Military acronym originally meaning "Meal, Ready to Eat."
Modern
MRE's generally consist of a main course, bread and spread (grape jelly, strawberry or
blackberry jam,
jalepeno cheese, etc.), a desert (
pound cake, M&M's,), powdered drinks, a condiment package, and a heating element (in case the soldier is interested in a semi-hot meal). Each MRE, when fully consumed, is approximately
2000 calories, the suggested daily caloric intake for an average person.
The quality of MRE's has consistently improved, though when compared to other food, it is still FUBAR. This explains why MRE's have several derisive terms:
- Meals Rejected by Everyone
- Meals Rarely Enjoyed
- Meals Rejected by Ethiopians
- Meals Rejected by the Enemy
- Meals Refusing to Exit*
There are methods of enjoying an MRE so that it's not particularly terrible. "The Ranger Cookbook" is an unoffical military document which provides the soldier an effective means of mixing and matching MRE's so as to have the most enjoyable meal possible.
* This acronym may be outdated; supposedly, the gum included in the condiments package is a mild laxative.