Each individual MRE meal kit contains approximately 1200 calories and 1/3 of the military’s recommended amount of vitamins and minerals. It is important to note that the average citizen will not require the suggested 3 MRE meals a day to keep them sustained, particularly if they are not burning excessive calories. Depending on storage temperatures, the average shelf life for an MRE is 11 years.

MRE menus have come a long way from their humble beginnings in the 1970’s. Each year, the military reviews and refreshes the menu with new items.  Military MRE cases come in Menu A and Menu B with 12 meals in each case.  In total, there are 24 different meals, including 4 vegetarian meals, to choose from. This range of menu items is bound to please even the most picky eater as it is the military's wish that its servicemen and women are well nourished while on duty.

Each MRE comes with an entrée, a side dish, bread or crackers with an accompanying jelly or spread, dessert, candy, hot and cold beverages, hot sauce or seasoning, an accessories packet, and a flameless ration heater. 2010 entrees vary from chicken pesto and pasta to cheese tortellini.

Although everything in an MRE pack can be eaten cold and right out of the individual pouches, it is highly recommended to take advantage of the flameless ration heater, as it enhances the flavor of the food. All that is required to heat your MRE is a small amount of water. This causes an environmentally friendly chemical reaction inside the pouch, causing the temperature of the water to rise rapidly, heating the food in 12 minutes.

If you are interested in MRE meals, you can purchase them online.  Below are auction items where you can buy military MRE cases at discount prices.

Wise Emergency Meals, Freeze Dried Food - 56 Servings    US $119.95

MREs---2012--6 Cases--72 Meals--The REAL DEAL--FREE SHIPPING East of MISS .River    US $405.99

