An MRE, or a meal ready to eat, is essentially exactly what the name suggests. However, there are many people that are still in the dark about what this is and how it can be used in their lives. Here you will learn what you should be able to expect from a quality MRE and how it could benefit you to keep them on hand.
Just about every MRE is a balanced meal that is easy to heat no matter where you may be. Instead of needing a heat source like a stove or microwave, the meals ready to eat come with a heating element that typically can only be used once. This means that you can have a warm meal no matter where you are or what conditions you are facing. Additionally, these meals typically have an extremely long shelf life. This means that they will last longer than most foods that you can purchase in the grocery store and remain safe for human consumption.
While it is not true of all of these options, most meals are rather high in calories. This is due in large part due to the fact that they were initially created to be used during emergencies and for people serving in the armed forces who burn a lot of calories each day. There are now lower calorie options that are available on the market if that is what you personally desire.
In fact, the options when it comes to these meals are quite endless. The key is knowing what you are looking to get out of the meals before you begin your search for the ones that are right for you. There are now meals that meet specific dietary needs such as vegan, gluten-free, low sodium and more. The demand for these variations has dramatically increased in recent years making it possible to find something no matter what your personal needs might be.
The meal choices themselves have also become far more expansive. Just about any type of meal that you would cook at home is now available in an MRE format. The manufacturers of these meals saw the desire for a more diverse selection and have accommodated to that demand. You can select from breakfast, lunch and dinner meals so that if you plan to use them for a long-term situation, you will not find yourself dreading your next meal but instead looking forward to it.
There is now a wide range of situations in which people use these meals. As stated before, they had previously only been distributed by the government and emergency services, but they are now commonly purchased by civilians for personal use.
One popular reason people decide to purchase them is to be sure that they have the nutrition they need on hand in case of an emergency. There are countless situations that can arise in which making a warm meal will not be possible. A few of these include heavy storms that knock out power, floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Having these on hand will give you the peace of mind of knowing that they will be there if any of these were to occur where you live, work or travel.
Another frequent use is for those that like to spend time in the wilderness. They are extremely small, so they are easy to pack into a backpack for hiking. They do not require any other heating source so you can leave your camp stove or charcoal at home. They also do not require any type of refrigeration so this will save money on having to purchase ice or power a cooling unit. In short, people find that using these instead of other food options make their camping experience much more enjoyable and a great deal more comfortable.
Finally, there are now many people that like to keep MREs on hand to eat no matter where they may be. Even if they have the means to cook a meal, a meal ready to eat is easy to prepare and contains the nutrition that is needed to ensure that they are getting the vitamins and nutrients that they need. Now that manufacturers have gone to great lengths to improve their taste, they have become a meal that not only is easy but tastes great as well.
Not all MREs are the same, but there are certain things that you should be able to expect from them. The main component is that you are able to have a warm meal no matter where you might be at that time. Be sure to take your time to compare your options if you are considering making a purchase. The more research you do, the more likely it is that you will be satisfied with the final selection that you make.