MREs

[snlᴉʇnɐNɔᴉɯsoƆ]

Ever had a military ration?

Quite a few people make review videos of Meal Ready to Eat packs. Tried a couple packs, seems like it might be good for camping and stockpiling for worst-case-scenario situations.

[ArgentAbendAzure]

I've had them.
Really for the novelty of trying them.

I've watched reviewers on YouTube trying MREs from a lot of countrie's military, civilian emergency rations. It's really interesting to see how they've changed over time.

Steve is an MRE expert who's eaten tons of rations, and generally old and strange military food for years.
He's pretty funny...and brave.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2I6Et1JkidnnbWgJFiMeHA/featured

[Electric Cupcake]

Obligatory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfmwRJ1hBak

[Birds]

The US ones are pretty good, but they're expensive. $10 retail, maybe $7-8.50 direct from the manufacturers in bulk.

You kind of have to be really into crackers, peanut butter, and 'one size fits all' food though, even in the flavors that you actually like.

The water-based chemical heaters are really cool though, and it feels really nice to pack everything in with it and prop it up while it heats.

They also give you just the right amount of salt and hotsauce such that if you dump it all into your bean-based entree it's still pretty flavorful.

Orange creamsicle is the only good cookie flavor though, and I feel like the menu options that don't feature it only do so because the manufacturer negotiated a discount on the creamsicles as long as other flavors were included in the other packs.

Very diverse selection though.

[Fumo Bnnuy n Frends]

They're pretty good but tbh with advancements in technology freeze dried or "space" foods have pretty much replaced MREs in general. All you gotta do is thaw out and add hot water and VIOLA!!! you got a nice piping hot meal ready to eat.

Not to say MREs are bad but we've come along way. From condensed / powdered milk to powdered water and everything in between (basically the minerals and just add 100% filtered water).

They're good for a last case scenario but now you got ♥♥♥♥ like pastas in a box and they even sell the machines so you can make your own. Technology marches foward.

[RRW359]

Back when I was in Sea Scouts one of our leaders was sort of a quasi-prepper and had a bunch of them he got from surplus stores in the boathouse. We used them when doing overnights and when he left we were allowed to take them if we wanted. I didn't try too many but I remember them being decent.

[Vault Hunter 101]

Haven't eaten any but they look very good, a full ratio meal that you can make anywhere, wish they were sold here in like retail and now restricted to military :c

[ultrashizman]

The protein count on them is always super low. 70 grams of protein and the package is something like 1,500 calories. The people in charge of MREs in all countries need to make some kind of deal with soy companies for cheap bulk protein and up that amount to 160g per package, or if they have 2 a day to 80g of protein per package.

[Ron]

MREs? Lol, that's fine dining compared to our C-rations

Army LRRPs/Rangers had the predecessor to MREs and were even named similar (LRPs) but regular infantry just had C's

One disgusting meal was pork and Lima beans. You opened the can to discover a thick slab of fat covering the meal. Heating the cans wasn't always an option. Eat it cold like a man.

Some that garbage was dated back to the Korean conflict.

Through the teeth and over the tounge, look out stomach, here it comes!

[ultrashizman]

Messaggio originale di Yew Nough:

MRE's are definitely a well-rounded meal, but they taste anywhere between bland to horrible. Also, the peanut butter included is like putty and the crackers are delicate enough to break by staring at them.

If you don't heat it all up right, you'll have a bad time.

Well rounded? They're mainly carbs and sugar at least with the US ones.

[RRW359]

Messaggio originale di Shiznown:

Messaggio originale di Yew Nough:

MRE's are definitely a well-rounded meal, but they taste anywhere between bland to horrible. Also, the peanut butter included is like putty and the crackers are delicate enough to break by staring at them.

If you don't heat it all up right, you'll have a bad time.

Well rounded? They're mainly carbs and sugar at least with the US ones.

They are meant for someone who is moving/doing physical work all day. If you are a regular person there are definately less healthy diets you can have, but they aren't really designed to be balanced for regular civilian living.

[ultrashizman]

Messaggio originale di RRW359:

Messaggio originale di Shiznown:

Well rounded? They're mainly carbs and sugar at least with the US ones.

They are meant for someone who is moving/doing physical work all day. If you are a regular person there are definately less healthy diets you can have, but they aren't really designed to be balanced for regular civilian living.

Yes, but again they lack protein which leads to muscle loss.

[Cydramech]

Over twenty-five years ago when I was a kid, we (family+friends) would sometimes eat them while camping out on the river. It wasn't bad, but wasn't something you would prefer either if you had the choice.

[ultrashizman]

I think the MRE mindset behind the manufacturing is all wrong. MREs taste bad, everyone knows they taste bad, at least in most countries MREs. They should just embrace that they taste bad and prioritize nutrition over taste instead of trying to make processed food taste good.

[Birds]

Uhh, packing yourself full of protein usually just makes you sleepy, and there's a fair amount of protein in them for maintenance in the field.

It was kind of worked out in WW2 that soldiers aren't significantly impacted by low-protein diets, since most of what you're doing is running around and pulling triggers, and actually a high-protein field ration typically leads to low blood sugar and sluggish movement.

There's an entire instruction manual that comes printed on every package so I kind of wonder if you've had one.

[ultrashizman]

Messaggio originale di Thomas Anderson:

Uhh, packing yourself full of protein usually just makes you sleepy, and there's a fair amount of protein in them for maintenance in the field.

It was kind of worked out in WW2 that soldiers aren't significantly impacted by low-protein diets, since most of what you're doing is running around and pulling triggers, and actually a high-protein field ration typically leads to low blood sugar and sluggish movement.

There's an entire instruction manual that comes printed on every package so I kind of wonder if you've had one.

But like I said, low protein does lead to strength and muscle loss and 160g of protein isn't high. It's only high by FDA standards but FDA standards only take into account people who aren't active. Furthermore, soldiers should be encouraged to get stronger imo and again protein is needed for that. This is why I feel 160g is the best baseline. Edit: 160g for men and 110g for women.