Are we being misled about freeze dried kit portions in days?

[Omega]

Canned food is cheaper than freeze-dried, but I rarely eat it, so rotation is hard. My family only consumes 1–2 meat cans and 8–12 fish cans a year, and they won’t allow storing expired food. So even with a perfect rotation, I wouldn’t build up enough reserves.
On the other hand, I regularly use protein powder and 6-months of its supply (half of what I buy) covers my family’s protein needs for 1.5 months. Combined with rice for calories and a few cans of beans and fish (which we can rotate), I can meet my protein needs for about 2.5 months — which is enough for me.
I also have fiber and dried broccoli supplements for nutrition, plus around 3L of oil. I can add rice too as it can be stored for a long time and cheap to buy. But I wonder — would living on that diet be too harsh? Soldiers are given sweets for morale; maybe I should include not just sugar and honey, but some freeze-dried meals too, as a morale booster? Maybe something else?
I want food items that won’t require complex cooking - I read how recently people survived in Mariupol: they struggled with cooking not only because of artillery shelling, but also because they struggled with fuel inside their shelter

[pseudonym]

The Prepper Mantra.... store what you eat and eat what you store.

Circumstances and health change so what is good for you and yours, might not be for someone else, as always take from the Forum what is applicable to you.

As for sweet treats of course include them. Have you tried Protein bars as the treat (sneaks in extra Protein with the chocolate) or make your own Peanut Butter bars.

For example my sweets are now sugar free Strepsils (throat lozenge) as it doubles up to stop coughs if you are trying to be stealthy.

As are Lemsip sachets, after a long days hiking the last drink with a couple of Vitamin I capsules before bed has the Paracetomol for aches and pains and the warmth to aid you sleep.

[jennyjj01]

Canned food is cheaper than freeze-dried, but I rarely eat it, so rotation is hard. My family only consumes 1–2 meat cans and 8–12 fish cans a year, and they won’t allow storing expired food. So even with a perfect rotation, I wouldn’t build up enough reserves.
On the other hand, I regularly use protein powder

A fascinating conundrum: You propose an extended pantry of powders and supplements rather than cans and jars. I cannot knock you for that, but it's polar opposite to me, It almost sounds like a space food diet.
We at least agree that you need to have rice/pasta and oil for calories.
Well, the mantra IS "store what you eat and eat what you store"
It's amusing that your family 'won't allow' storing expired foods. You need to give them a slap It took me a while to convince MrJJ that food didn't just rot the day after BBE. I don't give him the decades old stuff

...But I wonder — would living on that diet be too harsh? Soldiers are given sweets for morale; maybe I should include not just sugar and honey, but some freeze-dried meals too, as a morale booster? Maybe something else?

Some treats needed for sure. A few freeze dried meals? A nice bottle of wine? whatever floats your boat.
This reminds me of when I did 'the ration challenge', living on just a bag of rice, lentils and chickpeas for a week. A sachet of salt and a spoonful of chilli was to die for after a few days. You really need to test yourself for a meaningful period like a week. Eat only your supplements, powders, rice, and oil for a week and see how it feels. Then try a week with maybe an assortment of tins of chunky soups, tinned breakfasts, tinned fruit, jelly babies or whatever.

I want food items that won’t require complex cooking - I read how recently people survived in Mariupol: they struggled with cooking not only because of artillery shelling, but also because they struggled with fuel inside their shelter

Very true. In a war situation, clean water might be a problem too. Your powder supplements might as well be dust, unless you can source water. But that's true for all of us.

I'm really not knocking you for your different approach. Would you care to make up a meal plan for a week based on your proposition and I'll do the same for mine?

[timmyt79]

Canned food is cheaper than freeze-dried, but I rarely eat it, so rotation is hard. My family only consumes 1–2 meat cans and 8–12 fish cans a year, and they won’t allow storing expired food. So even with a perfect rotation, I wouldn’t build up enough reserves.
On the other hand, I regularly use protein powder and 6-months of its supply (half of what I buy) covers my family’s protein needs for 1.5 months. Combined with rice for calories and a few cans of beans and fish (which we can rotate), I can meet my protein needs for about 2.5 months — which is enough for me.
I also have fiber and dried broccoli supplements for nutrition, plus around 3L of oil. I can add rice too as it can be stored for a long time and cheap to buy. But I wonder — would living on that diet be too harsh? Soldiers are given sweets for morale; maybe I should include not just sugar and honey, but some freeze-dried meals too, as a morale booster? Maybe something else?
I want food items that won’t require complex cooking - I read how recently people survived in Mariupol: they struggled with cooking not only because of artillery shelling, but also because they struggled with fuel inside their shelter

Rotation with canned meat is tricky if your family barely eats it, so sticking with stuff you already use like protein powder makes sense.

As for living on that diet, yeah it’ll keep you going, but it’ll feel rough fast. Having a few comfort foods helps a lot mentally. I’d throw in some instant coffee or tea, hard candy, maybe a few freeze-dried meals just to break the monotony. Even something like powdered milk can help mix things up

[jennyjj01]

Canned food is cheaper than freeze-dried, but I rarely eat it, so rotation is hard.

Rotation with canned meat is tricky if your family barely eats it, so sticking with stuff you already use like protein powder makes sense.

As for living on that diet, yeah it’ll keep you going, but it’ll feel rough fast. Having a few comfort foods helps a lot mentally. I’d throw in some instant coffee or tea, hard candy, maybe a few freeze-dried meals just to break the monotony. Even something like powdered milk can help mix things up

At some point in the planning of what to buy, you have to decide on a few compromises. Fresh milk does not store for long, so buy powdered. But then the powdered doesn't get used and so is kept till discarded. Same with tinned meat. Buy a few tins even if it will ultimately get thrown away. It's an insurance. Anything you can rotate into regular diet is a free prep. If you are preparing to ration for the apocalypse, then rationing like a 1980s student isn't the worst idea.

[GillyBee]

We have a no-cook protein bar recipe in regular use based on protein powder, peanut butter and honey/syrup. All are good storage foods and the bars/balls do not need cooking and can be used as grab and go food. We also used to make a "hard tack" bar from peanut butter, oats and honey which again did not need cooking and filled the kids up quick when they were small.
So maybe have some no-cook recipes to go alongside your protein powders and make sure your family will eat them? It certainly helps balance protein needs against the usual more carb heavy stores.

Rotating little used cans, dried milk and the like is a persisent headache for me. The only solution is to create one or two recipes that use them up slowly but steadily. Dried milk is used for things like white sauce & pancakes. Tinned ham is a challenge - the only thing I have found so far is split pea & ham soup. Dried beans are now batch cooked and into the freezer in can sized baggies.

[itsybitsy]

That's an impressive amount of food. I wonder how do you intend rotating the food? I know canned food lasts longer than prescribed on the can, but...

I've just eaten a tin of beans that had a BBE date of 2020 and I'm still alive and kicking.

[GillyBee]

I've just eaten a tin of beans that had a BBE date of 2020 and I'm still alive and kicking.