I jogged down the hall excitedly in search of a water fountain. I found one in the 400 hallway and was delighted that the water was cold; that would make it even better. I filled the light brown packet with water and then sealed the top part and began to shake it, waiting excitedly for the minute to be up so the powder would be fully mixed in. I walked back to my class, shaking the package. I opened the top again and put it to my lips. Everyone asked if it was good, and I grinned while nodding. It was a creamy, very-strawberry-flavored, not so banana-flavored, strawberry banana milkshake MRE.

Meals, Ready-to-Eat (or MRE) are food rations that are provided for the United States Armed Forces. Soldiers receive three MREs a day to sustain them in combat. Civilians are not supposed to purchase the military-issue MREs, but there are some brands that are accessible to anyone. Each meal includes an entrée, a side dish, crackers or bread, some type of spread for the grain, dessert, a drink mix, a flameless ration heater for the entrée and accessories like gum and toilet paper.

While the drink mixes are powdered, the food has a dry appearance, but when heated, it looks like regular food. The ideal temperature for MRE storage is 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so the shelf life will vary, but typically MREs last about three years in all weather conditions.They are extremely high in calories with one meal containing about 1,200 to 1,300 calories and over half the meal consists of carbs.

My experience with the MRE milkshake was exciting. I have wanted to try an MRE for a few years now, and it was fun to finally be able to do it. The powder smelled nice, and it was a pretty pink color, not an ugly murky shade that I expected to find in a package of something with a shelf life of three to 15 years. Though I prefer Braum’s milkshakes, it tasted good, and if I was in combat, I would be satisfied with my strawberry banana milkshake. The only bad part was the heavy feeling it left in my stomach afterward. All in all, it was a fun experience, and it makes me wonder if I could get my mom to pack my lunch with these in it.