Food rations or fighting rations, remain an effective way to meet certain needs, especially during an evacuation and therefore healthy BOB (Bug Out Bag).
The main advantage of the combat ration is that it is the product of a long history and a reflection adapted to a particular environment where the food must be fast, discreet and simple in its preparation, but also nutritious.
For the Best MRE you can visit Alpha Survivalist ultimate guide and reviews.
They can be eaten cold if conditions do not allow cooking, or reheated using simple and effective methods. The caloric intake is more or less based on a day, and most importantly, there is no need for water for their preparation.
MRE Ready (Meal Ready-to-Eat) and RCIR (Individual Combat Ration) are both durable and compartmentalized, making them ideal for use in movement, and the possibilities of organization and personalization.
Another advantage is that they are autonomous units. They do not depend on anything else for their preparation and consumption, which is essential for a situation requiring substantial adaptability that reduces the need as much as possible.
In anticipation of a difficult situation, food solutions must be of a nature that tends to the saving of water.
Even if rice, beans, and lentils, for example, are of relevant nutrition and therefore often present in the bags of evacuation, these foods remain dependent on consequent water supply, and preparation which requires time and tools.
These foods line up with a more or less sedentary situation and are perfect for logistics like the BI (Bug In - or shelter on the spot), but they are not adapted to the movement and the reduction of the need which is the very nature of the evacuation.
To be able to eat in the movement, to be able to eat without preparations and in the water economy is a primary advantage that aligns with the role of the BOB.
Freeze-dried meals are usually better and of a ridiculous weight, but their thirst is a problem. For those who anticipate a lack of water, it is an unsuitable solution.
For me who resides in a landscape where the water is abundant and of quality, it is an interesting solution and which is thus part of my food system, without being the main actor because these meals depend on preparation rather slow.
My approach to the combat ration is "cannibalizing". The weight of a complete ERM ranges from 500 to over 700 grams. The complete RCIR is 1500 grams !!!
For an application in the movement, the ration must be cannibalized. The gain in weight and place is unavoidable, and I do not know anyone familiar with the rations of fighting that cannibalize the system.
This systematic "cannibalization" is, moreover, an integral approach to all survival systems, and a broader view of survivalism.
The cannibalization of our debts, our needs, our homes, and our relationship with the support systems is a pressure more or less indispensable on the superfluous.
The cannibalization of the fighting ration allows a huge gain in volume and weight which translates for the MRE of a weight reduction of almost 200 grams and a reduction of about 40% of the volume without compromising its autonomy. Where we had 2 rations of fights, we can have 3.
The differences between the MRE and the CJIR are important.
The individual and warming ration (7 Euros per ration) is probably the most complex in the world. Its weight is 1500 grams and its nutritional intake of 3200 calories including 13% protein, 32% fat and 55% carbohydrate.
14 different menus are available.
It contains among others a small folding stove with 6 fuel tablets, matches, and 6 tablets for the treatment of water.
Very complete, it offers an impressive calorie intake and various solutions such as water treatment for example. Due to its weight and volume, cannibalization is however essential at 1.5 kilos it is a cinder block!
MRE ($ 7 per ration) is immediately ridiculous in terms of caloric intake compared to the CJIRR, with only 1,200 calories. The common understanding is that a single MRE is not enough food for a man in action it takes 2.
Cannibalization is here a notion that tends to 2 is 1, and 1 is 0.
We find among others the main dish, a side dish, a dessert, a cracker, and a spread. Some powdered drinks, a plastic spoon, matches, and a paper towel.
Its advantage is its weight and volume.
Having eaten the RCIR in the army, and the MRE on the mop, the math is simple.
One is heavy and bulky but calorically adapted, and the other is light and small but calorically unsuitable.
One is better than a lot of restaurants, and the other was downright refused by my dog.
Both, after some cannibalization and customization, are the ideal answer to a situation in the movement. Both offer adequate autonomy and water saving.
Minimal preparation or non-existent organization "decentralized" and "cannibalize", makes the fighting ration remains a system that should easily find its place in the health of our preparations.