Food Testing

Alex Peake Reviewer Profile

I'm the founder of The Empowerment and ACTSPEC Testing. I undertook the search for an optimal carry food because I was traveling extensively and had a personal need for an alternative to fast food. This was one of the first formal ACTSPEC testing processes I undertook and the methodology for testing was evolving as I went along.

Any testing of food is incomplete without acknowledging the physique and diet of the tester. As a vegeterian, I did not explore food sources containing meat products.

Age: 24 Height: 6'5" Weight: 190 pounds.

I set out to begin an ACTSPEC testing process to identify a superior form of carried food for activism and survival. The food had to be compact to fit within limited storage space, light to avoid burdening a travler, tasty to maintain morale, caloric to maintain energy, nutritious to maintain health, cheap to buy in bulk, and available to buy where people can find it easily.

QuakeCare Food Bar Testing

My first test candidate was the QuakeCare 3600 Calorie Coast Guard Survival Ration Food Bar. I heard about the QuakeCare bars from a recommendation made by Brokor on the Rant Media Forum. After doing some research and deciding that they compared favorably to similar ration bars, I ordered a case of the bars online and they arrived quickly.

The dry food bar was extremely compact, but not very tasty given its crumbly texture. It had great nutrition and calories, but wasn't fun to eat and once cut open could easily make a mess without a rubber band to keep it shut. It was affordable but only available by mail order, which added to the expense and inconvenience. It did the job joylessly and though it fed my body it sapped my morale. Overall, it did not satisfy the ACTSPEC criteria and I found myself seeking more palatable food sources whenever possible.

Clif Bar Testing

My second candidate for a carried food source was Clif bars. These are excellent and the Chocolate Almond Fudge wons particular points for delicious taste. Clif bars are healthier than other bars and quite compact if you poke holes in their inflated packaging as you pack them.

I carried dozens of Clif Bars in my tactical vest for the entirety of a 9 day Burning Man expedition and they kept me well fed but I did find myself wanting something with more conventional food flavors to break the monotony. I supplemented the bars on several occasions with meals served by friendly campers.

MRE Testing

My third candidate was US Military MREs or "Meal-Ready-Eats". I took some MREs with me on some 3-day backpacking trips. I found that the full meals contained so many little items that I was left with a lot of trash and wasted time and that the heat pack wasn't necessary to enjoy the entree. I would favor purchasing just the MRE entrees with a few heat packs thrown in for variety.

Tasty Bite Testing

For Burning Man 2006 I purchased dozens of Tasty Bite food pouches. I found them delicious and satisfying. I had no need of supplemental food from other campers and even shared a Tasty Bite feast with some of my friends. I carried Tasty Bites and ate them at all hours while on the move. I also supplemented them with Clif bars for extra convenient snacking variety. When I was in camp, I took advantage of hot water when it was available to heat meals up.