Ration packs, also called food packets, combat rations and field rations are pre-packaged meals for military troops. These items were designed for min

Ration packs, also called food packets, combat rations and field rations are pre-packaged meals for military troops. These items were designed for minimal to no preparation in the field and most have either been pre-cooked, freeze-dried, vacuum-sealed, or powered to extend their shelf life. Although flavor may not have been a huge factor in creating these foods, they have proven invaluable both on the front lines and in emergency situations. Here’s a list of the weirdest things to make it into a soldier’s ration pack. 1. Alcohol One would think that alcohol would have been banned for soldiers who need to have their wits about them when fighting wars, but drinking was actually encouraged. Alcohol was a common staple in a soldier’s ration pack for decades until militaries slowly began to outlaw the practice known as spirit rations.  Depending on the branch of the military as well as the country and time period, troops got anything from beer and rum to brandy and wine. Today, very few countries include spirits in their ration packs.  2. “Dog” Biscuits They’re not literal dog biscuits but based on some soldier’s reviews, they might as well be. During WWI, Americans and the other members of the Western forces received these hardtack crackers called dog biscuits in their ration packs. Made with an extremely high flour content, they were so hard that soldiers had to soak them in water or milk to make them edible. It was also reported that soldiers with bad teeth were not able to chew them. Then not soaked in liquid, they were ground up and used as a stew thickener.   3. Horse Meat Soup For many troops, getting a hot meal is luxury, but with limited supplies, cooks had to get creative. The easiest way to serve a hot meal was to make soup from re-hydrated vegetables and canned meat but when meat was limited, horse meat was often incorporated, much to the dismay of many soldiers. In comparison to rat, which possibly made it into a few stews, is a much tastier and safer option.   4. Desiccated Vegetables Fresh food was almost impossible to come by on the front line so many diets consisted of meat and crackers. As a result, many soldiers suffered from vitamin deficiencies and diarrhea was rampant due to unsanitary conditions, so in an effort to curb the problem, desiccated vegetables were introduced, and it wasn’t well received. Quickly nicknamed desecrated vegetables, the concoction made of turnips, string beans, carrots and onions were compressed into dry bricks, making it hard to swallow.   5. Three-Year Pizza With time, ration packs have significantly improved and there is now a wide array of foods available for troops. Bully beef and dog biscuits are a thing of the past and soldiers’ ration packs include everything from chicken fajitas to beef stew and now pizza. In an effort to diversify rations, the US military introduced pizza, one of the most commonly consumed foods in the country. The pizza had a shelf-life of three years without refrigeration and while it doesn’t sound appetizing, the feedback was generally positive.  &nbsp;

The Weirdest Things Included in A Soldier's Rotation Pack

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