The US military introduced the Meal-Ready-to-Eat, or MRE as the new standard ration system in 1981. While they have seen steady and regular development since then, with evolving changes in the entrees and other items, the system itself and purpose has remained the same: providing a lightweight, preserved meal based on dried foods, complete with seasonings, treats and drink mixes.
The well-rounded ration has become popular with survivalists and campers. While MREs are available on the market, strictly speaking it is illegal for genuine MREs to be sold to the public. Most of the commercially available camping meals labeled “MREs” are really MRE facsimiles, assembled by companies as unofficial substitutes. Given how many of the items that are assembled into both official and unofficial MREs are available on the shelves of camping goods stores and even your local supermarket, there is no reason to buy these rations when you can make your own.
Components
The typical MRE package contains the following: a dehydrated main entree along with a side dish; a dessert or snack treat; bread or crackers; jelly, peanut butter, or cheese spread; a beverage packet, like tea, coffee or a fruit-flavored drink mix; an accessory kit with things like utensils, seasonings (Tabasco sauce is a regular) and matches; and the the flameless ration heater (FRH). This package is meant to have a minimum shelf life of 3 years.
Shopping List
Start with your entrees and side dishes. In 2009, the military’s MRE system included 24 separate main course options. There is no need for your homemade MRE’s to be so ambitious, but you should shoot to create a decent variety in order to avoid monotony. Camping stores come with a wide selection of great, tasty dehydrated food packs. However, these are also a little pricey, so they can be rounded out with some options from your supermarket. Rice-a-Roni, Ramen Noodles, and Bear Creek Soup mixes are all examples of things available on your supermarket shelves that can be turned into a MRE-style entree or side dish.
Tea, coffee, cocoa and fruity drink mixes are all widely available on your supermarket shelves, and in an array of packaging sizes. The same can be said of desert items. Indeed, many of the real MRE options are from brand name products, like Taster’s Choice coffee, the ever-popular Tabasco sauce, and Tootsie Rolls.
One thing to consider when assembling your MREs is how you want them organized. Military MREs are meant to be individual packages, but you might be planning to stock a cabin or feed a camping trip, and therefore can afford to make some MRE components common items. For example, it might be better to get one plastic jar of peanut butter than a dozen small ones.
The FRH
The flameless ration heater is an important part of the MRE, enabling troops to heat up their meal without have to start a fire. It uses a chemical reaction similar to that which causes iron to rust, and all you need to do is add water. The FRH instantly becomes a cooking pad. These are available online, and as many camping stores do not stock for them, that is where you ought to shop for them. Campers may prefer to rely mostly on either campfires or their portable camping stove, but having some FRHs around is a good back-up plan for wet days or as a hedge against running out of fuel.
Protection
This is easy. Simply put every individual MRE in a ziplock plastic bag. If you want to go the extra mile and have access to a package-sealing machine, you can use regular plastic bags and seal them shut that way, thereby creating a more reliable bond.
Sources: alpharubicon.com/prepinfo/mresthoth8.htm; conservativescalawag.blogspot.com/2007/03/homemade-mre.html
