows.

Preferences and This-or-That

Simple preference questions are underrated conversation starters: coffee or tea, and why? Morning person or night owl? City, suburbs, or countryside? Reader or watcher? Planner or spontaneous? These small windows into how someone lives their daily life often spark larger conversations about personality and lifestyle.

Seasonal and Timely Topics

Conversation topics tied to the time of year give you a natural, ready-made opener that everyone can relate to.

Holidays and Traditions

Ask what holiday tradition they look forward to most and why, or whether there is a tradition from childhood they have kept alive as an adult. Ask about the best holiday gift they ever gave or received. These conversations are warm and often lead to charming family stories or funny holiday disasters.

Seasons and Sensory Favorites

Ask what their favorite season is and what specifically they love about it. Ask about a smell, sound, or image that immediately tells their brain a particular season has arrived. What is the most quintessential summer day they can imagine? What does the perfect winter evening look like? Sensory questions are unexpectedly evocative and often produce beautifully specific answers.

Topics That Build Genuine Connection

Some conversation topics are particularly powerful for creating a real sense of closeness and mutual understanding.

Acts of Kindness and Gratitude

Ask about a time someone did something unexpectedly kind for them that they have never forgotten. Ask who they are most grateful for in their life right now. What is something small that someone does that consistently makes their day better? These questions shift the mood of a conversation toward warmth and appreciation in a way that feels natural rather than forced.

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

Ask what is one lesson they had to learn the hard way. What mistake turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to them? What would they do completely differently if they could revisit a specific chapter of their life? These questions require a degree of trust, so they work best once a conversation is already flowing, but when the moment is right, they create real intimacy.

What People Are Looking Forward To

Future-facing questions create positive energy. Ask what they are most excited about in the next six months. What project, trip, or experience are they currently counting down to? What is something small they are looking forward to this week? These questions are surprisingly joyful to both ask and answer, and they give the conversation somewhere hopeful to land.

10 Affordable Ways to Spread Kindness

Final Word

The best conversation topics are the ones that make both people curious about the answer. The questions above are invitations, not checklists. Start with one, follow the thread wherever it leads, and resist the urge to fill every silence. Some of the best moments in conversation happen in the pause before someone says something they have never quite said out loud before.

Connection doesn’t require agreement, controversy, or brilliance. It requires attention. When you ask someone a question and genuinely want to know the answer, that interest is almost always felt and brings people closer together. So put your phone away, pick a topic, and see where it takes you. May God bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Girls With Hand in The Air On The Beach Depositphotos_38431397_S, Candid Young Women Talking Depositphotos_605873648_S

The post 150 Topics to Have Conversations About appeared first on Food Storage Moms.



from Food Storage Moms

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

7 Native American Medicine Bag Staples We Should Use Again

For thousands of years, Native American tribes survived on this land without pharmacies, urgent care clinics, or overnight shipping. They faced brutal winters, infected wounds, food shortages, and long stretches far from any help. Their survival depended on knowledge passed down through generations, and much of that knowledge was carried in something small but powerful: […]

The post 7 Native American Medicine Bag Staples We Should Use Again appeared first on Ask a Prepper.



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How to Make MREs at Home + 12 Recipes

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

How to Make MREs at Home + 12 Recipes

Food storage is one of the most critical parts of homesteading and emergency preparedness. Meals Ready-To-Eat, also known as MREs, are a common staple when it comes to survival. The military uses them to help feed soldiers in the field, and they are often used for those going out for long hikes and backpacking.

We’ve all seen those MREs on store shelves at outdoor stores, but have you ever tried one? Don’t get us wrong, MREs do a great job of fueling up the body and providing a lot of caloric energy in a small package. However, they are usually anything but delicious.

Making your own MREs allows you to choose the ingredients and make meals you know you'll enjoy. MREs are quite expensive, but you can make the same, if not better, product at just a fraction of the cost when you do it yourself. It is easy to collect items on store shelves to make your very own MREs that are shelf-stable and lightweight.

Learn more about how to make your own MREs with these tips.

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What Is An MRE?

To make your own MREs, you first must understand the features of a typical MRE.

Lightweight

MREs are commonly used in survival situations where people are walking or running. Lightweight MREs are a must so that you can conserve as much energy as possible. Carrying around a heavy MRE kind of defeats the point of having a ready-to-eat meal if you burn more calories carrying it around due to its weight.

High Caloric Content

Again, in a survival situation, your body will consume more energy due to the physical terrain. This is no time for watching your waistline. MREs should include a big bang for your buck when it comes to high density and caloric food in a small package.

Different situations will require different amounts of caloric intake, but the usual rule of thumb is to make each MRE between 1,000-1,500 calories.

Shelf Stable

MREs are made with items that have a longer shelf life. Including foods like fruit, dairy, or high-fat meat is not a good idea. It is important that each MRE contains food that doesn’t need refrigeration. Using a vacuum sealer to help remove air helps with both transportation and preservation.

Little to No Preparation

While MREs can be eaten cold, it is always nice to have warm food after a long day in survival mode. All of the food within your MRE should only require added water or heat at a maximum.