MRE - MILITARY MEAL #15 BEEF ENCHILADA    US $4.95

3 Military MRE Meals (8)    US $16.95

3 Military MRE Meals (9)    US $16.95

3 Military MRE Meals (10)    US $16.95

3 Military MRE Meals (11)    US $16.95

3 MRE MEALS MENU # 14,17,15    US $9.95

MRE - MILITARY MEAL #14 (VEGETARIAN) VEGTABLE    US $4.95

11 Complete MRE (Meal Ready To Eat) MREs Military Army MRE    US $55.00

new mre 12 meals    US $37.00

MRE Box Menu "A" Sealed Ready To Eat mres survival food    US $75.99

MRE Box Menu "B" Sealed Ready To Eat mres survival food    US $55.99

(2) Military "MRE" Meals    US $64.00

2 boxes MRE Star Brand new    US $90.00

4 boxes MRE Star Brand new    US $165.00

MRE Box Menu "A" Sealed Ready To Eat individual year of 2013    US $55.99

2 Cases 24 Meals Fresh Genuine Military Ready to Eat MRE Menu 2013 + Bonus MEAL    US $199.99

12 Cases 144 Meal MRE Rations Military 2013 FRESHEST w/ Bonus Meals Fast Ship    US $1,059.99

2 case's of MRE'a Test Date 9/2013 GOOD THROUGH 2021    US $90.03

3 MRE Military (Meal Ready to Eat) Entrees Variety Pack; Foreign Travel, Hiking.    US $14.99

MRE Box Menu "A" Sealed Ready To Eat depend on stored temperature    US $55.99

5 ~ US MILITARY MRE MEALS READY TO EAT ARMY NAVY FOOD HIKING    US $14.99

5 MRE Military (Meal Ready to Eat) Breakfast Variety Pack; Foreign Travel Hiking    US $19.99

MILITARY MRE CHEESE TORTELLINI TOMATO SAUCE VEGETARIAN    US $3.00

4 MREs Military Menu 11 12 15 19 NEW IN PACKAGES Army Meals NIP Beef Lot    US $54.99

Military MRE LRP Long Range Patrol Lot 1    US $13.50

Military MRE LRP Long Range Patrol Lot 2    US $39.99

Military MRE LRP Long Range Patrol Lot 3    US $12.99

Military MRE LRP Long Range Patrol Lot 4    US $14.99

2 FACTORY SEALED MILITARY MRE CASES "A&B" 8/2013 CURRENT ISSUE FRESHEST ON EBAY    US $149.95

MRE 6 MILITARY FRESH A PACK MEALS EXP/ 2/14    US $25.00

12 Military MRE Entrees, Meals Ready to Eat, MREs Case    US $50.95

Wise Emergency Meals, Freeze Dried Food - 84 Servings    US $165.95

MRE Entrees Camping Survival Food, Yellow & Wild Rice    US $2.95

MRE Snack Dessert Camping Survival Food, Pears    US $2.95

MRE Snack Dessert Camping Survival Food, Spiced Apple    US $2.95

MRE Snack Dessert Camping Survival Food, Fig Bar    US $1.99

MRE MILITARY MEAL READY TO EAT SEASONED BEEF PATY, BEEF PATTY GRILLED,MAC & CHEE    US $5.50

Long Term Food Wise Food 56 Servings MRE Food Storage    US $99.00

MRE MILITARY MEAL READY TO EAT LOT SLOPPY JOE, VEGETABLE PATTY IN BBQ SAUCE    US $1.29

MRE MEALS MENU # 11,17,19    US $20.00

MRE MEALS MENU # 13, 14, 16    US $18.95

Long Term Food Wise Food 60 Servings MRE Food Storage    US $104.00

Military MRE lot, Meals Ready to Eat, MREs 07/2013 Case FRESH!! 1    US $20.00

Military MRE lot, Meals Ready to Eat, MREs 07/2013 Case FRESH!! 2    US $20.00

MILITARY MRE MRE'S SIDE RASPBERRY APPLESAUCE    US $2.00

MRE dinner THAI Chicken mre dinner full sealed Meal Ready to Eat package    US $1.99

MRE dinner GRILLED Chicken mre dinner full sealed Meal Ready to Eat package    US $1.99

Meals Ready To Eat~MRE's~BEEF ENTRES~FRESH~Emergency Survival Food~Camping,Hike    US $29.99

lot of 6 assorted MRE's backpacking camping food freeze dried new FREE SHIPPING    US $30.92

MRE MRE'S SIDE ITEM MASHED POTATOES SURVIVAL EMERGENCY FOOD CAMPING    US $2.00

MILITARY MRE MRE'S CHICKEN NOODLES & VEGETABLES ENTREE    US $3.00

MILITARY MRE MRE'S DESSERT BERRY COBBLER CAMPING SURVIVAL EMERGENCY MEAL FOOD    US $2.00

MILITARY MRE MRE'S ENTREE SLOPPY JOE FILLING    US $3.00

MILITARY MRE MRE'S BAKED SNACK CRACKERS    US $1.50

MILITARY MRE MRE'S SIDE ITEM MEXICAN RICE    US $2.00

MILITARY MRE MRE'S SIDE WESTERN & REFRIED BEANS    US $2.00

MILITARY MRE MRE'S SNACK POTATO STICKS EMERGENCY SURVIVAL FOOD    US $1.50

MILITARY MRE MRE'S SNACK PEANUTS & RAISINS    US $1.25

The ER Food Bar is prepackaged into a daily ration. Each ration provides 100% of the daily nutrients, vitamins and calories needed to survive an emergency. There is no cooking or preparation require. Emergency rations are specially formulated not to provoke thirst and come in a variety of flavors including lemon-vanilla. There is no cholesterol. For those having food allergies, emergency rations do not have nuts or tropical oils. ER Food Bars have a 5-year shelf life.

MREs have been used by the US Military for years. MREs have a shelf-life of five to eight years. Military MREs are, basically, field rations. However, todays MREs are distinctly different and better tasting than were the old C-Rations. A complete MRE meal will include an entrée, a desert, a snack, a side dish, crackers or bread, a beverage base and an accessory pack which includes instant coffee. MREs are best warmed but may be eaten cold. MREs are not a long-term storage food. The best use for an MRE is to be prepared for an emergency or disaster of short-term duration.  You can buy military MREs or try the various civilian MREs available which are just as good.

Freeze dried foods are generally pre-seasoned and pre-cooked. All that is needed to prepare freeze dried foods is to cook or to rehydrate the foods using hot water. Freeze dried foods are the easiest and fastest of the long-term food foods to prepare. Since most freeze dried foods are seasoned, they generally better taste than other emergency foods.

Dehydrated foods are either a single ingredient food or mix. A single ingredient food would be, for example, rice. Mixes include, for example, soups. The mixes have been seasoned and are a complete meal. However, most dehydrated foods are single ingredient food without any seasoning. Dehydrated foods need to be cooked. Water is added to rehydrate the raw food. Dehydrated food may be cooked either on a stovetop or by adding boiling water and allowing the food to steep. When using only boiling water to cook dehydrated food, preparing the dehydrated food will take much longer than would the freeze dried food because freeze dried food has been precooked. Dehydrated foods have a shelf life of at least 25 years.

