Monday, June 18, 2012

MRE Monday - Drink Mixes

This is my choice for today's MRE selection. I purchased several drink mixes through Emergency Essentials.

The MRE drink mixes that we ordered were: Pink Lemonade, Lemonade, Grape, Fruit Punch, Sugar Free Lemonade, Sugar Free Raspberry, and Orange. The sugar free drinks are 40 cents and the regular drinks are 60 cents each.

Nutritional Information: (Regular Drinks)
24 grams
Calories: 90
Total Fat: 0
Sodium: 100mg or 4% DV
Total Carbohydrates: 21g or 7% DV
Sugar: 21g
Protein: 0
Vitamin A: 0
Vitamin C: 100%

Sugar Free drink mixes are 5 calories each and 100% Vitamin C


 
Expectations:
I expected them to taste like Kool-Aid Brand drink mixes.

Opened package of Lemonade Mix with 12 oz water

 
Mix poured into water without stirring.


Presto! Lemonade when mixed!

Realities:
So far, The Pink Lemonade has been the kids favorite drink mix. It taste and acts just like regular Kool-Aid. I will be ordering these again, but first a few negatives that I have found. The cost is quite high at 60 cents each and the odd measurement of water ( 20 oz. for the sugar free & 12 oz. for the regular ). If I had been manufacturing them, they would be made for the .5 liter water bottles that are currently in use. The newer packages might be doing this, if anyone knows please comment.

Final Thoughts:
Anyways, the positives outweigh the negatives. These make an excellent drink mix for caches and long term storage due to their packaging. I have purchased the Kool-aid brand mixes and they tend to clump after about 6 months due to humidity. The 100% Vitamin C is also a huge plus since it is an excellent antioxidant. The water-soluble properties, rather than fat-soluble, of vitamin C prevent it from being stored in the adipose tissue (fat) of the body. This is a definite purchase for caches. I would purchase limited amounts, due to cost, for long term storage. I'm thinking along the lines of comfort food and special occasions like birthdays.

Keep Right On - K