MREs, or Meal Ready to Eat, are pre-packaged meals that have been a staple of the U.S. military since the 1980s and are now widely available for civilian use as well. The MRE was first developed by the United States Army in response to a need for lightweight and nutritious food that could be easily transported on long deployments without needing refrigeration or other specialized storage conditions. Since their introduction into service, MREs have become an essential part of life in the armed forces; they provide nutrition during combat operations when fresh food is not available and can last up to three years if stored properly at room temperature with minimal exposure to humidity or heat sources like direct sunlight.

The contents of an MRE typically consist of entrees such as beef stew, chili macaroni, spaghetti with meat sauce, and chicken teriyaki; side dishes such as crackers or cornbread muffins; snacks like cookies and candy bars; beverages including coffee packets (with creamer), tea bags (hot cocoa mix)and fruit drink mixes; condiments such as salt/pepper packets, jalapeno peppers, Tabasco sauce; utensils including spoons, forks & napkins. There may also be items included specifically designed for special dietary needs – vegetarian options being one example.

In addition to being used by members of all branches within our Armed Forces around the world - deployed troops often rely heavily on these meals due to their convenience & portability - civilians find them useful too! Whether you’re camping in woods far away from civilization OR stocking up your pantry just in case disaster strikes close home – having access to a ready-to-eat meal can make all difference! In fact, there’ve been many stories where people who had stocked up their homes with these meals were able to survive through natural disasters unscathed while others suffered greatly due to lack of access to proper sustenance. This goes to show how important it is to store enough supplies so you don't run out during times of crisis!