ALCOHOL STOVE & WINDSCREEN CAMP SURVIVAL MRE EMERGENCY    US $12.25

2 ALCOHOL STOVES & WINDSCREENS CAMPING HIKING SURVIVAL MRE SURVIVAL EMERGENCIES    US $18.90

8lbs Freeze Dried WHOLE EGGS Long Term Food Storage- Equal to 4 #10 Augason Cans    US $68.90

16lbs Freeze Dried WHOLE EGGS Long Term Food Storage- Equal to 8 #10 Cans    US $130.00

Wise Emergency Meals, Freeze Dried Food - 56 Servings    US $119.95

MREs---2012--6 Cases--72 Meals--The REAL DEAL--FREE SHIPPING East of MISS .River    US $405.99

MRE - MILITARY MEAL #15 BEEF ENCHILADA    US $4.95

3 Military MRE Meals (8)    US $16.95

3 Military MRE Meals (9)    US $16.95

3 Military MRE Meals (10)    US $16.95

3 Military MRE Meals (11)    US $16.95

3 MRE MEALS MENU # 14,17,15    US $9.95

MRE - MILITARY MEAL #14 (VEGETARIAN) VEGTABLE    US $4.95

11 Complete MRE (Meal Ready To Eat) MREs Military Army MRE    US $55.00

new mre 12 meals    US $37.00

Sure-pack mre meals    US $45.00

(2) Military "MRE" Meals    US $64.00

Miitary MRE Case meals 1-24    US $80.00

2 boxes MRE Star Brand new    US $90.00

4 boxes MRE Star Brand new    US $165.00

MRE case A    US $70.00

MRE (2 ) CASES A-PACK MEALS 24 MEALS FRESH 2/2014 EXP.    US $82.00

Emergency Food Supply 1 Year -720 Serving MRE FREE GIFT    US $1,295.00

2 Cases 24 Meals Fresh Genuine Military Ready to Eat MRE Menu 2013 + Bonus MEAL    US $199.99

12 Cases 144 Meal MRE Rations Military 2013 FRESHEST w/ Bonus Meals Fast Ship    US $1,059.99

2 case's of MRE'a Test Date 9/2013 GOOD THROUGH 2021    US $90.03

3 MRE Military (Meal Ready to Eat) Entrees Variety Pack; Foreign Travel, Hiking.    US $14.99

5 ~ US MILITARY MRE MEALS READY TO EAT ARMY NAVY FOOD HIKING    US $14.99

3 Individual MRE Breakfast Variety Pack Lot; Emergency Survival Food    US $12.00

**7 Day Supply MRE Drink Mixes; Fruit Punch, Strawberry, Lemonade, etc.....    US $8.99

7 Day Supply of MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) Dinner Entrees; Hiking, Camping, Hunting    US $26.00

7 Day Supply of MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) Peanut Butter Condiment Packs    US $6.99

7 Day Supply of MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) Breakfast Variety Pack Lot; Emergency    US $21.00

7 Day Supply of MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) Cheese Spread Condiment Pack    US $7.99

7 Day Supply of MRE Dinner Entrees; Emergency Survival Fill Your Bug Out Bag!!!    US $26.00

Wise Long Term Food Storage, MRE, 1 Month food supply, entree only, Freeze Dried    US $110.00

Wise Long Term Food Storage, MRE, 1 Month food supply 4 Big Eaters, Freeze Dried    US $165.00

Wise Long Term Food Storage, MRE, 1 Month Food Supply,Freeze Dried    US $110.00

MRE Survival Food 360 Serving GrabNGo Bucket Freeze Dried Long Term Food Storage    US $670.00

5 MRE Military (Meal Ready to Eat) Breakfast Variety Pack; Foreign Travel Hiking    US $19.99

Wise Long Term Food Storage, MRE, 1 Month food supply, Big Eaters, Freeze Dried    US $165.00

4 MREs Military Menu 11 12 15 19 NEW IN PACKAGES Army Meals NIP Beef Lot    US $54.99

Military MRE LRP Long Range Patrol Lot 4    US $14.99

MRE Meals Ready to Eat You Choose Your Meal from Cases A & B Menus 1-24    US $32.00

2 FACTORY SEALED MILITARY MRE CASES "A&B" 8/2013 CURRENT ISSUE FRESHEST ON EBAY    US $149.95

MRE A-PACK MEALS ( 2 ) CASES 24 MEALS FRESH 2/2014 EXP.    US $65.95

MRE 6 MILITARY FRESH A PACK MEALS EXP/ 2/14    US $25.00

12 Military MRE Entrees, Meals Ready to Eat, MREs Case    US $50.95

Wise Emergency Meals, Freeze Dried Food - 84 Servings    US $165.95

MRE Entrees Camping Survival Food, Yellow & Wild Rice    US $2.95

MRE Snack Dessert Camping Survival Food, Pears    US $2.95

MRE Snack Dessert Camping Survival Food, Spiced Apple    US $2.95

MRE Snack Dessert Camping Survival Food, Fig Bar    US $1.99

MRE MILITARY MEAL READY TO EAT SEASONED BEEF PATY, BEEF PATTY GRILLED,MAC & CHEE    US $5.50

Long Term Food Wise Food 56 Servings MRE Food Storage    US $99.00

Long Term Food Wise Food 4320 Servings MRE Food Storage+ 1/4 oz. Gold coin    US $6,495.00

