I never understood the Mountain House thing. Huge packaging and expensive. I always like the packets of "sides" you get at the grocery store, Walmart, Target, etc. Whether it's Knorr or the cheapie brand, I always think they're a better deal at around 1$ or so. And it feeds 2 people.
I buy the sides (teriyaki, noodles, rice, whatever, as long as it requires water and not milk), and separate them into ziploc baggies. I also take along the sealed packages of tuna, salmon or chicken. They keep for a LONG time.
I can have several meals of rice/noodles with chicken/tuna/salmon for just a few bucks all in the same dimensions/size as one mountain house freeze dried "ball". Add in a tiny bottle of Tobasco and I'm set!
Emrah