Maintaining Calorie Goal eating MREs while on disaster response
Cristjams
Posts: 13 Member
I'm in a unique situation. I'm trying to maintain my daily calorie goal of 1640 calories. However, I've just learned that I'm being sent out on Emergency Response for disaster recovery in southeast Texas. The problem is that the food available to responders are MREs. These pack a whopping 2000 calories! Does anyone have any suggestions for non-perishable foods that I can take with me to eat in place of the provided MREs? Or should I just accept that it's beyond my control for two weeks and try to get back on track afterward? I would really hate to turn my nose up at the MREs because that would just be ungrateful.
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Replies
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Are you going to be active during your time there?
There are a ton of backpacking and freeze-dried food options that will be lower in calories for sure, but the problem with those are that you'd have to pack in two weeks worth, which may be way too difficult logistically.
You could also maybe try to eat half portions of the MREs, and avoid the extras like PB and crackers.
Either way, stay safe out there!8 -
^Ditto; You're going to be so active!
And also: Texas thanks you! The response has been AMAZING!7 -
are you sure they have 2000 calories each? maybe they've been reformulated. When I was in the military, not long ago, people always said they were super calorie dense, but it was an urban legend that didn't stand up to the packaging. They're designed to provide enough calories to subsist on 2 a day, and have about 1500 each. So 2 a day would be 3000 calories.
they always pack them with 2 super high calorie items though, the candy (200) and the shake mix (300 cal). Just tossing those 2 out brings the total meal down to about 1000 calories.5 -
Those high calorie MRE's may be useful if you're going to be super active on rescue, reconnaissance, or recovery missions.13
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MREs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?!0
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yeah, no where near 2000 as suspected. check out the DoD's site for nutrition information on all MREs in circulation
https://www.hprc-online.org/page/Combat-Rations-Database-ComRaD
They range from 1300 - 1500, if you were to eat everything in the pouch. As I said, skip the candy and shake mix. Trade them to other people for jalapeno cheese spread and peanut butter.15 -
Stay safe!3
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Thank you for going to help!6
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This is a good way to practice portion control. You don't have to eat the whole thing. 2000 for one day seems reasonable to me but if you're given three a day, leave some on the plate (or in the container.)1
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You are going to be more active than now. Take that into account before giving your food away.8
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Be safe and thank you!!2
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You'll be a lot more active than you are now, and you'll probably want every calorie. Give it a a couple of days before you start trading out food. Keep safe, and thank you!4
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I just started eating MRE's yesterday (old stock and have to get rid of). they taste pretty good. You can just option out of the cookie or desert they provide. It might be higher in fat than you may like but you will be burning the cals so no problem. Good luck!2
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Thank you for helping in this time of great need.
If you're on MREs in a disaster deployment situation, that means you're in the field, right? There's almost no way you're going to gain weight on them, and likely you will lose some regardless (unless you're sitting at a table registering people for aid or something). Disaster response is incredibly physically demanding. Eat your food, you'll need the nutrition. Worry about your diet later. I'm speaking from experience here
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Pretty sure the military aren't conspiring to make everybody gain weight on duty.
Eat the meals that are made to nourish and sustain you, and yes, you damn well deserve the dessert meals too.
Thanks for being awesome.9 -
The 2000 calorie is what our managers told us. They had mentioned that some responders actually gained weight after their assignment due to the MREs being designed for active young men who required more calories. I'm not exactly sure of the level of activity since I have yet received my specific assignment. But I'm in environmental cleanup, so it could range from heavy work to mostly standing and directing debris management sites. It's hard to anticipate the calories that might be burned! But thank you all for help, I'll pack some things and just avoid eating too much of the pouch unless it's obvious that my calorie burn will be enough to offset!2
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The 2000 calorie is what our managers told us. They had mentioned that some responders actually gained weight after their assignment due to the MREs being designed for active young men who required more calories. I'm not exactly sure of the level of activity since I have yet received my specific assignment. But I'm in environmental cleanup, so it could range from heavy work to mostly standing and directing debris management sites. It's hard to anticipate the calories that might be burned! But thank you all for help, I'll pack some things and just avoid eating too much of the pouch unless it's obvious that my calorie burn will be enough to offset!
Wait and see what you actually be doing... If it's the more manual-type work, eat everything. If you're doing something more sedentary, then pick items that you won't eat that will put you closer to your goals and offer them off to someone else who might need them.2 -
The "2000 calorie" myth is, and always has been, misinformation. What always bothered me is that anybody who actually picks up one of these MREs should have been able to dispel that false belief simply by reading the packaging. It has never been true, yet for some reason it persists.
Just read the package. It's right there in black and brown.
You can safely eat 2 full MREs per day without worry of putting on weight, and will confidence that they've been specifically engineered to provide all the macro and micro nutrients you need to function. The DoD puts millions of dollars of research into this.4 -
Disaster recovery burns a lot of calories.I am 5'3", 116 pounds and a 43 year old woman. I burned almost 2600 calories doing hurricane cleanup on Thursday. Thank you for your help!!!7
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If you end up not very active (which would be surprising), perhaps you could share some with your buddies or some of the people you're helping. I imagine you'll easily burn 2000, though, with all the work needed there. Focus on the help you're providing, and get back on track when you return home. You're doing good work. 2
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If I were you I would just let things balance back out when you get home. You will have enough to worry about while doing the much needed work there. If you are doing lots of manual/physical labor then the cals may be spot on to at least maintain current weight. And like others said, you don't have to eat everything.1
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I like the idea of just eating the MRE's and trying to maintain your current weight.
Also, depending on your duty there will likely be someone nearby who would really love a treat so you could always give the dessert or candy to one of the people you are helping.2 -
Alot of great suggestions here! I tend to agree with the lot of them. Last year here in Louisiana we had that horrible flood leaving over 100,000 folks without homes. In Houston it is twice as bad. The workers are super busy burning so many calories that I doubt it will hurt you to eat some of the MRE'S. Also, IF POSSIBLE, look for folks that have set up "food tables". I know for a fact a lot of people that own restaurants here in La., (one being my son in law), have gone over there to "cater". They will be cooking good hot meals. Bring some fruits and protein bars to snack on, if possible.
THANK YOU so much for going to help. As a person that was affected by the floods last year in Louisiana, I truly appreciate everyone going over to help Texas. God Bless you!3 -
I don't have anything to add to the wisdom in these posts, except another, "Stay safe - and Thank you."2
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Mouse_Potato wrote: »Disaster recovery burns a lot of calories.I am 5'3", 116 pounds and a 43 year old woman. I burned almost 2600 calories doing hurricane cleanup on Thursday. Thank you for your help!!!
Thank you for your help!2 -
I'm in Houston and want to thank you. The devastation is great here and your help is so appreciated.3
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candjmunoz wrote: »I'm in Houston and want to thank you. The devastation is great here and your help is so appreciated.
Ditto!1
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