This video was shot in 2010, making the ratios approximately 43 years old.

Some of the rations are in very good shape, others, not so much.

Many of the ruined ones have a considerable amount of rust.

These rations, even the ones in good shape, are not to be eaten but instead to be marveled at (at least in our opinion).

Soldiers have one of the toughest jobs on the planet.

They are willing to risk their lives to fight for our country.

Being able to take a firsthand look at the sustenance they relied while on the battle field 43 years is pretty cool.

I hope you enjoy video and thanks for watching.

Today’s combat rations are much better than they used to be.

The meals served today are of higher quality and go beyond the basics.

In this clip, the Army is allowing its soldiers to try its latest creations.

The meal rations featured in this video and in general, have a considerable number of calories and are especially designed for soldiers.

Soldiers need many more calories then the normal adult, up to 3 times the amount.

The newer combat rations, such as the ones featured in this video, ensure that soldiers get exactly what they need in order to withstand the rigors of battle.

In this brief video, you won’t see the actual food and/or box contents but a reproduction of them.

All of the items have been made to scale.

Therefore, while again, what you’re seeing is not actually the box contents, they have been made to look like them.

C-rations were pre-packaged meals designed to feed soldiers who did not have access to a cafeteria or fresh meals.

In order to meet their caloric needs, they were given food rations such as C-rations.

Meal rations have evolved through the years.

However, many people enjoy taking a look at older ones such as the ones reproduced in this video.

These are the c-rations that the soldiers actually enjoyed eating.

You’ll get a look at some fruit cake, meat balls with tomato sauce, cigarettes, lamb and vegetables, plus more.

Some of these photos are of actual meals. Some of the rations have been opened, other’s have no been.

If you have ever wanted to see what c-rations really looked like, here is your opportunity.

This is a short video, it lasts less than 3 minutes but it’s informative and it you a behind-the-scenes look at some of the food eaten during wars fought on behalf of the United States and their allies.

Feast your eyes on this!

Watch as the “Professor” re-creates one of the most hated C-ration meals ever.

The GI’s despised this particular meal but was sometimes forced to eat it.

It consisted for nacho cheese, Ritz crackers, lima beans and a Spam single.

There were times when soldiers were forced to eat food that they didn’t like.

Though the U.S. government made an effort to create meals that the soldiers did enjoy, so that they would eat (a famished soldier is often a poor soldier) they sometimes they struck out.

This is one of those times.

In this video, watch as a box of Vietnam C-Rations from 1967, is opened for the first time.

These rations are more than 40 years old.

The package includes a variety of meals including pork slices and juices, ham and eggs, white bread, bone turkey, accessory packs plus much more.

This package is a bit like going back in time.

These c-ratios were manufactured more than 40 years ago and are no longer edible.

However, it’s still a lot of fun to go back and time and see what the soldiers were forced to eat while in combat during Vietnam.

I hope you enjoy the video!

Dr. Ancel Keys was given the job of creating meals that were ready-to-eat and non-perishable. They also needed to be able to fit in each soldier’s pocket. After being assigned this task by the military, Keys decided to go shopping locally and pick out foods that were cheap but which would adequately fill up the solider and meet his or her energy needs. Initially, the fare was rated as palatable or better than nothing. These obviously weren’t five star ratings but the rations did what they set out to do, eliminate hunger and provide energy.

Originally k-rations weren’t supposed to be eaten by soldiers for more than 15 days, after which meals would be replaced with A (fresh food) or B (packaged, but not prepared) field rations. (The previously discussed C-rations were food that was pre-cooked.) The K-ration prototype was first given to paratroopers. One sample included pemmican biscuits, bouillon paste, peanut bar and raisins. The second one included a D ration bar, lemon beverage powder, canned processed meat and pemmican biscuits.  Later the meals would be turn into a breakfast, diner and supper combo.

K-rations were first given to soldiers in 1942. The United States Airborne troops were the first to be administered them. They were well received, particularly because of their variety and light weight. They were easy to transport.

As mentioned above, K-rations were designed to only be used for a short time, as an emergency ration. However, their use was extended until the World War II was over. They became staples because they were lightweight and met the basic needs of soliders.

There were, however, some criticisms of K-rations. These revolved around the vitamin and caloric content of the rations. Neither was considered adequate. Generally, only one ration was given to soldiers per day. This was fine for some soldiers but not all of them. Soldiers that performed a lot of physical labor would burn more calories which those that didn’t. The caloric content of the K-ration thus proved to be inadequate for the former.

Overuse of the rations where considered a problem as well. Eating the same meals over and over would eventually become monotonous.  Even still, the k-rations played a major role in the world’s second war world. They helped keep soldiers fed and their energy levels high enough to continue fighting.

The military found that issuing rations without concern for personal and regional tastes was a huge mistake. Soldiers who were forced to eat food which they didn’t like over and over again would eventually become unhappy and were less apt to eat. Famished soldiers would become ineffective ones. Subsequently, the Pentagon learned to create meals that were pleasing to the palate based on the region of the country in which the soldiers were from.

Meal, Ready to Eat rations were first developed in 1963. They were made as a lighter version of the Meal, Combat Individual rations. The latest technology was utilized in terms of packaging and food preparation. The LRP, Long Range Patrol was developed, in large part, because of what was learned and utilized during the development of MREs.

In 1993, the military decided to continue development on the MRE. Soldiers were surveyed and field tests were performed. Many soldiers stated that they would prefer bigger serving sizes and a greater number of entrée options.  The military responded. In 1996, there were 16 entrée options, in 1997, that number increased to 20 entrees.

In 1998, there were 24, including vegetarian options. Today, those 24 entrees remain along with more than 100 additional items. This has been well received. The wide variety of entrees makes it possible to meet the individual tastes of a large range of soldiers. Meals can be heated with the Flameless Ration Heater (FRH).

Beverage bags were added to the MRE in 2006. This occurred at the same time that hydration packs began to replace canteens. In more recent years, Meal, Ready to Eat rations have been created with the Dietary Reference Intake in mind, which was created by the IOM (Institute of Medicine).

MREs have 1200 calories. They are designed to be eaten for 3 weeks or 21 days at most and can be safely stored for three years. In recent years, some people began to sell MREs to the public. This has since been made illegal.