It started with a can of pork and beans. Ten years ago, two years into my enlistment, I was shown that if I bring my own food, I wouldn't have to eat MRE's or the barely palatable field chow that was provided. Fast forward to now, and the fact that I'm constantly in a HMMWV (Humvee), I've started to bring more and more complex foods to the field to prepare.
Instead of just top ramen and spam, I'm making things like this>>>
All you really need is a little imagination, a small camp stove, and a portable cooking pot; you can definitely make some delicious food.
Let's list off what I have pictured here.
- Instant Cheddar broccoli Pasta mix
- Single serving Spam packet
- Dry milk
- 2 1/2 quarts of water
- Sriracha sauce (not shown)
I know what you're thinking,
"Spam?!?! Ewww!"
The spam has 2 purposes; salt and protein, that is all. Powdered milk helps to make the soup a little more creamy, and you get a watered down flavor of cheddar broccoli from the instant mix. If you're lucky you won't get any dirt blown into your food, but even that is just one more layer of texture or just a consequence of making and preparing food in the field.
When you're out in the field, whether your: hiking, camping, or training with the National Guard; having multiple options for food is a good thing. In the end, food in the field isn't about taste, texture, or color. It's about sustenance. Being able to get enough calories and water is far more important in these situation.
Most times I'll resort to bringing several packets of spam, top ramen, and if space permeates, a small jar of coconut oil. That combination, while unhealthy, provides enough calories to sustain a high level of physical performance. Although, at the end of drill, as soon as I get home I normally feel as if my brain is being dragged through the thick syrupy mud of a Georgia swamp.
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