The ancient spice known as "red gold"
Combat rations, also known as field rations or ration packs, have been used by the armed forces for decades. However, they've come a long way, both nutritionally and in terms of technology (i.e. you no longer need fire to have a warm meal). These rations are specifically tailored to national tastes and most have various menus available. Modern combat rations also cater to those who have special dietary requirements.
Curious to find out what troops from different countries around the world eat? Click on the following gallery to be surprised!
These self-contained, individual rations have been used by the military for many years. They are also distributed to civilians during catastrophes such as natural disasters.
Many armed forces divide the rations into different meals (e.g. breakfast, lunch, dinner), and there are usually different menus, tailored to meet national tastes, and different types of diet. Almost every ration contains some form of instant soup, instant coffee, tea, milk/cream, fruit juice, a chocolate bar, salt, and sugar.
Different armed forces use different technologies when it comes to packaging. Self-heating food packaging, which allows troops to enjoy a hot meal without using fire, are popular in some countries.
Ukraine suddenly needed hundreds of thousands of meal kits for its soldiers when Russia invaded the country in 2022. Volunteers all over Ukraine jumped into action helping to supplement the military's food supply, preparing dried soup mixes in pouches like the women pictured here, or handing out free hot dogs like many local shops did.
The standard Ukrainian MRE contains three pouches—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—along with a flameless heater. Meals include things like the traditional Ukrainian soup borscht, beef and buckwheat porridge, and split pea soup with pork, among many other hearty hot dishes. Snacks are included in the pack, such as dark chocolate and dried apricots.
The invading army of Russia also has to provide nourishment for hundreds of thousands of soldiers. A Russian MRE reportedly contains canned meals such as goulash and other stews with meat and vegetables. Snacks include crackers, pate, jams, cheese, and chocolate.
Bundeswehr’s Einmannpackung (EPA) can include lentils with sausages, Yugoslav sausage, Goulash, beef patties in tomato sauce, Italian pasta, tofu stir-fry, cheese spreads, rye bread, hard crackers, fruit salad, a chocolate bar, and jam.
The Japan Self-Defense Forces’ combat rations include frankfurters, beef curry, grilled chicken, Chinese meatballs, sweet and sour pork, grilled salmon, Yakitori chicken, mackerel in ginger sauce, chicken and vegetables, tuna, pickled vegetables, Takana pickles, and pickled hari-hari, or bamboo shoots, potato or tuna salad, and instant soup (Miso, Egg Drop, Wakame seaweed, or mushroom).
The British armed forces have different ‘operational ration packs’ (ORP). The 24 hour ORP includes hamburger and beans, chicken with mushroom and pasta, treacle pudding, instant porridge, fruit biscuits, yeast extract, hard candy, hot cocoa mix, and beef/vegetable stock powder. There are also Kosher/Halal, vegetarian, and Hindu/Sikh menus available.
The Malaysian Army ration includes beef korma, chicken masak merah, fish curry, sambal shrimp, bean curd and vegetables, long bean stew, rice, canned pineapple or papaya, black bean or flour porridge, biscuits, and jam.
New Zealand’s Operational Ration Pack includes foods such as lamb casserole, chicken curry, beef Teriyaki, chilli con carne, Anzac biscuits, chocolate bars, URC fruit grains, muesli bars, instant noodles, muesli cereal, a tube of condensed milk, crackers, tinned cheese, cocoa powder, jam, ketchup, and onion flakes.
An example of a Spanish Army combat ration includes stewed steak, pickled mackerel, liver pâté with red peppers, a can of fruit, crackers, and bread.
The United States' Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) contains a main course (there are 24 menus, including vegetarian, etc.), hardtack crackers, a spread (cheese, peanut butter, or jelly), a fruit drink powder, and a dessert (cake, candy, cookies, or fruit).
The French RCIR (ration de combat individuelle réchauffable) contains foods such as salmon terrine, chicken liver, tuna, fish terrine, duck mousse, beef salad, salmon with rice and vegetables, shepherd's pie, rabbit casserole, chili con carne, paella, veau marengo (veal), navarin d'agneau (lamb), and poultry with vegetables. There’s also instant soup, hard crackers, cheese spread, chocolate, candy, and cocoa powder.
The Finnish ration has beef or pork, crispbread, soups, porridge, and chocolate, among other dishes.
The Indonesian National Armed Forces’ Ransum TNI includes canned Javanese or Balinese fried rice with chicken satay, Bali daging (meat with Bali seasoning), ikan masak habang, minkal drink, minsus, and cookies.
The Danish ration contains a main meal and other foods such as energy bars, dried fruits and nuts, hard biscuits, and meat pâté.
The Portuguese ração de combate includes foods such as jardineria de vaca (beef stew), chili con carne, crackers, canned sardines, pate, and candy.
