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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.
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#1
Russia
Apple sauce; Pea stew; Meatball; Bacon in fat; Crackers; Rice with peas and meat; Cheese spread; Carrot and potato substance
namjoonie_ k 5 years ago
From what I see there`s: Apple jam or "povidlo" in Russian, it is eaten by itself or on a cracker. There`s also a pate or "pashtet" and some cheese spread, also eaten on a cracker. Some veggie spread (mostly it`s zucchini and carrots), which we call "zucchini caviar" in Russia. Some pea stew. The "bacon in fat" looks like goulash, which is basically meat stew. The carrot and potato substance is just boiled potatoes and what actually looks like is cabbage, rather that carrot. And some rice and meat (I think it`s pork). Plus some beverages. It might not look too fancy, but it sure is nutritious and very home-like.
b l a n c 5 years ago
it's also states all of the food in the description at the top, but ty anyways :)!
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Vorknkx 5 years ago
As someone who has grown up in an ex-communist East European country, I am quite used to eating all kinds of "substance" things. There used to be a very persistent rumor that they put toilet paper in the sausages, by the way... but no one is brave enough to actually investigate this, heh heh :D
Борис Решетов 5 years ago
"Carrot and potato substance" is fake. The Russian ration includes only one dish with carrots - "Meat with green peas and carrots".
Борис Решетов 5 years ago
"Frontline 100 grams" were given during world war II
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#2
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
Tracey Hirt 5 years ago
Tabasco is the only thing in MREs that is still packaged in glass. It eats through plastic!
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Andrew Gibb 5 years ago
The UK MOD rations are pretty good these days; they now come in vegan, Halal and diet specific boxes. They have retained the use of biscuits brown and biscuits fruit (these stop you defecating), red boiled sweets and a variety of drink powers. No screach- a drink that is the most sour thing I have ever tasted! The American rations are vile- they are full of sweets and snacks with little nutrition. It's almost as if they have been designed by pre-school children!
Bender Bending Rodríguez 5 years ago (edited)
I am sure American rations are not designed by pre-school children but rather by the same folks who designed American school lunch. Little to no nutrition seems to be the common factor between both of them.
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BeazleBug 5 years ago
The Brits still get the tiny Tabasco, and the Yanks took it away from their troops.
mph seti 5 years ago
This one looks not only good, but something that'd actually keep you alive and well for a few days.
Meyer Weinstock 5 years ago
The components read like a list of foods for weightlifters. Good choice!
#3
Italy
Breakfast: Biscuits; Chocolate; Jelly; Spoon; Coffee; Sugar; Salt. Lunch: Tortellini; Beef; Fruit salad; Biscuits; Coffee. Supper: Crackers; An entry bar; Tuna; Soup
Private Custard 5 years ago (edited)
So disappointing. I was expecting a teeny tiny set of really good looking fold-out table and chairs, focaccia, olive oil, mushroom risotto, tiramisu.....maybe a nice chianti. I used to live next door to an Italian family, they take their food seriously. This must hurt them!
Dario Pinolini 5 years ago
Yes is given in a plastic container to be keep on hand, is called Cordiale
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Luca Valerio 5 years ago
"Concentrated/condensed whole-fat milk", it seems
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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.
#4
France
Terrine forestiere; Crackers; Chocolate, nougat and candy; Muesli, oats and fruits; Instant tomato soup; Braised ham; Crozets et diots
Bardhi's Dad 5 years ago
I would gladly serve in french army. Especially if you compare it with than Yugoslavian army where I served more than 30 years ago
ADHORTATOR 5 years ago
There is a trade between soldiers, I was told that one French MRE gives you four from the US Army
CaptainDinosaur 5 years ago
True. We worked with other NATO forces a great deal, and like most French cuisine, the MRE was of much higher quality.
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Marlowe Fitzpatrik 5 years ago
No-no. that's called 'tomato soup', see? ;-)
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Caffeine72 5 years ago
I worked on a project for the CNRS years ago and we got all of our meals from the local army depot. The food was utterly glorious. They had their own bakery and we got fresh fruit flown in from N. Africa daily, huge salads, and great variety. The only thing I didn't try was the kidneys, but even the cat wouldn't eat those.
Laura Rudgers 5 years ago
Terrine Forestiere A smooth style pate made with mushrooms. Crozets et diots is a sausage pasta, the pasta made from buckwheat flour and is the dish pictured in the oval container
#5
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
chi-wei shen 5 years ago (edited)
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;
ADHORTATOR 5 years ago
The crackers are called "Panzerplatten"= Armor plates, guess why... :-)
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 5 years ago
I used to love them - my dad was in the military. But I always thought they were called Panzerplatten because you could plaster a road with them so a tank could drive over it? HUh, but I never asked and this is just as cool and explanation ;-)
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ruthenium the ruther 5 years ago
well... not bad, could be worse. **cough cough** american school lunches **cough cough**
Erik Nagel 5 years ago
I remember the food rations in the East German Army. It contained bread in a can, and this can fitted perfectly in our howitzers. Guess what we did...
