What to Know About MREs
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MREs have been around for a long time, dating back to World War II. But unless you were a service member of the armed forces or knew somebody who was, chances are you’ve never heard of them. MREs, or Meals-Ready-to-Eat, are self-contained meals that require no cooking or heating, and each package contains a complete meal, ready-to-eat for one person. Here’s what you need to know about MREs.
In case you missed this post, 30 Items You Need To Survive A Pandemic.
The United States Armed Forces has made it the primary food ration while out in the field for its members since 1980. While many servicemen and women dreaded having to eat them, by the time they were veterans, they missed them.
The MRE package is designed to stay protected from moisture and the elements, while its food portions can last on the shelf for several years at room temperature. Though it’s not recommended that you resort to only eating MREs, they do contain all the necessary nutrition and calories to hold you over during emergency situations.
Which is why many preppers and civilians have already gotten their hands on them as part of their food storage essentials. Hence, civilian MREs and MIlitary MREs. Fortunately, it’s not that hard for you to find them. Here’s more on what to know about MREs. Please note that I don’t purchase MREs or premade meals for my food storage, but I wanted everyone to understand what these meals are.
I’ve tried many Mountain House ready-to-eat meals (add water), but they have such a short shelf life that I didn’t want them. Some tasted pretty good. They are perfect for hikers and hunters, as they are lightweight and easy to carry in a backpack.
Bugging In by Raymond Dean White
“Prepare Your Family For Survival” by Linda Loosli
Butane Stove and Butane Canisters
What To Know About MREs
What is an MRE?
An MRE is a packaged food product that has undergone a heating process, been canned, and sometimes freeze-dried to extend its shelf life. The military has used them as combat rations for several decades now, but civilians can enjoy them too.
The MRE entrees include meat, vegetables, fruit, carbs, dessert, and a drink. Some of the main dishes from the menu for MREs include spaghetti, chicken and noodles, chili with beans, spinach fettuccine, rice and beans, and chicken burrito bowls. They also include bacon, potatoes, and hashbrowns for breakfast.
Each MRE is packaged in a pouch that can survive the elements and comes with several different items. Every MRE comes with a heating source that requires a small amount of water to help create an electrostatic charge, along with the ingredients magnesium, iron, and sodium chloride. With this combination, it can heat an MRE to 100 degrees in very little time.
What is in an MRE?
If you want to find out precisely what meal options are out there, take a look at this MRE menu. Please note that the United States military updates its information every year, so don’t be surprised if a few changes are made.
On average, every MRE contains approximately 1250 calories, with 13% protein, 51% carbohydrates, and 36% fat. Eating 3 MREs is equivalent to having three meals. The following list includes examples of some of the food items that come with a military MRE:
- Main entree: Beef stew or spaghetti
- Side dishes: Mashed potatoes, corn, rice, fruit
- Bread or crackers
- Spread: Cheese spread, peanut butter, or jelly
- Seasoning or hot sauce (only in certain packaging)
- Beverage: Coffee, tea, Gatorade drink mixes, dairy shakes
- Dessert: Pound cakes or cookies
- Candy: Tootsie rolls, M&M’s, or skittles
- Flameless ration heater
- Other Accessories: Sugar, salt, creamer, matches, spoon, toilet paper, chewing gum, etc.
Is it a Good Source of Nutrients?
When looking at the list of food items that are in an MRE, you may think to yourself that there’s not much nutrition there. But you’d be surprised. While an MRE is not meant to replace your regular meal completely, it does contain the necessary food with calories to sustain you.
The military uses them because they’re convenient and can hold soldiers over when needed, particularly when the soldiers are out on patrol or in specialized training exercises.
MREs contain several vitamins and minerals along with enough calories to keep you going. Preppers often store them in their emergency kits for use in the event of a disaster. That way, if their fresh food is limited or damaged, they’ll still be left with something that can sustain them.
How Long Do They Last?
Your average MRE is meant to last for up to 3-5 years when stored at the proper temperatures of around 70 degrees. When temperatures exceed this, the shelf life will be significantly decreased. The civilian MREs have a longer shelf life due to the shorter shelf life of the ingredients included in military MREs.
