Fit to Fight: Support our Troops
Chow time….Sampling the military diet.
Having a reliable, portable, safe supply of food for our troops is as valuable a weapon as the weapons they carry for protection. Some say the outcome of the U.S. Civil War was in part decided by which side could adequately feed and supply their troops. The North had the advantage as their soldiers on the march were provided with condensed milk and canned vegetables. However the Confederates had plenty of fresh produce, grains and meat from Southern farms, but did not have an easy way to transport these items to the battle sites once railroads were destroyed.
So what about our troops today who are deployed to Afghanistan and other dangerous, remote areas of the world where conditions are harsh and austere? Many of them are NOT at established bases but rather Forward Operating Bases (FOBs). These troops are provided with two MREs (Meals-Ready-to-Eat) a day and bottled water. With no running water, electricity, food markets or pharmacies, our troops often go without the things we take for granted. The energy and calories they consume in their duties exceed the protein and calories in an MRE. Aside from eating healthy it is essential that they drink an ample amount of water to stay hydrated which is especially important with the summer months approaching. An article in the Chicago Tribune stated that Marines on foot patrols in Afghanistan had lost as much as 40 pounds each on a diet of just MREs.
Some of the food items most requested by our troops are shown below. Small individual packets or cans are requested for ease in transporting on missions.
Beef Jerky Crackers (Saltine, Ritz, Peanut Butter)
Tuna Packet Sugarless gum
Chicken Packet Nuts, Sunflower Seeds
Protein Bars (Power Bars) Canned Fruit (small pop tops)
Trail Mix
Electrolyte powdered drink mix
(Individual size Gatorade, Emergen-C & Propel)
You can help make a difference in the life of our military! Thank you in advance for joining us in our “Fit to Fight” protein food drive. For more information please contact us at www.houstonmarinemoms.org.
Until they all come home,
Houston Marine Moms