Monday, July 8, 2013

All About Halal MRE Portions

By Leanna Freeman


MRE stands for Meal Ready to Eat, therefore it follows that Halal MRE are rations that have been prepared to the strict requirements of the Islamic religion. Despite the name, these meals can be used by almost anyone, including backpackers and hikers. They are also great for any type of emergency, such as during a refugee crisis when people have been displaced and there is no cooking facilities.

They are seen as a staple food of the military and each ration usually contains a full meal, which invariably includes a main meal, side dishes, drink and usually some type of dessert or snack. They usually last around 6 months and almost always come with expiration dates, so make sure to check the packaging to see when it expires.

One error people might make is to serve food rations that are Kosher to people who are Muslim. Each eats different foods, and although some Kosher foods are certainly OK for a Muslim to eat, some are not. Colors and flavors that are in Kosher food, such as gelatin, are forbidden in a Muslim diet. Also, some Kosher food has alcohol in it, and this is completely off limits in the Islamic religion and for its food.

It's important to remember that Halal foods, and therefore these ration packs, have to be prepared to certain standards. If there is meat in them, it has to have been slaughtered according to their special needs. Additionally, any knives or kitchen equipment absolutely has to be really clean, and free from any trace of food that has been prepared in a non-Halal way.

One thing to remember is that Muslims do not eat pork and they also have many other dietary requirements. They do, however, eat grains, fruits and vegetables, so a ration portion that could be served to them is a vegetarian one.

MRE ration packs can be served cold and are designed for use when there is no electric or cooking equipment around. That does not mean that they cannot be heated up. Often, all that is needed to turn them into a hot meal is the engine of a car, which needs to be running, or the hot sun. If left on a car engine they will normally get hot in around 10 minutes, or if left to bask in the sun they may take a little longer, around 30 minutes. Some packs even contain a little heat pad which just needs a little hot water inserted and will then heat the meal.

Due to being light in weight, they are great in an emergency situation and can be easily carried around by the soldier, backpacker or by a camper. They come in at around 1200 calories and although some may think this a rather low figure, they are designed to supply all the nutrition that troops need. However, for hikers that feel like they need more calories there are portions that have distinctly higher calorie counts, but these may or may not include the heat pad.

Halal MRE portions can be used by almost anyone that is in need to a light, easy to use all-in-one meal. They are sold by the case, for those who may need a vast amount, and this normally works out much cheaper than buying singular portions.




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