However, you’re not going to get sick if you decide to eat an expired MRE. There are known instances where soldiers have consumed expired MREs that were more than 10 years past the coded expiration date, indicating that MREs may not have a standard expiration date. It’s also recommended that you always cook your MRE, even though it’s something that’s not required.
Where Can I Find MREs?
Even though you may never have seen an MRE at your local grocery store, they’re not that hard to find. There are two kinds of MREs, the civilian and the military options. It’s illegal to buy or sell military MREs, but there are still ways for veterans to obtain them. Here are a few different ways:
Army Surplus Store
Many army surplus stores carry MREs, whether it’s online or off-post. Just pay close attention to what they try to charge for them. You could wind up paying close to $100.00 for only one case. It’s best to get it from someone who knows and is involved in the military base of operations, that way you save yourself a bunch of money.
Ask Your Military Friend
When the military can no longer use expired or overstocked MREs, soldiers can then put them to good use.
Online and Auction Sites
You can purchase your MREs online or through an auction site. Most of the websites list the manufacturing date, so you know what you’re getting. Be aware that if you purchase military MREs online or on an auction site, you’re buying expired MREs, and this practice is also considered illegal by the military.
I can see that Amazon sells some “MREs” that look like military, but I do not feel comfortable listing the link. They do not specify ‘civilian,’ so I will leave it at that. Most of the buckets you see at Sam’s Club or Costco are, in reality, MREs; they look different and have very few calories.
Please exercise caution when purchasing one of those buckets. They have different expiration dates on each packet. No problem, but take a closer look and educate yourself.
Final Word
MREs are a food source that every prepper should have in their emergency kits. They provide all the necessary nutrients and calories to keep you energized, and if it comes down to it, you also don’t necessarily have to heat them. Just remember to keep them stored in a place with a temperature that doesn’t exceed 70 degrees. May God bless this world, Linda.
Copyright Images: MRE Meals Ready To Eat Deposit photos_383459878_s-2019
When we ate them for extended periods of time we tried to supplement with fresh fruit.
The vitamins and fiber helps.
After 5 yrs the standard is to open a case and inspect a meal. The dehydrated fruit seemed to be the most common item to turn.
I would eat 5-6 a day. I can hear the gasping now. Lol. Look I had 2% body fat and weighed 150-170lbs in my prime. I carried a 65lb ruck and a machine gun. Days are 12-18 hours and what is a weekend? You need calories to hump n bump. If you think 1200 a day is enough in bad times your outta your mind. Someone always throws up the Ho Chi Men trail and eating low calorie rice. Well I ain’t them and you didn’t see them in their 50s n 60s. They died.
There are times you need to have food you can eat on the go. Your GMHB is a good example. The world has gone to poop and your trying to get home. You ain’t got time to cook a gourmet meal. Eat and walk or take 5 and eat while hidden with no flame.
The other times you might be too tired to cook. You set up defenses, cut wood, hauled water and your spent and need a recharge.
They can assist. I went in after a tornado with my go bag and helped a guy recover. He decided to stay the night and guard the stuff we had found. I left him 2 meals that have matches and toilet paper. That’ll hold him till morning when I return.
The plastic on your spoon fits over your rifle barrel. Keeps the rain n sleet out. The flexible plastic bag seals a sucking chest wound. The cardboard box keeps things or helps with fires. The sleeve that goes over the box is a very strong cardboard and will hold body weight for a makeshift toilet in the desert. It’s nice to sit. The candy goes a long ways with local kids. Share your meal with the locals and earn respect by “breaking bread” common in any culture.
Y’all ain’t lived till Ranger Pudding.
Hi Matt, oh my gosh, BEST COMMENT EVER! You always make it REAL and I love you for that! You know, it’s interesting because I thought to myself how would the military person only eat 3 of these a day? Obviously, they didn’t as you explained. I got the giggles over the 2% body fat, I bet I had more than that when I was born! LOL! I’m so thankful for your service and that you returned to your family. You learned a lot while you served and saw things none of us can even imagine. What I love about you Matt is that you are so willing to teach others and to work together as a team with your friends. Thanks again for teaching us the real world. Linda
There were times like in training we only got 3. You just stayed hungry. When possible you supplemented with “poogie bait” aka snack food you snuck in.
