Wonder what kind of meal looks as good as the above?
It is one of the best, ready-to-eat meals available to our nation’s best – the made-in-Canada Military Individual Meal Pack (IMP) ration! Sans the plate, but nevertheless tasted better than the average boxed meal.
We discovered many interesting things as we researched the IMP prior to consumption. For example, a complete meal contains 3,600 calories (enough for a soldier), and lasts three years from the date of manufacture. Our specific ration was a Salmon Fillet, but we had other choices like Cabbage Rolls, Shepherd’s Pie, and the Omelette with Salsa. The numbering on our ration, “07″, indicates the ration was made in 2007.
All rations come packaged efficiently. Our specific ration had everything you’d expect for a well-balanced meal, including:
- Instant mixes of coffee, tea and a raspberry fruit drink
- Cream of celery soup
- Salmon, in a boilable bag
- Bread, also in a boilable bag
- Fruit cocktail
- Onion-flavoured mashed potatoes
- Condiments including whitener, sugar, apple jelly, and teriyaki sauce
True to the spirit of easy preparation, the extent of cooking required was either boiling the salmon and bread within the bag, or adding hot water to the potatoes and the soup. Out of the several flavours in the box, we definitely enjoyed the salmon (given that it was made three years ago). Other top choices included the mashed potatoes and the bread – the bread was an exceptional delicious surprise, with a heavy-brick feel and a sweet taste. Hopefully the Canadian Military has figured out a way to make better instant soup, the only mediocre item in the IMP.
If you are interested in getting your own ration, you can order some from your local military surplus – don’t expect to get any packages made recently, as they are reserved for the troops!
Very interesting. I had no idea you could order that stuff. Good job on the review.
Interesting! We studied about nutrients in foods like that as well as space foods. It’s cool how people preserve foods now. Are these IMPs all dehydrated?
Nope, the Salmon and bread were not dehydrated – just boil and go! Same with the fruit cocktail – same stuff you’d get in the can.