Remember that both water and fire may be scarce in a survival situation, so make sure to choose a variety of MREs so you can choose which one is best in the situation. You can also order some MRE heater bags that will heat your meal without the need for fire.

No Special Tools Needed

When relying on MREs for survival, you will likely have only one or two tools with you. Make sure to choose foods for your MRE that don’t require any special tools like a can opener or utensil like a spatula. Include foods that can be eaten with your fingers or slurped in a cup.

Foods to Include in Your MRE

There are many different kinds of foods that you can include in your homemade MRE. Many of these items you may already have in your pantry.

Crackers

These lightweight carbs are a staple when making your own MREs. They are often used along with some protein or as a side item. Choose crackers packaged in a sealed plastic sleeve that are easy to add to the MRE. Crackers also contain plenty of salt, which is an important element when surviving the outdoors.

Peanut Butter

While adding a tub of peanut butter isn’t lightweight, many manufacturers now produce smaller peanut butter packages that are perfect for making your own MREs.

Choose those peanut butter companies that make small single-serving tubs or packets of peanut butter. These containers are already MRE friendly, and you can add a few to the package to help boost the caloric content.

Tuna

Many food manufacturers now have individual tuna pouches that are perfect for making your own MREs. Using a can of tuna is not only heavy, but it also requires a can opener of some sort.

Adding a pouch of tuna to your MRE adds much-needed protein to the meal. You can also get these pouches of tuna in various flavors, which helps to dress up this protein and make it more desirable.

Beef Jerky

Many of us homesteaders have freezers full of meat, either from our own land or purchased from a neighbor. Making your own beef jerky is a great way to save money and make sure the jerky is to your liking. Adding beef jerky to your MRE adds essential protein to the meal and packs a punch with lots of calories and flavor.

Dried Noodles

Packing dried noodles in your MRE is a great way to add carbohydrates without a lot of weight. Consider using packages of ramen noodles that are small and easy to transport.

The noodles only need water and heat, and you can get many different flavors to help mix things up. You can also make your own pasta packets using dried pasta and storing it in a sandwich bag.

Instant Rice

Many food manufacturers have made instant varieties of food staples. Adding a package of instant rice to your MRE adds carbohydrates and nutrients to help you fill up. They also come in a variety of flavors and are easy to make.

Oatmeal

One of the best breakfast MREs includes oatmeal. Not only is it a high caloric food that tastes good, but it also helps create a solid source of energy for the long day ahead.

While you can eat oatmeal raw, it is better consumed when using water and heat. Remember that MREs are meant to be quick and easy to consume without too much work. Get some oatmeal packets with oatmeal that is fully cooked and ready to eat.

Dried Fruits

Using dried fruits in your homemade MRE is a great way to add nutrients and flavor to any meal. Many dried fruits come in their own package that is easy to throw into an MRE. You can also break up packages of dried fruit into sandwich bags.

Consider making your own dried fruit using fresh fruit that you have on hand. Use a food dryer to dehydrate apples, bananas, berries, and pears that would do well in an MRE. Removing the water from the fruit preserves the food and helps prolong its shelf life.

Instant Drink Mixes

A warm coffee, tea, or hot chocolate can bring a lot of comfort in a survival situation. Instant drink packets are easy to add to an MRE and only require warm water. Choosing those varieties with more sugar can also boost your energy intake and help the body relax after a long day outdoors.

Freeze Dried Vegetables

Using any freeze-dried vegetable in an MRE helps add essential vitamins and minerals to the meal. They only require water to help bring them back to life and can easily be added to pasta or rice for flavor. Freeze-dried vegetables often come in powdered form, which is easy to store and add to your homemade MRE.

Granola Bars

There are so many different granola bars available these days. While you can make your own, buying a box or two of high-calorie energy bars is a great idea. You can easily add them into an MRE that needs extra calories or have them on hand as an easy snack.

Seasonings

Again, when making your own MREs, you want the meal to taste good. Include packets of salt and pepper in every meal. You can also add extra seasonings that you already have in your pantry like oregano, chili pepper, or seasoning salt. While you can order individual packets of these spices, you can also make your own using small snack-size bags.

Try saving the sauce packets that you get from fast-food restaurants to add to your homemade MREs. Such items like ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, ranch dressing, and honey are all great options to easily add flavor.

How to Put Together an MRE

When assembling your homemade MRE, it is crucial to remove as much air as possible to make the item easy to pack and lightweight. Place all of the items into a vacuum sealer bag and make sure to include items that have similar expiration dates. Add in some heavy-duty plastic utensils needed to eat the meal. Use your vacuum sealer to remove all of the air within the package.

If you have items like ramen noodles that have some air in their own package, consider puncturing it to help the bag seal better. Write the name of the contents on the outside of the container and possibly what meal you plan on using it for. Make sure to include the date that you packed it as well.

Store your homemade MREs in your survival or emergency bag where it is dry and cool. Remember to make enough for yourself and any family members who would need meals in an emergency.