Is what it is. Embrace the suck as we say.
I appreciate the compliments. Most the time I’m just an old guy rambling
Matt, we love your rambling! Linda
Matt, I love your rambling, too. I usually learn something from you. Keep it up.
So once I lost my mind. I dunno been out in the bush too long I guess and got burnout. I got mad and decided I wasn’t gonna eat nothing but this chow mein mre. I dug through the boxes and pulled out enough for 5 days 5 meals a day. Enough till we left and went home.
All was well till I went back and ate other things. I spent the next few days camping out.
Not a great decision lol. Don’t recommend it.
I read a lot of the comments. I ate then mostly for fuel. We’ve got it good and mostly eat for taste and satisfaction and a few eat to meet medical needs. It’s nice to do that but in tough times it’s strictly for fuel. You need extra fat n carbs when it’s 20 degrees and your carrying your house on your back.
Y’all stay safe.
Hi Matt, you are a remarkable soul, none of us will ever know what you went through during this time or many times in your life. You nailed it: You need extra fat n carbs when it’s 20 degrees and you’re carrying your house on your back. You rock, Linda
Matt, you are spot on about the Army rations, there were times we were glad to get our hands on them, you don`t jump out of a foxhole and run to the kitchen truck because it ain`t there. And believe me, in the worst environment one could imagine, they were a good life sustaining meal.
God Bless our troops…
Excellent Matt! I agree 110% with you! 1200 yo me is equivalent to maybe one main dish, according to Linda.
Very disturbing to see Linda in original post has 36 percent fat, 13%protein. No fiber. I listen to my physicians who are board certified in several areas, physicians say totally the opposite. They have me on high fiber high protein low fat diet. Anything high in saturated fats and trans fat stays on the shelf and does not go in any MRE I have or make.
I intend to keep ranching and farming tradition alive, and I have a huge load gratitude to Matt for sharing his experience. First time I’ve heard of ranger pudding, how to make it, it’d be a privilege to be his student!
Hi Angela, what are you talking about: Very disturbing to see Linda in original post has 36 percent fat, 13%protein. No fiber? I don’t understand. Linda
Linda ~
I think Angela was referring to the statement: “On average, every MRE contains approximately 1250 calories, with 13% protein, 51% carbohydrates, and 36% fat. Eating 3 MRE’s is equivalent to having 3 meals.”
I also think that the concern is it is low on protein and high in fat. I know in stressful situations or when you are out busting your bu**, you need carbs but I think a more balanced meal option would be great. With that, I have made my own “MREs” with store bought items. I shoot for 1500 calories, 30% protein, 50% carbs and 20% fat. Most of the fat comes from peanut butter or almond butter packets. The carbs come from pasta, rice, and beans. Protein is jerky or other easily stored meats (canned, freeze dried, etc.) None of my homemade “MREs” are long term solutions and I make sure that they are things that I would want to eat cold!! I only keep 9 of these in my 72 hour bug out kit and they get rotated every 3 -6 months.
Hi Leanne, thank you, I thought she assumed I was suggesting MREs. I thought I put I do not buy these myself. I wondered why she was telling me about her board-certified doctors. I only use board-certified doctors, oh well. You totally get what I was trying to say. I would make my own as well. You have been making your own for years so you would be making what I would eat for sure. Linda
You are the one who wrote original post evidently you didn’t read my entire post, you totally proved my point! Your concept is good, you want to mean well …
Reread your original post… In every so-called 1200 calories meals with have little protein and high fat, I am sure same could be made with half calories.
Your welcome to your opinion, and 1200 calorieseals you lay out I would be starving and always hungry!
I’m sure MRE has been around for decades, but I highly doubt a registered nurse, registered dietitian would have much healthier and much less fat. Increase protein and add fiber — which you did not include in your original post — decrease fat big time!
Thank you Leanne, you were right on. I mentioned my board certified doctors because they have the medical experience and training , none of which Linda has..and would advise increase protein and fiber w ..NONE would advise me 36% fat . I have more than enough fat on me. 36% diet would add me at higher risk of health disorders.
