Arbonaut
Go Climb It
When I was over in korea around 2000 you could buy expired army rations from the US military guys for only a few bucks. Those things were amazing and I used to buy them a box at a time. Haven't been able to find anything even remotely similar in aus. Can't be beat for price, nutrition/energy content and variety of flavor. A box would usually have a whole bunch of different meal items, but the amazing thing was how much stuff you got in each one. A typical pack would contain 2 or 3 mains, sides, 2 or 3 drinks, desert, condiments, knife and fork, salt and pepper, toothpick etc. The mains were substantial and not dehydrated. They actually taste good. Best part is they cook themselves. While hiking I'd open one up 15 minutes before the end of the day and put some water in there. Didnt need to be clean water, anything would do. Close it back up and throw it in my pack and keep hiking. When I stopped I'd have a cooked meal to eat.
The army guys used to hate them though. They say they stop you up if you eat too many which i can believe. I never ate them for more than a few days at a time. I found a single pack would cover me for lunch and dinner sometimes. If you can get them stateside I cant recomend them highly enough. I always had a few stashed in my jeep for just in case.
Shaun
My uncle is a retired Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army. He always kept me supplied with C-rations in the camping days when we were kids. Then later it was MRE. Which is probably what you're getting. I could live on the dried fruit bars! When my Uncle died last April, he left me a whole 5 gallon bucket full of P-38 can openers in his will. Don't leave home without. Especially today.