Abstract
This study compares the nutritional support provided by two military field rations, one containing primarily fully reconstituted (wet pack), ready to eat foods items and one containing all dried food items, in an arctic environment. The subjects (n = 80 per group) were soldiers in two companies of light infantry involved in an 8-day winter field exercise in Alaska. Each group was issued approximately 4600 kcal daily. Measurements included food and water intake, food preference ratings of individual food items, and the subjects’ hydration status. Mean caloric intakes were 2729 kcal for the group consuming the wet pack foods (MRE/supp) and 2943 kcal for the group consuming dried foods (RCW). Mean weight losses were 2.8 lb (1.6%) and 2.9 lb (1.7%), respectively. Mean daily water intake was 3.4 liters per day for the MRE/supp group and 3.7 liters per day for the RCW group. The mean urine specific gravities were 1.020 for the MRE/supp group and 1.021 for the RCW group, indicating adequate hydration. We conclude that both rations were similar in terms of caloric intake and ability to maintain hydration status. The MRE received slightly higher food preference ratings, but neither experimental group consumed sufficient calories to meet the Military Recommended Dietary Allowances (MRDA) and maintain body weight. Choice of rations should be based not on nutritional criteria, but on consideration such as water availability, size and volume of load, resupply schedule, financial and logistical considerations, and the task at hand.