So this morning I went to the Army & Navy shop in the downtown crossing section of Boston to look for some camping odds and ends. During my browsing I happened to notice a box full of MREs (meals ready to eat) available for purchase.
My curiosity was sparked.
Alive with the spirit of adventure, I proceeded to acquire a "Vegetable Stew with Beef" MRE and head home. After arriving at the apartment I tear into my new meal in a bag package, contents are as follows:
1 Cardboard box labeled "Vegetable Stew with Beef" - Foil bag of stew is enclosed
1 Flameless heating bag
1 3 ounce New Millennium Coconut flavored energy bar
2 packages of "Seasoned Ry Krisp" crackers, 2 crackers in each package.
1 1.3 ounce Daddy Ray's Nutra Fruit Fig Bar
1 .5 ounce packet of grape jelly
1 packet of 97% caffeine free Farmer Brothers coffee, serving size 1 cup
1 packet sugar
1 small packet of both salt and pepper
1 plastic spoon
1 moist towelette
1 book of matches
Some photo documentation:
So far I've just "made" the stew, which consisted of putting the stew bag into the larger flameless heater bag. That in itself was mildly interesting, you add a little bit of water, fold the end of the heater bag over the MRE bag then stick it all back in the cardboard box to cook for about 15 minutes.
Conclusion of the stew: Surprisingly tasty, although I thought the portion was a little small, all the more so if I had been out in the field all afternoon though of course I still haven't eaten the rest of the package. As a side note, I wasn't ravenously hungry (in the sense that you're so hungry a leather belt would taste good).
Also, I was slightly concerned during the 15 minute cook time, whatever chemicals are at work in the heater bag make for a mildly nasty smell, but the stew itself smelled good.
As I work my way through the remainder of the package I'll post updates.
Also, one of the thoughts behind doing this was to compare a civilian MRE to the meal packs places like EMS offer in terms of cost, taste and quantity.
Edit: It cost $8