Just ask any guy who was stuck in some shithole in their service about what happens after you eat MREs for 2-3 days strait.
Commercial MREs should be fine, not military ones.
MREs are for combat situations. Lots of the things you need to stay awake, run, fight, and survive. Not much of the stuff you need to live a day to day with.
I think it is worth having a root cellar. I was always impressed as a young boy by Badger in Wind and the Willows. The illustrations in the books used to show all the sacks of potatoes and onions he had and I remember being very impressed by his hideaway. Pretty sure he had a shotgun as well.
You believe commercial MREs are better than military ones?