#6
Canada
Hot chocolate; Orange drink; Coffee; Coffee creamer; Banana flavoured oatmeal cereal; Bread; Sliced apples; Baked beans; Ketchup; Peanut butter; Strawberry jam
Mike Crow 5 years ago
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.
stripper dream 5 years ago
Is it just me or does this meal sound as nice as Canada? It's so wholesome. :)
Sid Stephen 5 years ago
During my 32 years in the Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army I ate way more than my share of this gunk. But soldiers are nothing if not adaptable: the standard issue MRIs used in the late 70s and early 80s really were mostly inedible unless you supplemented them with some brown sugar, spices or the old stand-by, bouillon cubes, and many of us carried these on field exercises or operations. We also knew that mixing ten or twelve individual items into one big kinds stew and boiling the s**t out of it made it possible to swallow without gagging. Some units were a bit more, shall we say, inventive - don'y worry, Bill, I'm not going to mention the steer that was mysteriously hit by a jeep in Wainwright one year, and the steaks that appeared in the unit ration trucks the next day. Not to mention the 2 Service Battalion Pizza service at RV85.
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.
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
Biscuits with pepper; Salt crackers; Chocolate; Pineapple; Papaya; Turkey pate; Liver spread; Sardines Beans; Coffee taffy's; Orange drink; Tea; Beef soup
Seabeast 5 years ago
What, no olives? :-) When I visited Croatia it seemed that elderly ladies selling olives and olive oil at roadside stands were everywhere.
DancingToMyself 5 years ago
You were probably somewhere by the sea. That's where olives are growing. Massively. :)
Load More Replies... CaptainDinosaur 5 years ago
Sardines. Love 'em, but couldn't get them from trading with US or Royal Navy. Mom had to ship them over. Should have found some Croatian brothers!
Andrew Gibb 5 years ago
Someone in the Philippines has been ordering different countries rations for this articles- interesting thanks!
James Thompson 5 years ago
Not just that. The cups are the same in lots of photos.
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ispeak catanese 5 years ago
Not a nutritionist but this looks like a healthy meal. Maybe high sodium from the patés.
Oskar vanZandt 5 years ago
Not keen on the sardines and tinned meat but I have tasted similar main from a glass jar- was good.
#8
U.S.
Marble pound cake; Skittles; Grape flavor energy drink; Crackers; Chili; Macaroni
Joshua Taylor 5 years ago
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 5 years ago (edited)
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 5 years ago
The Cheese Tortellini is one of the best MREs in the inventory. The beef stew is also surprising good.
Joshua Burgess 5 years ago
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 5 years ago (edited)
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
Load More Replies... mph seti 5 years ago
Only way to make it truly 'mercan is to deep fry the whole thing. Yes, the Skittles too.
DKS 001 5 years ago
US is cheap with everything. MRE's, school lunches, food for those in need ..... "great country" ... cheap AF
blubfisher 5 years ago
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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Captain Obvious 3 years ago
Yeah! 'Merica... and every other country that has MREs...
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Befitting Soup 5 years ago
Looks like a child's meal. Somehow can't imagine huge buff men eating this.
#9
Poland
Tea; Coffee; Chicken casserole; Hardtack; Hard candies; Stick of gum; Honey; Condensed milk ; Pepper; Salt; Raisins
Erin Presley-Froemke 5 years ago
Either that or some cat is going to be really surprised with the toothpaste it got...
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Linda Roy 5 years ago
Compared to some of others on this list, this doesn't look too bad
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Lucille Varner 5 years ago
Flour, water, salt. Flavourless crackers that burn nicely and damn near make you CHOKE TO DEATH
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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
Drink; Chicken soup; Hazelnuts; Crackers; Chocolate; Chicken and rice
ebony1k124 touch 5 years ago
This looks decent but i would pour some of the soup over the chicken and rice to rescue it a bit.
Trisha Lynn 5 years ago
That isn't soup, it's broth! And the Chicken and rice looks like it's already been digested. YUK
ruthenium the ruther 5 years ago
ohhh no. it just says: DRINK for the red liquid. hmmm. anyone know what that is?
#11
Kazakhstan
Biscuits; Tea bag; Jam; Pate; Squash; Rice; Corned beef with soup
JessG 5 years ago
I'm surprised at the tin cans. Doesn't seem practical, although it's better than plastic I guess
Bob Hanks 5 years ago
U.S. military c-rations came in tins. Worked for WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. HEAVY to haul around, but the food didn't go bad. (Not saying it was good, you understand . . . .)
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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
Linda Roy 5 years ago (edited)
The stuff to the left of the spoon looks kinda brownish grey, tbh. Nope
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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
Tuna; Mix fruits; Beef and peas; Instant vege soup; Pate
Bettye McKee 5 years ago
I thought this one looked more appetizing than some of the others.
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Linda Roy 5 years ago
Especially soldiers who needs more calories than this in order to serve their country with any kind of energy. Next!
