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 MRE stands for Meal, Ready-to-Eat. Military units around the world have utilized the MRE as a the operational ration for their individual troops. As a functional food product, MREs are designed to function as a self-contained meal which will provide all the nutrition a soldier would need in combat or survival situations.
MRE's offer standardized contents such as an entree, side dish, crackers, peanut butter/cheese spread, dessert,
instant coffee/tea, matches, toilet paper, spoon, and a heater to heat
the main entree.
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What is an MRE?
MRE's are perfect for emergency preparedness and survival situations since they offer a totally self-contained complete meal.
One MRE = one meal.
The US military specifically designed every aspect of the MRE for the harsh realities of combat situations.
For example, the packaging of an MRE is designed to withstand rough handling
and exposure to the bad weather and conditions.
Experience has shown that although an individual may eat anything
within an MRE cold, it
usually tastes better warm and actually offers comfort to the individual
consumer. Prior to the creation of the MRE, the US military utilized
what were called 'c-rations' and 'k-rations' from the time of World War
II.
During the time of the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, both c-rations
and k-rations continued to be used however; the military began
development of the MCI (Meal, Combat, Individual).
During the 1980's however, the MRE was developed and became the primary
ration for the US
What's in an MRE?
The US military varies little if something is working however; each year they will vary the MRE menu a bit to provide variety. The basic ingredients typically remain close to the same:
- Entree - the main course, such as Spaghetti or Beef Stew
- Side dish - rice, corn, fruit, or mashed potatoes, etc.
- Cracker or Bread
- Spread - peanut butter, jelly, or cheese spread
- Dessert - cookies or pound cakes
- Candy - M&Ms, Skittles, or Tootsie Rolls
- Beverages - Gatorade-like drink mixes, cocoa, dairy shakes, coffee, tea
- Hot sauce or seasoning - in some MREs
- Flameless Ration Heater - to heat up the entree
- Accessories - spoon, matches, creamer, sugar, salt, chewing gum, toilet paper, etc.
MRE Cases
- MREs come packaged in cases with
12 MREs per case. Currently, military contractors have developed 24 different "menus" or varieties
of MREs.
- Menus 1-12 are packaged in a case designated Case A and menus
13-24 are packaged in Case B
- Each individual MRE bag contains an entree and a
variety of other food and drink items.
Note: The critical thing to remember about MRE's is that each provides an average of 1,250 calories (13% protein, 36% fat, and 51% carbohydrates) and 1/3 of the Military Recommended Daily
Allowance of vitamins and minerals.
A full day's worth of meals would consist of three MREs.
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