A Sandwich Saves the Day After FEMA’s Epic Fail
Question: What’s better? Eating an MRE or starving to death?
Answer: Eating an MRE. (But not by much.)
As you probably know, an MRE is a Meal, Ready to Eat. It’s a self-contained field ration in lightweight packaging.
The U.S. Department of Defense purchases MREs and provides them to service members in combat. Or in similar field conditions where other (i.e. edible) food is not available.
MREs have been around since 1981. And most of them taste like it. They replaced the MCI (Meal, Combat, Individual rations). Perhaps the MTCYTSF (Meals to Convince You to Start Fasting) will be next.
From Hardtack to MREs
In the mid-1800s, American soldiers ate salt pork and hard bread known as “hardtack.” Yum.
The military eventually “graduated” to canned food. But due to its weight, we switched to freeze-dried food in the 1970s.
Packed and flavored mush became the standard military fare in the 1990s. So many varieties, so little digestion.
Then came MREs. Technically, the contents of an MRE are food. It took scientists in a laboratory to prove that, but it was proven nonetheless.
More Like a Weapon Than a Meal
Now, to be fair, we must admit that MREs have rigorous requirements. An MRE must be able to survive submersion in water, as well as extreme temperatures.
And there have to be enough preservatives to make it last for three years. At 80 degrees Fahrenheit, no less.
What’s in an MRE? If you have to eat one, it’s better not to know. But since you probably don’t, I’ll tell you.
The MRE entrée is often spaghetti or beef stew in the form of a glutinous sludge. Kind of looks like something you’d find oozing out of a cracked exhaust pipe on a hot day. But not quite that tasty.
So Much for Basic Food Groups
The side dish could be rice, corn, mashed potatoes or fruit. It really doesn’t matter because it doesn’t taste like any of them.
You’ll also find something resembling a cracker or bread, as well as a peanut butter, jelly or cheese spread. At this point in the meal, you’d spread just about anything on it to remove the cardboard taste from your mouth.
A powdered beverage mix is also included. Might be fruit flavored or cocoa or tea or a sports drink.
For those troops who have not yet requested that a military surgeon remove their tongues, there is a dessert waiting. Could be candy or perhaps a Soldier Fuel Bar.
FEMA Hands MREs to Puerto Ricans
Well, now that I’ve whetted your appetite with details about MREs (or possibly made you want to give up eating for several months), let’s look at a recent usage.
After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, millions of people needed food. Badly. As I mentioned at the beginning, MREs are slightly better than dying of hunger. So, that’s what the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided.
Overall, an MRE is about 51 percent carbohydrates and 36 percent fat. Very little fiber, which translates into constipation with prolonged usage.
Not particularly nutritious, but it can keep someone alive (and out of the bathroom) until better food is available.
A Chef With a Vision
There comes a time, however, when an extreme weather victim wants to do more than merely stay alive. When you’re eating MREs, that day comes pretty quickly.
Fortunately, a chef named José Andrés and a number of his people came to the rescue with something very simple. The ham and cheese sandwich.
Like most projects, it started small. But it grew as more people got involved.
Like first responders in Puerto Rico and charity volunteers from the mainland. And off-duty Coast Guard members, Homeland Security investigators and even homeless hurricane victims. They all pitched in.
Lining up for Sandwiches
They acquired the white sliced bread from local bakeries. They bought mass quantities of ham and cheese from places like Sam’s Club. And they brought in countless gallons of mayonnaise.
The sandwiches were served in arenas and coliseums. Eventually they were making and serving 20,000 sandwiches a day.
More and more people volunteered. Additional “food stations” opened up in different parts of the country. Soon they were serving 60,000 meals a day. Including chicken and rice. Hungry people were suddenly eating healthy food instead of MREs.
“I have created many avant-garde dishes as a chef, but there are few meals I’m prouder of than the hundred of thousands of sandwiches we made in Puerto Rico,” Andrés said.
It’s Up to You to Protect Your Family
Puerto Rico’s power grid was not fully restored until 11 months after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. And there has been a good deal of scrutiny regarding FEMA’s response to this disaster.
