I have visited UK twice, and stayed there 3 weeks at one occasion. I like the country very much, and I hope to go there again. My general impression was that Brits feed themselves rather than eat. I often went to buy snacks after the meals. That seems to reflect to military rations.  I remember when I was offered tea and coffee, but I was not sure to tell one from the other, so I had to ask which one was coffee.

 

DG

Glad you like our little island, trenchsol.

I'm a little confused as to the difference between feeding and eating. Certainly I generally find that meals eaten out are ample, but then it's what I'm used to. From friends who have visited the US, the portions there are huge by comparison.

I think the problem with the rations is that the existing ration packs are really intended for use in North West Europe and are generally pretty heavy and served hot, which is what you need in Britain, Germany, or Canada, but not very well suited to Canada.

Flamingknives, I've got impression that Britts don't enjoy food, but eat to keep themselves going. I stayed during the summer at the college (Oxford) and I thought it was real English food. On the other hand, I might be wrong, college might have tried to keep costs down, especially during summer vacations, when regulars students went home.

 

DG

How are French combat rations?  

 

Kent

While I can't comment about Oxford specifically, University Halls of Residence in general are not really the best place to sample food. I still have nightmares about some of the stuff I was served.

The British are better, in terms of technology (MRE type retort pouches in the UK, versus cans in the French), portion size (both are 24 hour rations, but you get more food with the Brits) and maybe in terms of palatability (military rations just aren't going to be too tasty, when it's all said and done)..

 

I'm not sure if I've had the same ration they're talking about in this write up, but the 24 hour British rations I've had were pretty good, though there were some standout bad items in them that I simply did not care for (baked beans as a breakfast is a cultural thing I can understand; baked beans with vegetarian faux-sausage was just unpleasant).  The French individual combat ration were okay, but not great, and had less quick/easy food you can eat while on the move (crackers/cookies/biscuits, candies, etc.).  And the examples I've had were alcohol free, though I don't know if they still put the much discussed little wine or cognac bottles in rations issued in non-Muslim areas or not.