Fellow outsiders and misadventurers,
Ever been in one of those moments where everything's a little chaotic and you realize dinner isn’t happening?
Last winter, I got caught in a storm that knocked the power out for two days. Fridge went warm. Roads were icy. Grocery shelves were already half-empty. But instead of scrambling, I pulled out a food kit, lit the camp stove, and served up a hot meal in under 15 minutes.
It wasn’t a life-or-death situation. Just a messy Tuesday. But it reminded me why I stock up on survival food. Not just for emergencies, but for real life.
Here’s a quick guide to the three types of survival meals I always keep around, and why they’ve earned a permanent spot in my pantry, truck, and weekend pack.
These are my everyday backup heroes. Compact, lightweight, and full of real flavor, Beyond Outdoor Meals are single-serve pouches that just need hot water.
And while I’m not gonna use the word gourmet, you’ll know what I mean once you dig into their Chicken Sausage Gumbo or Beef Strogonoff.
Why I always have a few on hand:
- Quick lunch at work when I forgot to pack something.
- Emergency road meals when the nearest stop is 45 miles away.
- Trail-ready food that doesn’t weigh me down.
- Easy dinners after a long day outdoors or in the shop.
How to use them:
Just open the pouch, add hot water, seal it back up, wait a few minutes, then eat straight from the bag. No pans. No mess. No stress.
These meals are ideal for hikers, commuters, adventurers, and anyone who just wants to be prepared without overthinking it.
A case pack of pouches is your bulk-meal solution. These aren’t variety packs. Each case includes multiple servings of a single meal — perfect for feeding a group or powering through a stretch of days off the grid.
What makes them great:
- Enough food for the whole family or a weekend camping trip.
- Long shelf life with easy storage.
- Simple to prepare — just water and heat.
I’ve used these during family camping trips where no one wanted to plan meals and when the fridge gave out during a summer outage. One pouch fed four of us, and there were leftovers.
When to rely on case packs:
- At the cabin when supplies run low.
- Feeding multiple people during an extended power outage.
- Rotating meals through your emergency pantry.
- Cooking simple meals when time or energy is short.
Quick tip:
Try a couple different case packs and rotate them into your normal meal plan every few months. You’ll always have food on hand that you already know your family will eat.
Explore the Case Packs Here »
These are the foundation of any long-term emergency plan. Emergency food kits come packed with multiple meals — breakfasts, lunches, and dinners — good for up to 25 years.
They’re designed for survival, but I’ve used mine plenty of times when it wasn’t life or death. A busted water heater, a snowstorm, or even a surprise houseguest — these meals have come in clutch.
Here’s why I keep them stocked:
- All-in-one solution that just needs water.
- Stackable, easy-to-store buckets.
- Perfect for unexpected events or longer-term disruptions.
- Portable enough to take camping or store in your RV.
How to use them wisely:
Don’t wait for disaster. Try a few meals now. Pick out your favorites. Learn how much water each one takes and how long they need to cook. That way, you’re ready when it counts.
Pro move:
Keep one kit in your home and another offsite — like in a vehicle or at a friend’s place — in case one location becomes inaccessible.
Survival food isn’t just for worst-case scenarios. It’s for real life.
That Tuesday night when dinner fell apart. The weekend camping trip you threw together last-minute. The flat tire on a long drive. Or the week when you just didn’t get to the store.
Having a mix of single-serve meals, case packs, and emergency kits means you’re ready for it all — without panic, without waste, and without skipping a meal.
Whether you’re a parent, a hiker, a homesteader, or just someone who likes to stay ahead of the curve, this food is for you.
Thanks for reading. Stay smart, stay ready, and stay fed.
Fellow adventurer,
Thomas Hawkins
Camping Survival
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