It’s becoming more and more obvious that we cannot expect to rely on the government to come to the rescue when disasters happen.
But trying to figure out what all you need to survive a disaster, especially one that lasts as long as Hurricane Maria, can be overwhelming.
Well, here at 4Patriots, we’ve recently put together our most comprehensive survival package ever to help with that. In fact, it’s a “one and done” survival bundle with EVERYTHING you need to survive a crisis.
Desert vs dessert
You can’t eat it unless it has TWO “s”s.
I must contend with your broad assessment of the MRE. I’ve eaten them. The cheese spread is divine, unlike anything available anywhere. It’s loaded with butterfat and cheddar. It’s thoroughly creamy with a unique tang of all-American cheddar. Cheese not withstanding, man of the entrees are completely acceptable with regard to taste, texture and I never felt anemic for having eaten them. To enhance creativity, one can play with a blend of the hot cocoa powder, coffee and creamer to create a signature hot beverage, as the troops have done for generations. I get that you’re promoting your product but I don’t think it’s wise to slam the MRE to do so. Way too many of your audience has a relationship with those thick-brown packs of sustenance to surrender their shortcomings to a marketing ploy. I like your products. I like MRE’s because I have an experience with them that you’re trampling on. Leave them alone and promote the value and exceptional quality of your products apart from my beloved MRE.
I have bought several survivors tubs of your food in the last several years and I was just recently reading the ingredients and found most of it has soy, wheat and yeast in it…., I’m allergic to these things so can y’all possibly make it without these ingredients. Especially the soy as that really causes congestion and I can’t breathe.
Thanks for your super products! I plan to invest in more for us all-good Be Prepared Sense!!
Thanks, Karen. Being prepared is the only way to live.
reply to Peggy I am a simple grandmother that is bring up a 15 year old because my daughter is a special needs person from lack of oxigan at birth and she was taken advantage of in her teens. shame on men that do that but I am very grateful to my heavenly father that gave us this little package to care for. know I don’t want you Peggy to feel bad for me or any others that have been put in this position. But here is the thing, it is very true that this life we are living is on the brink a world wide crisis. That is very evident..
Food 4 Patriots has created that very well.
It is very true that we need to take care of our families and not depend on our Government to do so. We are the very lucky ones that live in a free country. I can not begin to name the country’s that are under attack at this very moment. Innocent women and children that are dyeing of starvation and dehydration for the need for clean water and food. That is to put it mildly I would not want to have been born in any the mildly I would not want to have been born in any these country’s. I count my blessings day by day that we do still live a a free country. But that is fast coming to a halt. And there is great need to prepare.
I have followed Frank from the time he started up Food4Patriots to date. I get all there emails and through them I have been able to get great deals like the 73hr food kit. The Alexapure waterfilter.The Liberty Seed Vault and other thing along the way only because they have been put on special offers like every year they do Memorial Day Specials . This year is the biggest yet with 60% off I would buy it in a heart beat but alas I do not have the founds to do so.I am a low income family and depend on government support for my daughter and I am also a pensioner that makes one of the lowest incomes because most of my life I have not been able to work only part time and that would be night shifts when the both of them were sleeping.
I am conscientiously aware of the world situation not because of Franks news letters. I know this for myself. That is a hole different story.
It would a a blessing to have this Memorial Day Special My worrys would be taken care of. AS is T thank My Lucky stars that I have been able to put away a few things because of Frank and his team that work so hard to make oeople become aware of what is happening to our world. Sur he can be quite abrupt some times but there is no other way to wake people up from the sleep they are in. When the time comes it will be to late I am no-ways prepared physically but Spiritually I am
It really bothers me to see you condemn our Government help and run down the help they gave. If an MRE is good enough for our military to eat then it is good to have in emergency. If I was in that situation then I would be grateful for ANY help. If they were able to get all the other food then they should have do e it from day one and not stood back and EXPECTED the government to do it. I think k it is wrong for you to run down our Government to sell products.