Location: Home > food > US Military MRE's (Meals, Ready-to-Eat) the new diet
US Military MRE's (Meals, Ready-to-Eat) the new dietPosted Mar 30th 2007 5:03PM by Jonathan M. ForesterFiled under: Did you know?, America, Health & MedicalDue to deployed soldiers losing large amounts of weight the MRE is being re-designed. The MRE has been reformulated several times since they were introduced. Mainly to improve the flavor, something that is sorely lacking in the indestructible and almost inedible "food." I have tasted several generations of the MRE going back to when it replaced C-Rations in 1980. I was first in Air Force JROTC in high school and then in Army ROTC in college and we ate many an MRE. At first they were fun, a solid bag filled with food and little treats. But when we were on exercises for a few days they quickly lost their novelty. We would trade them around, trying to see who had the best meal and started calling them Meals, Rarely Edible and other more disparaging names. I was partial to the BBQ on crackers for a few days until my digestive system went on strike. I never received my commission in the Army because I broke my neck just before finishing my training. That accident saved me from having to eat thousands of the damn nasty things over the years and while I regretted not serving my country, I don't regret the absence of MRE's in my life.Now it is the nutrition that is being addressed. Soldiers are losing weight in the field, some up to 20-40 pounds with one soldier being evacuated because he was suffering from malnutrition and lost 60 pounds. One thing that is immediately obvious is the calorie levels of the newest MRE's. They only have 1200-1300 calories in each meal. I know that when I was working as a wilderness guide and mountain climber we would sometimes eat meals that were 5,000 calories and we still lost weight over the course of several weeks. To address the situation short term the Combat Feeding Directorate is going to send about 4,000 prototypes of a new meal called FSR, First Strike Ration, to Iraq and Afghanistan. It is designed for limited use and the ration contains about double the calories of an MRE. The problem with the MRE's isn't just that they don't have enough nutrition or calories. It is that they weigh a lot. Many troops are "field stripping" their MRE's to remove bulk and weight so they can carry more ammunition. But in doing so are also throwing away needed calories.So maybe the military should start something similar to Jennie Craig or Weight Watchers and sell the MRE's as a weight loss program. Just go on an MRE only diet, plus a mini version of basic training, add in some combat time, and in just a few short weeks you'll be slim 'n trim.
|
Artical Related:
Super Mario Nutcracker
Refuse to eat broccoli? Put it in a cake!
Cloudy, sweet apple "cider" is better for you than filtered apple juice
More healthy lunch options for kids
Mediterranean diet may help childhood asthma
