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No battle was ever won on an empty stomach. According to historians, one Roman legion had to consume 120 sheep a day for their meat ration, crusaders would recharge on dry meat and grain, while Napoleon’s soldiers spent most of their time desperately hungry.

But fast forward to the modern day and we see a whole different story. Neatly packaged and super-compact, military food rations are an easy way to provide that much-needed nutrition. But it turns out, every country has its own take on front-line dining. Thanks to one Youtuber named David Hong, who tried a variety of MREs from different countries, we now know what exactly army troops’ taste buds can expect when they open one. And surprisingly, some look better than my dinner ever has.

More info: Youtube | Twitter | Facebook

#1

Russia

Russia

Apple sauce; Pea stew; Meatball; Bacon in fat; Crackers; Rice with peas and meat; Cheese spread; Carrot and potato substance

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#2

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Muesli oats with milk; Sports drink, coffee and tea; Candy; Cranberry cereal bar; Fruit cake; Vegetarian pasta; Oatmeal cookie and hazelnut spread; Tomato pasta salad; Salted nuts

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#3

Italy

Italy

Breakfast: Biscuits; Chocolate; Jelly; Spoon; Coffee; Sugar; Salt. Lunch: Tortellini; Beef; Fruit salad; Biscuits; Coffee. Supper: Crackers; An entry bar; Tuna; Soup

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Bored Panda reached out to David Hong, a Youtuber behind the series of videos that revealed what’s inside these military food rations. It turns out, David is also an artist in the furry fandom and Warhammer Horus Heresy project, which recently became his main focus.

The thirty-year-old Youtuber started out back in 2011 and his channel was mainly about blogging and gaming. ”I never have thought it would be an MRE Review Channel since I first opened a US MRE ration that I bought from an expat living in my country,” he recounted.

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#4

France

France

Terrine forestiere; Crackers; Chocolate, nougat and candy; Muesli, oats and fruits; Instant tomato soup; Braised ham; Crozets et diots

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Bardhi's Dad
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would gladly serve in french army. Especially if you compare it with than Yugoslavian army where I served more than 30 years ago

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#5

Germany

Germany

Hazelnut pudding; Rindfleischlyoner grob; Pea stew with mettwurstchen; Hackfleischrollchen with rice; Muesli, oats milk and fruits; Roggenschrotbrot; Cranberry cereal bar; Roggenschrotbrot; Dark chocolate; Crackers


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chi-wei shen
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A few translations: Rindfleischlyoner grob: rough Bologna style sausage made of beef; Mettwürstchen: small strongly flavoured sausage made from raw minced pork; Hackfleischröllchen: small minced meat rolls; Roggenschrotbrot: coarse-grained rye bread;

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#6

Canada

Canada

Hot chocolate; Orange drink; Coffee; Coffee creamer; Banana flavoured oatmeal cereal; Bread; Sliced apples; Baked beans; Ketchup; Peanut butter; Strawberry jam

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Mike Crow
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve had many of these when is was an aside Cadet and in basic training when I joined the Canadian Forces. Some of the entries were better than others but I never got the baked beans.

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But it turns out, David isn’t connected to any military himself. “This question comes up due to the fact that MREs can only be had if provided by the army, or bought from a commissary in a base.” He explained that this isn’t the case anymore because military rations are now available publicly. 

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It’s hard to say which food ration was David’s fave since “every ration is unique to the taste and culture of their corresponding nation.” Having said that, he loved “the Russian IRP because it offers the most protein of all the MREs I had. The pork fat or sowbelly is probably the oddest choice in it; it tastes like bacon when you mix it with the rice included.”

Other nice treats included meatballs that “feel and taste realer than manufactured ones that are soggy and bland” and crackers that “are great to snack on, dunking it in the sauces of the entrees is heavenly.”

#7

Croatia

Croatia

Biscuits with pepper; Salt crackers; Chocolate; Pineapple; Papaya; Turkey pate; Liver spread; Sardines Beans; Coffee taffy's; Orange drink; Tea; Beef soup

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#8

U.S.

U.S.