Long Term Food Wise Food 240 Servings MRE Food Storage    US $420.00

Long Term Food Wise Food 2160 Servings MRE Food Storage+ 5 oz. silver coin    US $3,695.00

Long Term Food Wise Food 1080 Servings MRE Food Storage+ 120=1200 sevings    US $1,995.00

Long Term Food Wise Food 2880 Servings MRE Food Storage+ 5 oz. silver coin    US $4,350.00

Most survival experts say that in case of an emergency, you should have a kit prepared to provide you with food and shelter for the first 72 hours.  That is how long you are expected to hold out for until help arrives.  Looking around your house, if you were to be stuck in there without clean food or water, can you make it?  That is why you should have a clean source of drinking water available and emergency ration packs such as MRE meals ready to eat stocked up.

For drinking water, that is easy enough to get as you can buy gallons of pure bottled water.  For survival food supplies, there are many options such as canned food, freeze dried food or MRE meals.  All are excellent options in an emergency and it just depends on your preference of taste, storage and the convenience factor.

ALCOHOL STOVE & WINDSCREEN CAMP SURVIVAL MRE EMERGENCY    US $12.25

2 ALCOHOL STOVES & WINDSCREENS CAMPING HIKING SURVIVAL MRE SURVIVAL EMERGENCIES    US $18.90

8lbs Freeze Dried WHOLE EGGS Long Term Food Storage- Equal to 4 #10 Augason Cans    US $68.90

16lbs Freeze Dried WHOLE EGGS Long Term Food Storage- Equal to 8 #10 Cans    US $130.00

Wise Emergency Meals, Freeze Dried Food - 56 Servings    US $119.95

MREs---2012--6 Cases--72 Meals--The REAL DEAL--FREE SHIPPING East of MISS .River    US $405.99

MRE - MILITARY MEAL #15 BEEF ENCHILADA    US $4.95

3 Military MRE Meals (8)    US $16.95

3 Military MRE Meals (9)    US $16.95

3 Military MRE Meals (10)    US $16.95

3 Military MRE Meals (11)    US $16.95

3 MRE MEALS MENU # 14,17,15    US $9.95

MRE - MILITARY MEAL #14 (VEGETARIAN) VEGTABLE    US $4.95

11 Complete MRE (Meal Ready To Eat) MREs Military Army MRE    US $55.00

new mre 12 meals    US $37.00

Sure-pack mre meals    US $45.00

(2) Military "MRE" Meals    US $64.00

Miitary MRE Case meals 1-24    US $80.00

2 boxes MRE Star Brand new    US $90.00

4 boxes MRE Star Brand new    US $165.00

MRE case A    US $70.00

MRE (2 ) CASES A-PACK MEALS 24 MEALS FRESH 2/2014 EXP.    US $82.00

Emergency Food Supply 1 Year -720 Serving MRE FREE GIFT    US $1,295.00

2 Cases 24 Meals Fresh Genuine Military Ready to Eat MRE Menu 2013 + Bonus MEAL    US $199.99

12 Cases 144 Meal MRE Rations Military 2013 FRESHEST w/ Bonus Meals Fast Ship    US $1,059.99

2 case's of MRE'a Test Date 9/2013 GOOD THROUGH 2021    US $90.03

3 MRE Military (Meal Ready to Eat) Entrees Variety Pack; Foreign Travel, Hiking.    US $14.99

5 ~ US MILITARY MRE MEALS READY TO EAT ARMY NAVY FOOD HIKING    US $14.99

3 Individual MRE Breakfast Variety Pack Lot; Emergency Survival Food    US $12.00

**7 Day Supply MRE Drink Mixes; Fruit Punch, Strawberry, Lemonade, etc.....    US $8.99

7 Day Supply of MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) Dinner Entrees; Hiking, Camping, Hunting    US $26.00

7 Day Supply of MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) Peanut Butter Condiment Packs    US $6.99

7 Day Supply of MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) Breakfast Variety Pack Lot; Emergency    US $21.00