What I admit is that everyone including me has misunderstandings. I apologize for my tone, my intent was to lower the fat to live a longer lifespan.
I wish Linda, Leanne, all posters the best in health, life and enjoy BEST rewards we have — families, health, life, and always look for opportunities to help others..
Warm regards, Angela
We have a store close by for Preppers. They carry MREs as well as other SHTF items. I’d love to have a gift card for that place. I’d way over spend. LOL They have Freeze dried items as well. I need to get us some MREs. Our daughter and Son have quite a few.
The story behind the daughter and son . . . My daughter, and husbands son. They were dating, and got us to go out on a date. We dated for a while and decided to get married. We got married in December 1989. They were still dating. He was in Houston. We were in Mineola, TX. After he graduated from UTI, they got married, July 1991.
Hi Deborah, Oh, I love a good love story! Life is so good! Linda
They have 2 boys. One is married and has a son. Together we have 5 children. 3 boys, and 2 girls.
Hi Deborah, aww, life is so good! Linda
Hi Linda. When I was a kid, and my father returned from the Korean war, he brought home some, as he called them, K-Rations or Sea Rations. As a kid, I loved what they called “biscuits” (I called them crackers) and the little packages of jelly. The chocolate, sometimes was good but mostly it was old. I ate it anyway. So, I’ve been around MRE’s for a long, long time. I used to take them with me when I went hiking or camping years ago. They do make a quick meal, but you do need to be careful on what you get because some of the ones you can get at Army Surplus stores don’t taste all that great, lol. But, if you’re in a pinch and very hungry, just about anything tastes good. To me, it’s better than hunting and eating grasshoppers. Have a Great Day!
Hi Pam, what a great memory!! Linda
really, toilet paper in an MRE ?? LOL I don’t recall my son saying anything about that.(He was in Iraq for 15 months). We did buy some MRE’s and have not used most of them. The few we did try were not to bad. One I recall was a BBQ pocket type of sandwich. We really liked that ,but couldn’t find them after a while. We have a lot of peanut butter packs. I know some had Tabasco Sauce included. My son said the main reason they were issued MRE’s was because being out in the ‘field’,soldiers had no real bathroom facilities and MRE’s tend to ‘bind you up’.(Hope this wasn’t TMI ) LOL. Anyway, thank you for the information on them. I’m sure many will find it useful as did I. I pray we all can get past this election chaos. I pray for the safety and health of all of us.God bless
Hi Judy, I have never tasted any civilian or military MREs. I really don’t buy premade meals. It’s just me, I like to make my own meals from scratch. Plus the short shelf-life always bothered me. I pray we all get past this election chaos as well. God bless our Country, we need it for sure. Linda
I had to laugh. My husband ate these in the service, as well, and said he will “Never eat them again!”. I looks like I will stay with my other stored foods.
Hi Cheryl, oh my gosh, my husband said the same thing! LOL! Yep, we will keep our own style of food storage!! Love it, Linda
Linda,
As usual Matt has the right of it. I liked the old Menu A and B meals (most of them anyhow), but they were just fuel. I don’t care much for the new Menu C meals, but that’s just my personal taste.
I mostly get Heater Meals now. They have some excellent meals and they are portioned for civilians, whereas MRE’s are portioned for young, fit, males. Heater Meals as the name implies come with heater packs to warm up your food for you without need for a fire. Many MRE’s come with those also. The Heater Meals I’ve tried have a best by date on them of 5 years, but I just ate a 6 year old one and didn’t notice any decline in flavor. My favorite is the Beef Stew, but all of them are tasty.
Here’s a link for all of you to check them out for yourselves.
https://heatermeals.com/product-category/heatermeals/heatermeals-ex-plus-self-heating-meals/?yith_wcan=1&product_cat=lunch-or-dinner
Hi Ray, thank you for the link on some good ones. I appreciate you telling us which ones taste better, for those who want to buy them. Love it, Linda
Linda,
Question– if it is illegal to buy MRE’s then why do Commissary’s sell them?
June K.
Hi June, well it must not be illegal if the Commissaries sell them. I wonder if it used to be illegal to sell them and now its not. Great question. Thank you, let’s see what our Veterans say. Linda