Making your own MREs is a great way to make sure you will actually like the meals and cost a fraction of the price. Stock up on these items and make a set of MREs to put away for an emergency.

12 MRE Recipes

If you're not sure what to put in your MRE, here are some ideas you can try.

1. “Tuna Ranch Crackers” MRE (No-cook)

  • Tuna pouch (plain or flavored)
  • Crackers (sleeve pack)
  • Mayo or ranch packet
  • Pickle relish packet or mustard packet (optional)
  • Dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricots)
  • Trail mix or peanuts
  • Electrolyte drink mix packet

Why it works: protein + salty carbs + fat packet = super satisfying without heating.

2. “Chicken & Rice Bowl” MRE (Hot water or heater bag)

  • Instant rice packet/cup (plain or flavored)
  • Chicken pouch (or salmon pouch)
  • Olive oil packet or butter powder packet
  • Freeze-dried veggies (peas/corn/mixed) in a small baggie
  • Soy sauce packet or seasoning salt packet
  • Dessert: pudding cup (shelf-stable) or cookies
  • Instant tea or coffee

Prep: add hot water to rice, stir in chicken + veggies + oil, season.

3. “Ramen Upgrade” MRE (Fast hot meal)

  • Ramen (break the brick in half to pack flatter if you want)
  • Jerky (beef/turkey) or meat stick
  • Peanut butter packet (sounds odd—PB on the side is great calories)
  • Freeze-dried veggies (small portion)
  • Hot sauce packet or chili flakes packet
  • Granola bar
  • Hot chocolate packet

Prep: cook ramen, toss in veg + jerky, hit it with hot sauce.

4. “Oatmeal Power Breakfast” MRE (Hot or cold-soak)

  • 2 oatmeal packets (high-cal flavored if possible)
  • Peanut butter packet or almond butter packet
  • Honey packet
  • Dried fruit
  • Nuts (small pack)
  • Instant coffee packet + creamer/sugar packets

Prep: hot water is best, but you can cold-soak longer in a cup.

5. “Beans & Tortillas” MRE (Hearty, minimal tools)

  • Ready-to-eat bean pouch (refried or seasoned beans—pouch, not can)
  • Tortillas (2 small; they pack better than bread)
  • Hot sauce packet
  • Cheese powder packet or shelf-stable cheese spread (if you use it, rotate)
  • Corn chips (small bag) or crackers
  • Drink mix packet

Prep: eat cold, or warm the pouch near coals/heater bag and make wraps.

6. “Mediterranean No-Cook” MRE (High morale meal)

  • Pouch of chicken or tuna
  • Single-serve olive pack (olives) or olive oil packet
  • Crackers or pita chips
  • Hummus powder packet (add a little water) or shelf-stable hummus single (rotate)
  • Dried fruit
  • Dark chocolate square(s)

Why it works: feels “real” and has fats + salt + protein.

7. “Soup & Sides” MRE (Cold day favorite)

  • Instant soup packet (ramen-style soup, miso packets, or dehydrated soup mix)
  • Instant mashed potato packet/cup
  • Jerky or meat stick
  • Crackers
  • Candy (hard candy or chocolate—depending on heat)
  • Tea packet

Prep: hot water. Soup first, potatoes as the “filler” side.

8. “PB & Honey Trail Lunch” MRE (Ultra simple, high cal)

  • 2 peanut butter packets
  • Honey packet
  • Crackers or tortillas
  • Trail mix (bigger portion)
  • Granola bar
  • Electrolyte drink mix

Why it works: nearly zero prep, extremely calorie dense.

9. “Instant Pasta + Protein” MRE (Comfort meal)

  • Knorr/Lipton pasta side packet or instant mac-style cup
  • Tuna/chicken pouch
  • Olive oil packet or ghee packet
  • Parmesan packet (shelf-stable) or cheese powder
  • Italian seasoning packet
  • Dessert: cookie pack

Prep: hot water + stir. The oil packet makes it taste way better.

10. “Breakfast-for-Dinner” MRE (Morale booster)

  • Instant oatmeal packet
  • Shelf-stable breakfast bar or granola bar
  • Beef jerky
  • Dried fruit
  • Hot chocolate
  • Instant coffee (optional)

Why it works: comfort foods + protein, great when you’re tired.

11. “Spicy Peanut Noodles” MRE (Fancy without effort)

  • Rice noodles (instant vermicelli style) or ramen
  • Peanut butter packet
  • Soy sauce packet
  • Sriracha/hot sauce packet
  • Freeze-dried veggies
  • Cashews/peanuts
  • Candy or chocolate

Prep: cook noodles, stir in PB + soy + hot sauce for a quick “satay” vibe.

12. “Snack-Only Emergency MRE” (No heat, no mess)

  • 2 energy bars (higher calorie)
  • Jerky or meat stick
  • Trail mix
  • Dried fruit
  • Peanut butter packet
  • Electrolyte drink mix
  • Candy (quick sugar)

Why it works: when water/fire is scarce, this is the easiest “fuel pack.”

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