Meals Ready to Eat

In 1975, Meals Ready to Eat also known affectionately by the military as MREs were adopted by the Defense Department as combat ration packs. In 1981, the first pack, MRE 1 was issued. (Wonder if it is still packed up somewhere in Army storage like in the ending of the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark?)

In 1983, a field study was conducted with the 25th Infantry for a little over a month. (Everyone knows what clad iron stomachs the Infantry has!)The soldiers ate only MRE meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The troops rated the army rations as acceptable, although, consumption was extremely low.

In 1988, based on the taste test results, significant changes were made to MRE survival foods . Nearly all of main course entrees were replaced. Additionally, the entree size increased to 8oz. As an added bonus, candy and hot sauce were included in select MRE foods. Bases for cold beverages became standard issue in all twelve MRE meal selections.

Preview of Meals Ready to Eat

The 1861 Military Handbook and Soldiers Manual of Information had recipes that the cooks used to prepare meals for soldiers. For example:

Salted Meat to Serve Fifty Men

Add 50 pounds of meat into a boiler. Fill pot with water and allow meat to soak overnight. Wash meat well in the morning. Refill pot with clean water and boil for several hours. The fat can be served to replace butter.

Soup Recipe for Fifty

Put 7 ½ gallons of water in the boiler. Add fifty pounds of meat, army rations of available vegetables, a tablespoon of pepper, and ten small tablespoons of salt. Let simmer three hours. If issued, put 3 pounds of rice in when pot begins to boil. Serve skimmed fat for butter substitute.

Originally, a haversack was issued for carrying food but soldiers used them to hold just about everything. Inside the haversack you might find the following stashed: equipment to write and light, a Bible, newspaper, utensils, dish made from half of a canteen, comb for removing lice, musical instrument, sewing kit, a pocket knife, pipe, tobacco, and a "hardtack" (a very hard cracker made from water and flour.)

Forward March

After feedback from Operation Desert Storm, more changes were made to meals ready to eat including the addition of freeze-dried coffee to replace the old military brand. Hot sauce became a staple to all military meals. (Some former military members claim hot sauce was mandatory in those days!)

Since the beginning, the military has realized that they have to serve nutritious as well as tasty survival food to the service personnel in the field. American companies who supply the emergency meals offer the same meals ready to eat for civilians as camping, backing food, or emergencies.

Stock up today so you will be prepared for whatever comes your way tomorrow. Order meals ready to eat at http://www.mealsreadytoeat.org/ because you never know when survival food might come in handy.