Load More Replies... ruthenium the ruther 5 years ago
its just a bunch of different shades of brown, grey, and orange.
Viki Banaszak 5 years ago
What? No crackers??? I guess your supposed to lick the pate out of the can?
#14
China
Cake; Fruit; Rice; Sausage; Hot Sauce
ebony1k124 touch 5 years ago
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.
okpkpkp 5 years ago
Yeah, that's why we loved our C-Rations so much. All the "liquid"... (barf)
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Frank Green 5 years ago
The food he listed here is just simple food for field training!In fact, in the military canteen, the food there is very rich. If you are interested, you can search for relevant pictures online.
Rosie Hamilton 5 years ago
Fair enough but they are for while in the field though. We aren't comparing canteens.
Load More Replies... ispeak catanese 5 years ago
Mercy, that looks atrocious. How can that be enough for an adult? 4 pieces of pineapple?
Oskar vanZandt 5 years ago
All the packets coordinate nicely... think it lacks enough fluid. I've noticed there's a vast difference in type of sweets that are enjoyed in far eastern countries compared to the west.
starhunter64 5 years ago
dang china really? up your product production quality really, I thuoght the sausages were bricks of gum, also like why hot sauce? is this the punishment meal? like you eat all the meager portions and then 2 days latter when your waiting for restock and all there is left to eat is a bunch of packs of hot sauce. Is this survivle of the fittests?
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What do you think ?
Foxxy (The Original) 5 years ago (edited)
I wish these ration packs were easily accessible and cheap. Would be great to give out to the homeless.
mph seti 5 years ago
I would try any of these once. The closest stuff I've eaten is freeze-dried camping/backpacking food you add boiling water to. Not terrible, 100% reliant on spices/seasoning.
Alex Boyd 5 years ago
I bought a few of these (American ones) at a surplus store a while back, for camping/emergency purposes. I'm sure anyone would get tired of them pretty fast, but I found it kind of fun opening them and seeing what different items I got. (The packaging had the name of the entree on it, but the other components were a surprise.) Some of them have a processed cheese-type substance with jalapenos in it, that is probably objectively terrible, but really hits the spot if you've been hiking all day.
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Darius Ryliškis 5 years ago
Why did you not write the duration of the ration pack? example, one United Kingdom ration pack are for 24h survival , and Lithuanian one ration pack for 8h survival, Lithuanian soldiers for 24h get 3 mentioned packs, in post can be assumed that all ration packs are for the same duration of survival, what is wrong ;/
B 5 years ago
Pff, kids today don't know they're born. South African army, 1987 - for a three day hike, full kit and rifle over rocky dry terrain, we were each given one piece of raw steak, but no fires were allowed. And to share between three, one box of dry rusks (hard biscuits that can't be eaten unless sucked for an hour before or dipped in a hot drink... again, no fire allowed, so that was a no-go). By the end of the march we would have killed each other for one of the packs above.
Jessica Cifelli 5 years ago
All the ones with pate just seem like they are giving their soldiers cat food to eat. Also they almost all have some form of cracker/ biscuits. However the main entrees in the MREs dont look particularly enticing. I get that they are to serve as a quick thing to eat during combat, but you'd think that the military that is defending your country would get way better looking food than this.
Foxxy (The Original) 5 years ago (edited)
I wish these ration packs were easily accessible and cheap. Would be great to give out to the homeless.
mph seti 5 years ago
I would try any of these once. The closest stuff I've eaten is freeze-dried camping/backpacking food you add boiling water to. Not terrible, 100% reliant on spices/seasoning.
Alex Boyd 5 years ago
I bought a few of these (American ones) at a surplus store a while back, for camping/emergency purposes. I'm sure anyone would get tired of them pretty fast, but I found it kind of fun opening them and seeing what different items I got. (The packaging had the name of the entree on it, but the other components were a surprise.) Some of them have a processed cheese-type substance with jalapenos in it, that is probably objectively terrible, but really hits the spot if you've been hiking all day.
Load More Replies... Darius Ryliškis 5 years ago
Why did you not write the duration of the ration pack? example, one United Kingdom ration pack are for 24h survival , and Lithuanian one ration pack for 8h survival, Lithuanian soldiers for 24h get 3 mentioned packs, in post can be assumed that all ration packs are for the same duration of survival, what is wrong ;/
B 5 years ago
Pff, kids today don't know they're born. South African army, 1987 - for a three day hike, full kit and rifle over rocky dry terrain, we were each given one piece of raw steak, but no fires were allowed. And to share between three, one box of dry rusks (hard biscuits that can't be eaten unless sucked for an hour before or dipped in a hot drink... again, no fire allowed, so that was a no-go). By the end of the march we would have killed each other for one of the packs above.
Jessica Cifelli 5 years ago
All the ones with pate just seem like they are giving their soldiers cat food to eat. Also they almost all have some form of cracker/ biscuits. However the main entrees in the MREs dont look particularly enticing. I get that they are to serve as a quick thing to eat during combat, but you'd think that the military that is defending your country would get way better looking food than this.
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