Marble pound cake; Skittles; Grape flavor energy drink; Crackers; Chili; Macaroni

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Joshua Taylor
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Problem is they're typically 18 months past the expiration date. A bit hard and powdery but good enough. (Speaking from personal experience - Army vet)

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BeazleBug
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This photo does not reflect the full contents. At least 5 items are missing- crackers alternate, "cheese" or peanut butter spread and the now infamous "starbucks in a scrotal sack" disgusting mud drinks, and numerous condiments. And for those that don't know, the green bag on the left is a water activated heater, great for lukewarm meals, but even better for warming cold hands. As for the candy, it is random, but I assure you that for the last few years they have been using mostly sour skittles, which do not hold up well in storage. Oh, and they took away our beloved mini-tabasco and replaced them with what is effectively the mild sauce even Taco Bell won't give away... Got a loved one overseas right now? mail em a bottle each of red and green Tabasco...is worth its weight in gold to deployed troops.

ebony1k124 touch
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Cheese Tortellini is one of the best MREs in the inventory. The beef stew is also surprising good.

Joshua Burgess
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The US MRE is meant for high calorie intake (~1,200 cal.) not nutrition. This is 1 of 24 different meals, which change periodically. Each case (A/B) contains 12 meals/menus. In a pinch, one MRE can be split into 3 meals (skittles count) based on contents. They always contain a main, side, bread or crackers, dessert or snack, a drink pouch, and condiments that include a spread of some sort (cheese or peanut butter), salt/pepper, Tabasco or other "hot" sauce, coffee, a book of matches, and 6-12 individual sheets of toilet paper. Fun fact: bread and pound cakes are full loafs that have been vacuumed down to both save space and provide more food.

Meyer Weinstock
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yes, I recall the book of matches, and a second (bad) chocolate bar, which was labeled for giveaway to the children that we'd meet in the streets of whatever place we invaded (SE Asia for my generation) with "A gift from the people of the United States" or some such drivel printed on the paper label. -Rev Dr M, retired professor, who knows that just because you burn your draft card, they can still find you (and don't care if you're a minister, a single parent, or the only son) when the draft board wants fresh meat (of ethnic minorities) for the front

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DKS 001
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

US is cheap with everything. MRE's, school lunches, food for those in need ..... "great country" ... cheap AF

blubfisher
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

MREs are designed to be cheap. They are designed to keep your soldiers fed and nourished while they are in the field. From my understanding, There's a tradeoff between offering more and better food and weight which is important in combat. Also, they cause constipation.

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TS Rhodes
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Skittles remind me of how young we send them into combat.

Befitting Soup
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like a child's meal. Somehow can't imagine huge buff men eating this.

Perfumista Perfumista
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think some of these were for the whole day and this is just one meal, otherwise why provide muesli and two pasta dishes.

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Janet Dawson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love Skittles, but this is nutritionally poor...mostly sugar and starch c**p, and a little protein. No fruits or veggies of ANY kind :(

Rhys Cernunnos
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do not be fooled... the only thing palatable is the skittles. The crackers will turn your mouth into the Sahara desert.

ruthenium the ruther
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow! U.S. sure does pack as much sugar into their meals as possible. I mean: Skittles?

Meyer Weinstock
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd offer that the Canuck meal has more sucrose per ounce that this one does, believe it or not...

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I love Hermione
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like the skittles...and the chili looks good...but compared to the amount of food by the other militaries...

Hannah Burbridge
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can now die happy knowing that the US army has included Skittles in their rations.

Lulu
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

us U.S. folk gotta eat our artificial flavored candies

backatya
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When did they get Skittles? Notice the USA has the smallest portion of all of them... OK almost all

Mark CM
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Candy? Gotta keep the soldiers looking like the population they're defending, I guess.

htbq
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i remember these. use to mix coffee creamer and cocoa powder.

Kandi Sofia Dahlan
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awww .. I was hoping to see a more luxurious package from the richest Army in the World :-)

Maria Rib
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How do they live on this? No veg, no fruit, no fiber. This is all starch and sugar.

Randy Klefbeck
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I heard one of the advanced combat members used to combine drink packets with crackers, and water in a bag to make a kind of pineapple upside down cake concoction.

Hannah Marshall
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes to chili and skittles... But the US's is a helluva lot smaller portion than anyone else's!

katboxjanitor
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Skittles are new since 1995. So is that marble cake. There used to be a "cookie" that looked like 1"x1"x3" block of pressed particle board. It was mildly sweet and as dry as the particle board it looked like. It could stop a system up fast.

Jack Courtney
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did not get any Skittles in my MRE, I did get some M&Ms though and my chili was much more like a soup, but that was back in 1985 or 86. Cake and crackers were very dry, needed some peanut butter, butter, or jelly. Was glad that a friend and I both bought Noodles in a Cup with us.

