MikeJ Survives a Week on MREs

[Shami-Amourae]

Some of the ration day packs are from different countries so this series. This series may be helpful to get an idea what you're in for this this is part of your SHTF strategy (assuming you have one.)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaYRLwB05F8


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfNw_mW2i58

[Shami-Amourae]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE_EecWyPsA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve8V3kMzjVY


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjnKui9EnSo

[Shami-Amourae]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7yhjFKSpTE


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe7q4nNyM58

[gunDriller]

if weight is not an issue, then survival food stores can include tastier stuff.

like Chef Boy ardee canned ravioli.


i read the ingredients today.

Great Value canned ravioli, big can, $2, actually has beef in it.

perhaps that's not such a good thing ?

Boyardee, $2.50 for the same size ... textured veg. protein.

[Hitch]

This guy survived for 3 days on lifeboat biscuits.

I've only tried one day.

I know I could do 3 or more days, but would I willingly? Hell no.

These videos are very educational, imo.

[Shami-Amourae]

This guy survived for 3 days on lifeboat biscuits.

I've only tried one day.

I know I could do 3 or more days, but would I willingly? Hell no.

These videos are very educational, imo.

I wish he didn't do the biscuits though. The MREs from different countries are the best.

I really thought the French one was interesting (Day 4.)

I'm a huge fan of French food, but WTF is up with Ostrich in a tin? LOL.

[Hitch]

I wish he didn't do the biscuits though. The MREs from different countries are the best.

I really thought the French one was interesting (Day 4.)

I'm a huge fan of French food, but WTF is up with Ostrich in a tin? LOL.

Agreed. I'm about ready to load up on French MRE's now.

I want to try the Ostrich in a can though, just to see if I could handle it.

[Shami-Amourae]

if weight is not an issue, then survival food stores can include tastier stuff.

like Chef Boy ardee canned ravioli.


i read the ingredients today.

Great Value canned ravioli, big can, $2, actually has beef in it.

perhaps that's not such a good thing ?

Boyardee, $2.50 for the same size ... textured veg. protein.

I really liked Canned Fruit. It gives you all the liquid and food ready to eat and no need to heat it up.

[Shami-Amourae]

I found some YouTube channels dedicated to MREs:
https://www.youtube.com/user/KiwiDudeMRE/videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/gundog4314/videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/gschultz9/videos


Some of these foreign MREs are on Ebay if you guys want to buy them it seems.

France:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-e52ILTWVw


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUDai_n7h2k


I have issues with a lot of these rations since I'm allergic to wheat. I had to do a lot of interesting things with my food preps.

I'm classically trained in French cuisine by many French chefs so I always have a special bias/love for French food.

[Shami-Amourae]

Japan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbOzleHUo5M


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdlYoO9lxHI

[Shami-Amourae]

From another forum:
https://www.zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=108964





i do a lot of militaria fairs in Belgium, aswel as helping someone who has a large stand on them. Next to military bolt action rifles, the swedish and swiss army..Field rations is something that always been of huge intrest to me. So i would like to share my Experiences with you guys.


French/belgian RCIR ration de combat individuelle rechauffable (or 24 hour reheatable Field ration)
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/8646/ho6p.jpg
The French and belgian armies primary field combat ration. The RCIR is composed of 14 menu's. Inside are 2 precooked meals Ready to eat meals wich can be heated with the included heating unit. There are currently 14 menus of wich a few summed up=
beef salad,tuna and potatoes,salmon with rice and vegetables,shepherds pie ,rabbit casserole ,chili con carne ,paella,veau marengo (veal),navarin d'agneau (lamb),poultry and spring vegetables,Hors d'oeuvres include: salmon terrine, chicken liver, tuna in sauce, fish terrine, duck mousse...

Each meal box also contains a package of instant soup, hard crackers, cheese spread, chocolate, caramels or boiled sweets, instant café-au-lait, sugar, cocoa powder, matches, a disposable folding ration heater and fuel tablets, and water purifying tablets.

As for my Personal review i rate these RCIR highs. In Belgium you pay 8 euro's for one. For this you get a well fed dual meal, drinks, large amount of crackers(wich are delicious) spreading and a medium amount of sweets and spices. The meals itselfs are actually delicious aswel and very edible.I tried 12 menus and only one was less pleasent to eat (Paella is decent but not great).
The reheatable unit comes with everything needed from fuel to matches to the ability to safely cook the tin cans containing the meals. The sweets are in a moderate amount.With soup, coffee, tea and flavoured drinks, you are stuffed for the day!

Rating=8.5/10
+Excellent meals
+Well equipped with everything you need for one day, but you can easily last a second day with somethings
+decent price
+Things are very edible (Important for a soldier)
-They have a good shelve life of 4 years, but other Rations have longer shelve life
-The sweets are moderate and sufficient, but MRE has more and better sweets(But terrible main meals)
-Lacks a spoon/fork/knife

American MRE

I think everyone here will know these MRE's. Or the meal ready to eat. Or the meal refusing to exit, or meals refused by Ethiopians..
I personally, love the things in an MRE beside the main dish. The snacks and drinks are delicious. And the main meals..well i had good experience with everything "Beef and pork" wise.

In belgium a single MRE costs 8 euro
My score= 5/10

+Very good sweets and beverages
+East storable and good shelve life
+The flameless heater is nice
+A SPOON
-Not so goodmain course
-Sometimes not edible side course
-Looks disgusting from time to time
-Very high price for what you get
-Alot of waste materials

a lot of folks in my family are in the military. In afghanistan they always trade there Belgian RCIR's for 4 MRE"s sometimes!

