MREInfo.com

I've often wondered about the thinking behind certain components that end up in the civilian meals.

A good example would be the Menu C "Chicken w/Dumplings" which comes complete with BBQ sauce. Do any of you gourmands here reach for the BBQ sauce when eating Chicken and Dumplings? I don't.

Anyway, I finally had to put forward a query. I emailed the good people at Heater Meals asking about their "Chicken & Noodles" Heater Meal 3, which contains the chicken & noodles entree, King's Fancy Fruit Mix(raisins, papaya, cranberries, and pineapple), Peanut M&Ms, Tropical Punch drink mix, AND a chocolate peanut butter Squeezer. To my admittedly provincial sensibilities the chocolate peanut butter blend cannot reasonably be used with any of the other parts of the meal, so how is it intended to be used?

This is the reply from Colleen McHugh of Heater Meals;
"Thanks for your inquiry. It's the first time I've encountered that particular question.
Typically, folks squeeze it out of the packaging. If that's not preferable, you could always squeeze the peanut butter onto the tray that comes with the meal and spoon it like your(sic) eating pudding."

It occurs to me that the Squeezer is much like Reese's peanut butter cup that is not subject to melting or chocolate bloom. Then again, the same would be true of peanut butter M&Ms.

I still cannot shake the feeling that there is a far more sinister explanation, one that the government doesn't want us to know about. Isn't Ms. McHugh's explanation just a little too pat? Am I the only one who wonders why none of our top military leaders have never gone on record regarding the subject of chocolate peanut butter Squeezers?

Personally, I think the reason is "calorie packing". When planning the menus, they probably see they're about 200-300 calories short of their calorie goal so they start looking at what they can add to reach that goal.

I'm with you - why the heck would anyone put BBQ sauce in a meal that doesn't need it or peanut butter (chocolate or not) in a meal without bread or crackers? It's the same way with the Menu C MREs - they have mostly good parts but sometimes there's the odd packet that doesn't make any sense for that MRE.

I opened a Menu "C" meal last night, it was hamburger and there was no bread but BBQ sauce in it as well as 2 HDR items consisting of Fig bar and a pack of jelly. I agree with Kman that they are just packing to get the calorie count but what I can't figure out is why no bread especially for a burger as well as jelly and cheese spread and no crackers? I can understand the cheese in case you want a cheesy burger. Is there something I am missing? But they are loaded with extra items for snacks.

The Menu C MREs have really gone downhill in quality over the past 6 months. The menus used to make some sense and matched what's posted on mredepot.com's website (and mine). But after the last batch of hurricanes, the producers seems to throw whatever spare MRE crap they have laying around into those MREs.

A Beef Patty MRE without any bread or crackers...that's a real joke.

The great thing about MREs is that they do offer good balanced nutrition within their limitations. Every meal provides a reasonable combination of proteins, starches, and fats. Obviously, fresh fruits and veggies are going to be a challenge in shelf stable applications.

The Menu C's come from a different planet nutritionally, 200 - 300 calories of entree and 1,000 calories of junk food.

I have provided a visual aid for comparison.

I will now have to gouge out my eyes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You should have put a warning up first..
Curse you!!!!

Plus, MREs are cheaper.

Big Galloot wrote:...The Menu C's come from a different planet nutritionally, 200 - 300 calories of entree and 1,000 calories of junk food.

I have provided a visual aid for comparison.

ahh - the much sought after FemTrooper of Geekdom.

Rain, I think her name is can often be found at numerous sci-fi cons, namely Dragon Con and Comic Con. The red hair works for me - but i think the ink is overkill.

There's actually a whole legion of FemTroopers (praise the gods) - all sporting useless cutoff at the midrift
molded breastplate blaster armor.

check out my hero, Elvis Trooper's website for more excellent pics.
http://elvistrooper.com/ET.htm

thankyouverymuch.