In current day the ration packs are a little bit different. Most packs are packaged in tough plastic instead of cardboard boxes. The Navy Seals of today have a single blend of plant based nutrients, fats, probiotics, proteins and carbohydrates. The plants in the blend are wheatgrass, cacao, alfalfa, chlorella and spirulina; for the fats side of things they used sunflower, algae, macadamia, chia seed and coconut. For the probiotics they used chicory root, green banana, acacia fiber, psyllium husk and ten probiotic strands. To supply them with carbohydrates they used, tapioca and sweet potato. As for the proteins in the blend they used peas, collagen, whey and pumpkin. For this one single drink it will supply the seals with 400 calories and 27 grams of protein. On the other hand of things with packaged food they had the Sure-Pak MRE which goes back to packaged food. The Sure-Pak MRE provides the soldiers about 1,000-1,250 calories which I believe is not enough to get them through the heat and rough terrain of the Middle East. It contains a meat dish, a side along the lines of beans, a dessert, crackers, peanut butter spread, peanut butter spread, beverage powder, salt/pepper, moist towelettes, napkins, coffee powder, creamer, sugar and a water based heater. For a bit different type of MRE the “Wise Emergency food kit” is a civilian food kit of freeze dried food and it’s used in emergency survival situations; it comes in a large watertight bucket so your food will not get destroyed in emergency situations. A completely different approach on food supply for the soldiers is the “ER Bar.” The ER Bar is a 24,000 calorie food bar used in emergencies only, it provides a 72 hour food supply for a single bar. You are permitted and warned to eat 2 bars per day and there are 6 bars in a pack. They have a 5 year shelf life so you don’t have to really worry about expiration. This really answers the part of is the food enough to support the soldiers over seas and the answer is yes.

The food rations of WWI are absolutely nothing compared to what they are today. The food of today can supply up to 24,000 calories and a 72 hour food supply to a soldier where the diet of a WWI soldier was around 3,000. I believe that we can get the soldiers the nutrients they need to fight but also bring some flavor into their food; most of the food they eat does not have a great taste whatsoever but provides them with the nutrients they need. Since the cost of a MRE in today’s time is about 8.00 for the government and provides the nutrients they ne