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There is a common misconception among people who have never eaten MRE's that they are the same as backpacking meals. (I'll even admit to being this naive in the past) They are both lightweight meals on the go; that's about where the similarities end.
1. Calories
Most Mountain House backpacking meals have 400-600 calories. All military MRE's have approximately 1250. Everyone knows survival is a calorie game. You have to put as much or more in than you use and MRE's are a more efficient way to do that.
2. Side Dish
Every standard issue MRE comes with a side dish, usually something like rice, vegetables, or fruit. Backpacking meals only come with one main entree unless you buy extra sides.
3. Cracker or Bread
Every MRE comes with a cracker or break package. I don't know about you, but I'm a good southern boy and I like to have some kind of bread at every meal. You gotta have something to push with…
4. Dessert, Candy, Spread
MRE's come with a dessert package and candy (yes, both) as well as a spread for your bread like peanut butter, jelly, or cheese. Backpack Meal: No, No, and No.
5. Drink Mix
MRE's get a sports drink, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, or shake. Of course with backpacking meal you have to bring your own.
6. Accessories
Every MRE comes with an accessories packet that can include things such as (but not limited to) spoon, matches, TP, wipes, sugar, salt, chewing gum, and of course Tabasco. You know where this is going: Backpack meals have none of these.
7. Heater
And finally the most important reason MRE's are better than backpacking meals: the Flameless Ration Heater. If it's driving rain, freezing, and you have no fire supplies, with an MRE you can still have a hot meal. Just tear open the heater pouch, add water, add entree, and wait.
This is something that helped me thought I would share
repost from Survival Cache
1. Calories
Most Mountain House backpacking meals have 400-600 calories. All military MRE's have approximately 1250. Everyone knows survival is a calorie game. You have to put as much or more in than you use and MRE's are a more efficient way to do that.
2. Side Dish
Every standard issue MRE comes with a side dish, usually something like rice, vegetables, or fruit. Backpacking meals only come with one main entree unless you buy extra sides.
3. Cracker or Bread
Every MRE comes with a cracker or break package. I don't know about you, but I'm a good southern boy and I like to have some kind of bread at every meal. You gotta have something to push with…
4. Dessert, Candy, Spread
MRE's come with a dessert package and candy (yes, both) as well as a spread for your bread like peanut butter, jelly, or cheese. Backpack Meal: No, No, and No.
5. Drink Mix
MRE's get a sports drink, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, or shake. Of course with backpacking meal you have to bring your own.
6. Accessories
Every MRE comes with an accessories packet that can include things such as (but not limited to) spoon, matches, TP, wipes, sugar, salt, chewing gum, and of course Tabasco. You know where this is going: Backpack meals have none of these.
7. Heater
And finally the most important reason MRE's are better than backpacking meals: the Flameless Ration Heater. If it's driving rain, freezing, and you have no fire supplies, with an MRE you can still have a hot meal. Just tear open the heater pouch, add water, add entree, and wait.
This is something that helped me thought I would share
repost from Survival Cache
And... they issued us "white" packaged MREs that had 4500 kilocalories. They are called cold weather MREs. I found a site that discusses them. Here's the 
