M.R.E. part one & two
I am experimenting on an empty stomach. When I opened the package I noticed the inside was lined. I am assuming that it is to hold water to put one of those chemical heaters in, but the package does not tell you this. There is an assumption also that you have water and a cup for the juice, coffee and hot chocolate as well as a bowl for oatmeal. I guess you could eat it right out of the package, if you had to. If that is the case, I would use the bread pouch to pour the oatmeal in. There is enough coffee for two cups. This is a breakfast and lunch set (what is a soldier supposed to do with his lunch while eating breakfast?)

The oatmeal is not bad-very rich. I made it with hot water.
The coffee is not great, but what do you expect with instant? I am spoiled with fresh brewed Tim Horton coffee. The whitener needed to be stirred twice before it would settle in. Jim said his cup was ok. He said you could tell it was instant, but if you were on the front lines and needed your fix, it would punch the ticket.
He bread turns out to be a mini flat loaf and the bread is a sweetbread. I don’t like marmalade but the two packets where plenty (a little on the runny side) and it was a different taste. The hot chocolate is rich and hits the spot. Not bad for instant chocolate. I am starting to feel almost full. I don’t know if this is meant to be eaten in one sitting or two. I still have the main course to go and a cup of “juice” some gum and a candy.

If I was in a survival situation I may have burned up a lot of calories building a shelter or gathering wood or hauling water. Since I am not, I do not need as many calories. Since I am doing this research for my book as well as my blogs I get to write this off as a tax deduction (I am doing this during tax season!). If I was in a group of others and we all have these meals I would save some of the goodies for trade or as something to play cards for. Another reason why I am doing this research is to figure out the best way to keep me fed during the flu pandemic. My girlfriend works for Public health so she will be on the front lines working if and when it happens (most likely when and the answer to when could be as soon as this fall)(I will be holing up in my house for about 3 months when the first wave hits. I don’t know what I will do if a second wave or a third wave comes). The problem will not be so much as so many people dead, but the massive amount that will be sick and the rest of use trying to tend to them. That is what is going to make the economy come to a standstill.

As a side note, Jim just said the coffee must be high test because he feels he has more energy, like when he drinks too much coffee. That is good if you need to stay awake.

I can eat a lot. When I am by myself I can get by on very little. I think I could get by on just this one package of food for one day if I was stuck inside the house and could not go anywhere.

They thought of everything! I did not notice till I looked in the bottom and found a toothpick. The inside of the bag has a reflective surface. If you opened it up completely and had bright sunshine, you would have yourself a little solar stove. If you had several of them taped together, you would have a bigger solar stove.

I just cooked up the beans and wieners. I would suggest having a knife ready to cut the pouch. It is HOT! I used about half the salt and pepper. Again since I was thinking in survival mode, I licked the plate and the inside of the pouch. I would hoard the salt and pepper for when I am making soup or some other dish. If I were in full survival mode I would have carefully cut the pouches so I could use the reflective surfaces for solar heating. Some of the beans could have been made into a paste to act like glue till something better came along. The raspberry drink crystals are sweet. It is better than just plain water and I am sure there must be extra vitamins in the mix. It reminds me of using Jello to make a drink when a person is sick. Now comes dessert. The pineapple I found to be very sweet. It was nice to have "fresh” fruit with the meal and it would add needed bulk to a well-rounded meal. The gum is still fresh. It is a nice way to get saliva going in the mouth if you are low on water. It is also a way of brushing your teeth with out brushing your teeth. I was disappointed that the hand wipe lost most of its moisture. The matches still work.

Part two.

Happy Earthday! It is the 22nd and I started my day helping with the cleanup effort on the banks of the Thames River. I had Breakfast and a snack so I am not starting on an empty stomach, but this time I did a few hours of labour.

So far the matches still work in this pack, the coffee is the same as the fresher one but the whitener has clumped up a bit and then went to normal. I have not detected any difference between the 2005 and 2002. The drink crystals are pear flavoured. The small candy is different and it is raspberry jam this time. I am about to try the cereal. It is more of a crunchie Granola with coconut If I knew what it was, I would have eaten it plain or mixed with the pineapple bits. I read somewhere on the net that there is a recipe book of ways to use MRE’s in a more mixed fashion. I could have hoarded my extra whitener and sugar but I am adding it to the hot chocolate. I did save half my salt and pepper from yesterday so I have a complete serving of salt and pepper that could be used in some other food. It is amazing how just a little salt and pepper can change a bland meal into something great to eat. Imagine eating a potatoe without salt or pepper. See what I mean? The hot chocolate had to be stirred more than the fresher one yesterday. It still tastes great. I noticed a different company made the main course. I saw more pieces of meat in smaller cuts. I think I like the taste of this batch more than I did the fresher batch. Did the people making the packs charge more and the government switched to save money? Who knows? One other note- the spoon is smaller than I use at home. I am forced to take smaller bites and chew my food more. You get fuller faster that way. The bread feels, looks and tastes the same. How they do it is beyond me. Jam I can see lasting for decades if it was properly sealed. Same with powdered coffee and chocolate.
I have a hard time understanding that the bread I am eating was made over 4 years ago. Simply amazing! All I have left to consume is the candy, the gum, the pineapple and the drink. The pineapple does not look or taste as fresh as yesterday’s batch, but another company made it so that may explain the different taste. If some wise guy managed to get access to a lot of these fruit pouches, I think he could easily get them to ferment and make alcohol. Cards anyone? Want to bet your fruit pouch? The hand wipe was fine in this pack. The candy tastes good (butterscotch-yum). The gum is still good and the pear drink-well… not so great, but better than plain water.

My conclusions:
1) Survival in a cooped place would lead to boredom and there would come a time where you just would not feel like eating anything. Voila- get an MRE to get you through that time.
2) I feel full and I feel fine. I can not see much if any difference between an MRE made last year and one made 4 years ago. That proves they have this system down pat.
3) I like the variety an MRE gives. I also think I could stretch one meal out to an entire day if I had too.
4) If you where with others I think they would barter the candies and gum or maybe other parts of the meal or use it like money to bet with.
5) With two of the packs open I now have 2 long spoons I could use like drumsticks. I told you boredom would take over.
6) Reusing the packaging to make solar stoves keeps you busy doing something and it will save you fuel.
7) MRE’s have a small place in any survival strategy but they are extremely expensive. I would be better off getting canned goods and reusing the cans.
8) I believe the claims I have heard of MRE’s being eaten after ten years with little loss of flavour and nutrient value.

Michael J. Kaer, Owner of www.2bitpixel.com and www.mikesworms.com