Colombia’s Ración de Campaña contains tamal, envueltos (Colombian-style wrapped corn cakes), lentils with chorizo, arvejas con carne, garbanzo beans a la madrileña, arroz atollado, ajiaco with chicken, sudado con papas y carne (Colombian meat loaf), bread products, beverage mixes, sugar, a can of condensed milk, sandwich cookies, cream spread, hard candy, peanuts, trail mix, and almonds.
The Greek’s Merida Eidikon Dynameon includes canned meat, meat with vegetables, cheese, hard biscuits, honey, and raisins or chocolate.
Italy’s Razione Viveri Speciali da Combattimento contains tortellini al ragù, pasta e fagioli, wurstel, tacchino in gelatina, insalata di riso, a chocolate bar, fruit candy, crackers or sweet bread, a can of fruit cocktail, and an energy bar.
The UAE ration includes hard brown biscuits, apricot jam, canned tuna, rice, chicken curry, pasta rigatoni, date pudding, a can of fruit, ramen noodles, dried hummus, and candy.
The Norwegian feltrasjon contains main meals such as chili con carne, beef stew, beef and potato casserole, lamb muligatawny, cod and potato casserole, pasta Bolognese, wolf-fish with prawns, sweet and sour chicken, and rice in basil sauce. It also contains rye bread and breakfast cereal.
The Australian combat ration can contain beef Kai Si Ming, Dutch-style beef with vegetables, beef with spaghetti, baked beans, sausages with vegetables, chicken with pasta and vegetables, biscuits, an Anzac biscuit, M&M's, crackers, cheese spread, jam, and Vegemite.
The Mexican Ración Diaria Individual de Combate contains a pouch with meat mixed with vegetables (e.g. beef, pork, chicken, tuna, etc.), and a pouch with other staple foods such as rice, beans, pasta, or eggs. The ration also contains salt, spices, condensed milk, butter, chorizo spread, dried fruit, bread, crackers, custard, cookies, canned fish, cocoa mix, nuts, chocolate, candy, fruit juice, or Coca-Cola.
The Ração Operacional de Combate of the Brazilian Army includes pouched main meals (beef, chicken, sausages, etc), rice, cassava pudding, a cereal bar, bread, jelly, jelly beans, and hard candy.
A Canadian Individual Meal Pack (IMP) contains foods such as beans, wiener sausages, potatoes with ham, smoked salmon, mac and cheese, cheese omelette with mushrooms, shepherd's pie, fruit, instant soup, cereal, fruit drink, jam, cheese spread, peanut butter, honey, crackers, bread, chocolate bars, and candy.
The Irish eat instant soup, ramen noodles, oatmeal, a protein bar, biscuits, and candy. It also includes bacon or sausage with beans, beef casserole, Irish stew, chicken curry, or a vegetarian alternative. For dessert there’s chocolate pudding, syrup pudding, fruit dumplings, a Kendal mint cake, and fruit lozenges.
The Ración de Combate contains canned meat such as corned beef, meat spread, crackers, instant soup, cereal bar with fruit, and a chocolate bar.
The Dutch Gevechtsrantsoen can contain beans with pork, chili con carne, corned beef hash, chicken and pasta in tomato sauce, rice with vegetables and beef, chicken with rice and curry, potatoes with sausage and veggies, sauerkraut with sausage and green vegetables,
hard biscuits, jam, cheese spread, meat spread, tuna spread, and mints.
The Swedish armed forces’ 24-hour meals come in both wet and dry, and there are approximately 200 menus! Rations usually include a main meal, energy bars, protein bars, nuts, energy drinks, whole wheat bread, peanut butter, and desserts.
The Singapore Armed Forces have three ration options: Muslim, Non-Muslim, and Vegetarian. Foods include Rendang mutton with rice, tandoori chicken with rice, red bean dessert, pasta Bolognese yellow rice with chicken, barley dessert with milk, mock chicken curry with rice, vegetarian fried noodles, green bean dessert with coconut milk, instant noodles, fruit bars, and cookies.
The Philippines armed forces’ rations include foods such as tuna rice with sisig, chicken sausage with sauce, chicken lechon paksiw, rice, sardines, instant noodles, crackers, peanuts, ginger tea, and cookies.
The Indian armed forces have different variations of Meals Ready To Eat (MRE). Popular foods include sooji halwa, chapati, chicken/mutton/vegetable biryani and curry, rajma curry, dal fry, jeera rice, dal makhani, vegetable pulao, pickled hot seasoning, and chikki (a traditional Indian sweet generally made from nuts and sugar).
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Combat rations, also known as field rations or ration packs, have been used by the armed forces for decades. However, they've come a long way, both nutritionally and in terms of technology (i.e. you no longer need fire to have a warm meal). These rations are specifically tailored to national tastes and most have various menus available. Modern combat rations also cater to those who have special dietary requirements.
Curious to find out what troops from different countries around the world eat? Click on the following gallery to be surprised!