MREs are the main operational food ration for the United States Armed Forces. It originated from the c-rations and k-rations from World War II, and later developed into MCI (Meal, Combat, Individual) rations used in Korea and Vietnam. In 1980 the MRE was developed and is still the U.S. Army's primary ration.
Generally, a MRE contains the following items:
- 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 mixes, cocoa, dairy shakes, coffee, tea
- Hot sauce or seasoning - in some MREs
- Flameless Ration Heater - to heat the entree
- Accessories - spoon, matches, creamer, sugar, salt, chewing gum, toilet paper, etc.
Each MRE provides an average of 1,250 calories (13 percent protein, 36 percent fat, and 51 percent carbohydrates) and one-third of the Military Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamins and minerals. A full day's worth of meals would consist of three MREs.
How To Eat A MRE
A MRE is truly a "Meal Ready to Eat", although it tastes much better when heated with the supplied ration heater and powdered drinks are mixed with water. The contents—heated and cold—can be eaten out of the wrappers with the plastic utensils provided.
Instructions that come with each meal tell the Soldier how to pour water into each heater, and insert the packet of food. When the food has finished cooking, each meal should be carefully opened, and then eaten with a fork or spoon--one of which is usually provided in the MRE. The meals are designed to be cooked and eaten anywhere, at any time. There is no need to find a table or a kitchen in which to set up.
Examples of a typical MRE are:
- Chili w/Beans
Mexican Style Corn
Crackers
Jam
Dairy shake
Candy
Red Pepper
Spoon
Flameless Heater
Hot Beverage Bag
- Veggie Burger in BBQ Sauce
Dried Fruit
Chocolate Banana Muffin Top
Wheat Snack Bread
Gum
Hot Sauce
Spoon
Lemon Tea
Flameless Heater
Hot Beverage Bag
- Chicken Fajita Tortilla
Chocolate Pudding
Baked Snack Cracker, cheese
Cheese Spread
Coffee, Irish Cream
Seasoning Blend
Spoon
Flameless Heater
Hot Beverage Bag
did you know?
- Soldiers can choose from up to 24 entrees, and more than an additional 150 items in the MRE chain.
- MREs must be capable of withstanding parachute drops from 1,250 feet, and non-parachute drops of 100 feet.
- The packaging is required to maintain a minimum shelf life of three and a half years at 80 �F or nine months at 100 �F.
- Spread - peanut butter, jelly, or cheese spread
- In 2006, "Beverage Bags" were introduced to the MRE, as service members began to depend more on CamelBaks or other hydration bladders than canteens, which denied them the use of the metal canteen cups for mixing powdered beverages. In addition to having measuring marks to indicate levels of liquid for precise measurement, they can be sealed and placed inside the flameless heater.
- Founded in 1987, AmeriQual, headquartered in Evansville, In., is the largest provider of Meals, Ready-to-Eat to the U.S. military.
