Wilderness Survival Primative Skills. Wild Cards: Edible Wild Foods. How To Make An MRE. The Meal, Ready-to-Eat — commonly known as the MRE — is a self-contained, individual field ration in lightweight packaging bought by the United States military for its service members for use in combat or other field conditions where organized food facilities are not available. The MRE replaced the canned MCI or Meal, Combat, Individual rations in 1981 and is the intended successor to the lighter LRP ration developed by theUnited States Army for Special Forces and Ranger patrol units in Vietnam.
Each meal provides about 1,200 Calories and has a shelf life of three years (depending on storage conditions). Each MRE weighs 510 to 740 grams (18 to 26 oz), depending on the menu. Since MREs contain water, they weigh more than freeze-dried meals providing equivalent calories. The companies that produce the military MREs are not allowed to sell them to the general public. However, they can still be found for sale by individuals.
General contents may include: How does an MRE heater work?