>>1979145MREs have different nutritional and digestive effects and storage requirements than a lightweight meal you can prepare for yourself. For instance a soldier is at risk when he takes a shit. Fewer shits, less risk. Do you need that? Multiyear shelf life, do you need that? Ready to eat without heat. Need it? I have MRE drinks and heaters always in the pack for an emergency because you could get hurt or unable to move and then you have a hot drink without a fire as a morale booster if you must hunker down for a night unexpectedly and very little weight penalty. Some MRE food items are okay, but a steady diet of MRE's? Ask a soldier that has eaten MREs for a month what that was like. On the other end is a packet of bisquick, instant oatmeal, electrolyte drink from walmart, high quality European instant coffee, deens (the good Portuguese kind), tomato paste in a tube, dry pasta, cured meats and cheeses, trail mix. You can be light without MRE or mountain house using real food. Just sayin.