Stannous Flouride
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember when these were first introduced that troops said MRE stands for "Meals, Rejected by Ethiopians" (this was during that country's terrible famine and civil war)

Ted Lively
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've eaten C Rats, Long Rats, and MRE's. In this old Marine's opinion, they should've stuck with the C Rats.

WhatEvenIsLife
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad was in the Army and he used to bring home boxes of MREs that we would take on camping trips. Really... interesting.

Tugg Ster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Multiple if not ALL of the countries presented had candy and other sweets in their MRE’s

okpkpkp
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I served in the US Army, (the 1970s) everything came in cans. Most were awful but the beans and hotdogs were ok when you could get it hot. They also included a four-pack of different brands of cigarettes. The cigs were always stale.

Paul Fritz
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some of you are lucky..... when I went in we still had C-Rations. MRE's weren't half bad. I got a box of C-Rations one time in Germany that still had the cigarettes in them ( stale ... circa Korean war) LOL

Jessica Cifelli
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is the little white squares gum? Like the kind you get from a quarter candy machine?

Jessica Brand
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah. Rumor has it that it has a laxative effect for after eating the other parts. I never got bound up eating these. And I've eaten A LOT of them. Beef stew: gross. Chili Mac: yum.

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MRK
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where's the food? This doesn't seem enough for someone marching all day or even riding. Hopefully they can double up.

fancy yet idiotic alien
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom retired from the army and my dad is still in the army, and they have these at the grocery store that is on base

Alex Boyd
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I bought some of these surplus...never got the skittles, but I've come across Pop-Tarts several times, and Tootsie rolls once or twice. There's also an oatmeal cookie that is surprisingly good, and the entrees I've had *look* like dog food, but actually taste and smell reasonably OK.

Nightmare Scar Paladin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've had some of the US MREs because of a national guard presentation at my school, shiet is better than our school lunches

Aragorn II Elessar
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah they’re actually not bad, and I’d kill for the crackers they have in there

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savannah burrows
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this one actually isn't too bad. its not anywhere close to what we eat everyday but this is one meal that is fought over lol

Marlowe Fitzpatrik
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Compared to which other one? Because I personally don't think ANY main looks especially appetising...

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#9

Poland

Poland

Tea; Coffee; Chicken casserole; Hardtack; Hard candies; Stick of gum; Honey; Condensed milk ; Pepper; Salt; Raisins

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Moreover, David believes that “the entrees in the Russia IRP are the best seasoned,” which means you don’t need to add salt or pepper. “The mini stove is also very cute when warming the entrees within their containers, as a civilian, I feel like camping when using it,” he added.

The Youtuber, who is originally from the Philippines, also told us about the time he tried living on “twenty-four colon-blocking [army ration] flavors to choose from.” It may sound fun, but in reality, “It is quite a fattening and a constipating endeavor as a civilian with moderate exercise, the amount of calories in each pack is designed for soldiers.”

#10

Lithuania

Lithuania

Drink; Chicken soup; Hazelnuts; Crackers; Chocolate; Chicken and rice


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ebony1k124 touch
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks decent but i would pour some of the soup over the chicken and rice to rescue it a bit.

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#11

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan

Biscuits; Tea bag; Jam; Pate; Squash; Rice; Corned beef with soup

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#12

Ukraine

Ukraine

Breakfast: Iced tea; Biscuits; Rice with beef; Wipes.
Lunch: Spoon and tissue paper; Pate; Pork; Drink; Sugar.
Supper:Biscuits;Tuna;Pate;Iced tea;Sugar


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Not only can the MREs truly be fattening since they’re packed with calories, they can also get dull easily. “Once you already cycled through the menus as they can have the same desserts or spreads in consecutive packs.”

All in all, David wouldn’t recommend relying on MREs as a quick meal even for an athlete because “they can really throw off your diet and bowels.”

#13

Spain

Spain

Tuna; Mix fruits; Beef and peas; Instant vege soup; Pate

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#14

China

China

Cake; Fruit; Rice; Sausage; Hot Sauce


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ebony1k124 touch
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rice and sausage looks like it may be a lil hard to swollow. It fell victim to the "evaporation fairy" that is known to suck all moisture and flavor out of MRE's or Equivalents.

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