Military food: Field ration, Meal, Ready-to-Eat, C-ration, Mess, Dining in, Meal, Combat, Individual

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 32. Chapters: Field ration, Meal, Ready-to-Eat, C-ration, Mess, Dining in, Meal, Combat, Individual ration, Mess kit, Hardtack, Humanitarian daily ration, Alexis Soyer, Garrison ration, Field kitchen, Combat Ration One Man, Salt pork, Imperial Japanese rations, Lusikkahaarukka, Maconochie, Reservestridsproviant, Army Catering Corps, Vinogel. Excerpt: A field ration, or combat ration, is a canned or pre-packaged meal, easily prepared and eaten, transported by military troops on the battlefield. They are distinguished from regular military rations by virtue of being designed for minimal preparation in the field, using canned, pre-cooked or freeze-dried foods, powdered beverage mixes and concentrated food bars, as well as for long shelf life. Such meals also prove invaluable for disaster relief operations, where large stocks of these can be ferried and distributed easily, and provide basic nutritional support to victims before kitchens can be set up to produce fresh food. Most armies in the world today now field some form of pre-packaged combat ration, suitably tailored to meet national or ethnic tastes. The Ración de Combate (Individual) was introduced in 2003, consisting of a gray plastic-foil laminate pouch containing a mix of canned and dehydrated foods, plus minimal supplements, for 1 soldier for 1 day. All products in the RC are domestically produced, commercially available items. Each ration contains: canned meat, small can of meat spread, crackers, instant soup, cereal bar with fruit, a chocolate bar with nuts or caramels, instant coffee, orange juice powder, sugar, salt, a heating kit with disposable stove and alcohol-based fuel tablets, disposable butane lighter, resealable plastic bag, and a pack of paper tissues. Menu No. 1 contains: corned beef, meat pate, crisp water crackers, and instant soup with fideo pasta. Menu No. 2 includes: roasted beef in gravy, meat pate, whole wheat crackers, and quick-cooking polenta in cheese sauce. Canada provides each soldier with a complete pre-cooked meal known as the IMP (Individual Meal Pack), packaged inside a heavy-duty folding paper bag. There are 5 breakfast menus, 6 lunch menus, and 6 supper menus. Canadian rations provide generous portions and contain a large number of commercially available items. Like the US ration, the main meal is precooked and ready-to-eat, pa