Vegetarian, Kosher, Halal MRE, And Space Food

By Daniel Reed


Military ration packs, also known as meals, ready to eat, are specially packaged food suitable for use in the military. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration have adapted the concept to feed astronauts in confined, zero-gravity conditions. They are also useful for hikers, backpackers, campers, and families who like to prepare for natural emergencies, like hurricanes and earthquakes. Special packs are available to accommodate the religious and dietary requirements. There are Kosher rat packs for Jewish service members and Halal MRE for Muslims.

The consumption of "rat packs" is not limited to members of the armed forces. Astronauts use military-like ready meals. They are also suitable for preppers. In order to meet the requirements for the meals to be prepared under battle conditions with a minimum of fuss, certain comprises are often made with respect to palatability. As a consequence, MREs have been referred to affectionately as "Meals Rejected by the Enemy, " "Meals, Rarely Edible, " and "Meals Resembling Edibles, " to name just a few.

The contents of a single meal might typically include an entree and a side dish. The meal would be rounded out with a dessert. The pack also contains a bread roll or crackers, together with something to spread on them, such as peanut butter or cheese spread. Powdered beverages, i. E., coffee, tea, soft drinks, etc., are thrown in. Finally, the accessory portion of the pack would contain seasonings and maybe even some chewing gum or mints.

Certain non-edible items are in the pack. Most of the contents of an MRE can be managed with a spoon, so that keeps the utensil side of things nice and simple. A bag is included to make it easy to mix up beverages. A book of waterproof matches is also included. To keep consumers neat and tidy after their meal, napkins and/or toilet paper are included, as well as a moist towelette. Flameless ration heaters are used to bring the temperature of perishable food up to a safe level.

Kosher and Halal dietary regimes are catered for as well. There are various special situations where the rat pack menu might be different. Sometimes, the ambient temperature is too cold even for the flameless heater. Here, freeze-dried food is often used that can be reconstituted with water. Flight crews sometimes have to eat their meals with one hand on the steering wheel, so the manufacturer has to legislate for consumption without utensils.

For service members with strict religious dietary requirements, the military offers a type of pack called "Meals, Religious, Kosher/Halal." Halal meals are those that Muslims are permitted to eat under Islamic Shariah law. The most well-known example of a forbidden food is pork. Halal covers non-food items as well, including medicines and cosmetics.

It's not just Muslims who are not permitted to eat pork; it is restricted under Kosher regulations as well. Way back in the formation of the Israelite nation, Jacob, whose sons formed the leadership of the original 12 tribes of Israel, spent an entire night wrestling with an angel. In the process, he injured his hip. That is why Jews do not eat bacon or other pork products.

People living in outer space have particular challenges to be met with regard to meal times. The absence of gravity is the main one. Food tastes different in deep space, too, and astronauts tend to like spicy foods. On one occasion, a member of the Gemini II space crew, mission commander Gus Grissom, smuggled a corned beef sandwich on a flight. He was gently reprimanded by NASA.




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