I tour in first-world countries, where there's usually at least one store per day, but I look ahead on the map and if there's going to be a long stretch with no stores/towns, I add some extra food to the bags before I head out into it.

I carry one "emergency meal" on tours, and if I eat it, I replace it at the next store. The emergency meal might be just a package of cous cous or pasta, maybe a foil packet of tuna. I usually have some kind of spices and olive oil anyway, to spice things up. Also, I usually have some kind of snack/lunch stuff anyway, like PB&J or cheese & crackers or pop tarts, so even if I don't get to have what is traditionally dinner food, I still don't starve.

I wouldn't carry an MRE, too heavy. And if you are already carrying a stove, the heater (is it chemical?) in the MRE is redundant weight.