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. · December 5, 1998, 10:16 PM

I'm here Rich.

Gotta agree with you PCurrent, the MRE's will plug you up like a welded in butt-plug! The military normally rotates the MRE's with "A" or "B" rations to ensure that sufficient green stuff and water-packed food gets in the digestive system. The MRE is designed for the physical intensity of combat environs, and subsequently is loaded with about 3200 Calories. Chompin' on these for the 3-squares without that level of energy burn will ensure not only that you're moving bricks thru your bowels, but that you'll grow to accommodate them. Drinking lots of water before & after eating is highly recommended when using the MRE's as a primary food source.

The cardboard cases, in which military contract MREs are packaged, are stamped with the expiration date. Just because the date has passed however does not mean the meal packs and condiment packets aren't still potable, just suspect. Watch for bloated or pressurized entree` packets as they may have a gas producing bacteria in them or possibly even toxins such as botulinum. Don't purchase or eat any packets that are opened (tears, pinholes, and faulty edge seals are the most common). I would be suspect of the individual meal packs sold at some surplus and low budget outfitters, as they are probably discarded military stocks that have been separated from the tell-tale case. The same goes for the individual entree and condiment packs. Once they are separated from the case, most don't have the expiration date markings on them.

The MRE is excellent for cold weather snacking, emergency stores in the storm shelter, boat airplane/'copter & the car/truck/4x4. If in vehicles, protect from heat if possible, as this will cause them to breakdown & spoil faster.

Other items to consider for stocking with the MREs are UHT milk, & sterile water, both of which have extended shelf lives. Set up a plan to rotate stocks by using them periodically, this ensure the entire stock isn't about to go bad just as a blizzard pops over the mountains or swoops across the praires or Great Lakes.

A great advantage of MRE over the traditional "6-month" or "1-year" cache of bulk foods is that it is consummable in small quantities, unlike the gallon size cans of corn, beans, pudding, & etc. found in many of the food cache marketeers catalogs & adverts.

[This message has been edited by Mykl (edited 12-05-98).]

December 5, 1998, 10:16 PM	#6
. Senior Member Join Date: October 6, 1998 Location: My wife's house... Posts: 2,659	I'm here Rich. Gotta agree with you PCurrent, the MRE's will plug you up like a welded in butt-plug! The military normally rotates the MRE's with "A" or "B" rations to ensure that sufficient green stuff and water-packed food gets in the digestive system. The MRE is designed for the physical intensity of combat environs, and subsequently is loaded with about 3200 Calories. Chompin' on these for the 3-squares without that level of energy burn will ensure not only that you're moving bricks thru your bowels, but that you'll grow to accommodate them. Drinking lots of water before & after eating is highly recommended when using the MRE's as a primary food source. The cardboard cases, in which military contract MREs are packaged, are stamped with the expiration date. Just because the date has passed however does not mean the meal packs and condiment packets aren't still potable, just suspect. Watch for bloated or pressurized entree` packets as they may have a gas producing bacteria in them or possibly even toxins such as botulinum. Don't purchase or eat any packets that are opened (tears, pinholes, and faulty edge seals are the most common). I would be suspect of the individual meal packs sold at some surplus and low budget outfitters, as they are probably discarded military stocks that have been separated from the tell-tale case. The same goes for the individual entree and condiment packs. Once they are separated from the case, most don't have the expiration date markings on them. The MRE is excellent for cold weather snacking, emergency stores in the storm shelter, boat airplane/'copter & the car/truck/4x4. If in vehicles, protect from heat if possible, as this will cause them to breakdown & spoil faster. Other items to consider for stocking with the MREs are UHT milk, & sterile water, both of which have extended shelf lives. Set up a plan to rotate stocks by using them periodically, this ensure the entire stock isn't about to go bad just as a blizzard pops over the mountains or swoops across the praires or Great Lakes. A great advantage of MRE over the traditional "6-month" or "1-year" cache of bulk foods is that it is consummable in small quantities, unlike the gallon size cans of corn, beans, pudding, & etc. found in many of the food cache marketeers catalogs & adverts. [This message has been edited by Mykl (edited 12-05-98).]