German EPA or EinmannPackung
http://www.mreinfo.com/images/de/typ1.jpg
http://www.mreinfo.com/images/de/einmannpackung-type-3.jpg
There used to be 4 meals, but once Germany reunited these menus where phased out. However when Germany went for peacekeeping missions instead of starting world wars (;)), they reintroduced the EPA. This time in 3 diffrent types.
Each EPa has several heavy duty foil trays containing things like Green Beans with Ham, Italian Noodles, Goulash, or Pea Soup with Bacon. They also contain two smaller foil "cans" of bread spreads such as liverwurst or luncheon meat spread. The meal box also includes instant fruit juice powder, instant coffee, instant tea, powdered cream, a really good chocolate bar, sugar, salt, gum, jam, water purifying tablets, and paper towels.

The contents are large. But only 3 diffrent menu types.
I tried 2 EPA's and i enjoyed EACH and EVERYONE of them. The main courses are Delicious and edible (Altough the RCIR are a bit better). a lot of bread and biscuits and spreads to go along with it, a large number of ,drinks (coffee tea and fruit beverages), good snacks and sweets and a lot of accesoires.
A special love goes to the biscuits. Also know as "Panzerbiscuits" or "Panzercookies" or "Cementkoekskes" (The latter being named in belgium sometimes)
However, no heating source is provided! So you must get one your own!
The price i had to pay was big= 14 euros

An excellent score goes from me= 9/10
+Delicious meals
+Lots of contents of everything!
+ZHE PANZERCOOKIES
+Keeps you filled for a long time, Has the best amount of any field ration
+Well packaged
-No heating source provided
-Bit expensive
-Only 3 menu types

Polish W ration or Racja żywnościowa typu wojskowego

http://polskiejednostkispecjalne.org/www/images/wyposazenie/racjawojskowa_w1.gif
The polish equivalent of the American MRE, the W ration contains more then enough food for one meal(Intended for one meal). The biggest simularity is the flameless water activared heater. A polish W ration has these menus=

W1 = pork w/vegetables, hardtack, fruit & cereal bar, and dried apricots
W2 = beef w/vegetables, hardtack, fruit & cereal bar, and raisins
W3 = beef & mushrooms in a tomato sauce, hardtack, fruit & cereal bar, dried apricots, and tube of condensed milk
W4 = chicken in spicy sauce, hardtack, fruit & cereal bar, hazelnuts, and tube of condensed milk
W5 = turkey in gravy, hardtack, fruit & cereal bar, almonds, and a bar of dark chocolate

Each ration pack also contains: instant coffee or chicory coffee substitute; a tea bag; sugar; a piece of Vitamin-C hard candy; stick of chewing gum; small (25 g) tub of fruit jam; a plastic spoon; a paper napkin; 50 cm length of toilet paper; a book of safety matches and a plastic bag

The Menus are very edible and delicious, Unlike the DISGUSTING MRE's. The quantity is also much more.420 Grammes of the main menu! It heats very well with the flameless heater. The sweets are in bigger quantity and are good but the american MRE has better sweets(then again 2/4 of americans is overweight). And the various accesiores makes this an excellent MRE style portable and self sufficient Field ration! Special love goes to the epic Polish main menus (W1 W2 and W5 MENU FTW!) and the tubes of condensed milk. This thing is GODLIKE! Delicious, useable with EVRYTHING!
Another good thing about the polish W ration is that it contains its own source of water usable for heating. this is NOT drinking water but water intended for the flameless heater.
HOWEVER

Avaibility and price is higher then an MRE. Due to the uncommon avaiblity. The store that i buy them from is the only store that sells these officialy.I had to pay 15 euros for one! But if i go to poland it much cheaper. The store owner is also "Testing them out" thus hassent bought many, thus the high price. In bulk the polish W ration comes out cheaper then MRE

Thus the score=8/10!
+Dam Good meals
+Good sweets
+Good accesoirces
+A flameless heater everything included that WONT let you down!
+Epic polish condensed MILK <3
-High price
-difficult to find
-No vodka in W ration

norwegian 24 hour combat rations
http://www.mycity-military.com/imgs/112015_124653915_Copy%20of%20P1000797.JPG
The norwegian 24 hour combat rations are divided in 3 packages=Breakfast, lunch and dinner. The courses are freeze dried and you just need to add boiling water to get things ready. The meals are.EXTREMELY delicious, VERY nutricious and packs a punch! According to my package, my total calorie intake of the entire package is 3500! ****** calories!


There are 3 menus. mine contained=
Breakfast:
-Main meal:Sunshine Cereals with Raspberrys
-Energy bar
-Energy drink
-Black currant drink
-Biscuits
-Jam
-Lozenges with honey and camphor
-Coffee
-Chewing gum (Stimorols)
-Disinfection swab
-Chlorine tabletts

Lunch:
-Main meal:Chilli Con Carne
-Mackerel in tomato sauce
-Same things like in Breakfast

Dinner:
-Main meal:Chicken in herbal sauce
-Tuna(lime and pepper)
-Same things like in the other(Source,MREinfo)
http://www.mycity-military.com/imgs/112015_83102615_Copy%20of%20P1000799.JPG
http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff392/Panzer-Fan/IMG_0153.jpg
All in all, the main dishes are freeze dried and are goddamit delicious. Many side dishes and sweets are also included. However this ration contains no way of heating things. Thus external source is required.
Another big + is the fact it is very compact for what it all contains.

My rating=8.5/10
+Compact
+The most tasty meals you will ever find
+Delicious side contents-
+Good sweets
+VERY VERY VERY well packaged, you can forget about damage during travel
-Not self heatable, you need an exterior source
-Very few goodies(napkins, salt and such)
-VERY VERY VERY VERY expensive for a Belgian ...20 freaking euros.