7 Day Supply of MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) Cheese Spread Condiment Pack    US $7.99

7 Day Supply of MRE Dinner Entrees; Emergency Survival Fill Your Bug Out Bag!!!    US $26.00

Wise Long Term Food Storage, MRE, 1 Month food supply, entree only, Freeze Dried    US $110.00

Wise Long Term Food Storage, MRE, 1 Month food supply 4 Big Eaters, Freeze Dried    US $165.00

Wise Long Term Food Storage, MRE, 1 Month Food Supply,Freeze Dried    US $110.00

MRE Survival Food 360 Serving GrabNGo Bucket Freeze Dried Long Term Food Storage    US $670.00

5 MRE Military (Meal Ready to Eat) Breakfast Variety Pack; Foreign Travel Hiking    US $19.99

Wise Long Term Food Storage, MRE, 1 Month food supply, Big Eaters, Freeze Dried    US $165.00

4 MREs Military Menu 11 12 15 19 NEW IN PACKAGES Army Meals NIP Beef Lot    US $54.99

Military MRE LRP Long Range Patrol Lot 4    US $14.99

MRE Meals Ready to Eat You Choose Your Meal from Cases A & B Menus 1-24    US $32.00

2 FACTORY SEALED MILITARY MRE CASES "A&B" 8/2013 CURRENT ISSUE FRESHEST ON EBAY    US $149.95

MRE A-PACK MEALS ( 2 ) CASES 24 MEALS FRESH 2/2014 EXP.    US $65.95

MRE 6 MILITARY FRESH A PACK MEALS EXP/ 2/14    US $25.00

12 Military MRE Entrees, Meals Ready to Eat, MREs Case    US $50.95

Wise Emergency Meals, Freeze Dried Food - 84 Servings    US $165.95

MRE Entrees Camping Survival Food, Yellow & Wild Rice    US $2.95

MRE Snack Dessert Camping Survival Food, Pears    US $2.95

MRE Snack Dessert Camping Survival Food, Spiced Apple    US $2.95

MRE Snack Dessert Camping Survival Food, Fig Bar    US $1.99

Comprehensive Backpacking/Survival Kit    US $399.99

Intermediate Survival Kit    US $199.99

MRE MILITARY MEAL READY TO EAT SEASONED BEEF PATY, BEEF PATTY GRILLED,MAC & CHEE    US $5.50

Long Term Food Wise Food 56 Servings MRE Food Storage    US $99.00

Long Term Food Wise Food 4320 Servings MRE Food Storage+ 1/4 oz. Gold coin    US $6,495.00

Long Term Food Wise Food 240 Servings MRE Food Storage    US $420.00

Long Term Food Wise Food 2160 Servings MRE Food Storage+ 5 oz. silver coin    US $3,695.00

Long Term Food Wise Food 1080 Servings MRE Food Storage+ 120=1200 sevings    US $1,995.00

Long Term Food Wise Food 2880 Servings MRE Food Storage+ 5 oz. silver coin    US $4,350.00

Long Term Food Wise Food 720 Servings MRE Food Storage+ 1 oz. Silver Ten Command    US $1,295.00

Long Term Food Wise Food 1440 Servings MRE Food Storage+ 120=1560 servings    US $2,395.00

MRE MILITARY MEAL READY TO EAT LOT SLOPPY JOE, VEGETABLE PATTY IN BBQ SAUCE    US $1.29

MRE MEALS MENU # 11,17,19    US $20.00

MRE MEALS MENU # 13, 14, 16    US $18.95

7 Day Supply of MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) Dinner Entrees; Fill Your Bug Out Bag!!!    US $26.00

7 Day Supply of MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) Breakfast Variety Pack Lot    US $21.00

Obviously for canned foods, you will need to know where to find your can opener in an emergency.  Will you need to reheat it or can you eat it cold?  For freeze dried food, they can also come in cans or vacuum sealed bags for individual meal packs.  All you need to do is pour water and it tastes just like the original recipe.  For MRE meals, they also come in individual ration packs and if the pack calls for it, a flameless ration heater to eat up the entrée.  Regardless of what decision you make on emergency food supplies, these are also very good options for hiking, camping and backpacking for their convenience, portability, and being lightweight.  Also, let’s face it, sometimes it is also fun to eat out of your individual meal pack and explore the different menus.  Some of these are quite delicious to eat and families have even incorporated them into their regular meal plans.

While it is all fun and games to taste test the emergency rations, there comes a time when you have to decide what you should have in an emergency situation.  Do yourself a favor and be prepared for a crisis situation by having a disaster kit stocked in your house with MRE meals and freeze dried food cans and pouches available.