Eating MREs in the park... FREE &GOOD!

[NADINENURSE]

This is supposed to be FUN How different is this issue then and an adult eating and ordering a kids portion, or using 1 connection voucher for 2 people to eat ? Being judgemental here, where people are only giving suggestions, seems contradictory to the purpose of being on this board Disney costs what it costs, we go, so we accept this. Using the chairs at a public space or using the plastic "silverware", byt the way which might cost what, 1/8 of a penny ?, is not harmful Frankly , I enjoy hearing how other people do it I have used many, many suggestions, love the one about bring powdered drink mix and asking for ice water. My meager suggestions, if you don't like to hear about people being "innovative", don't go to a boaard that says BUDGET Sorry, but people getting mean makes me cranky

 

[AirForceRocks]

I don't think I said anywhere that the government is going to track down people and arrest them for selling MREs. I'm just telling you that there is printing on the side of real MREs that state that they are the property of the U.S. government, and that they are not for resale. If people want to sell them, fine, I'm just saying that it isn't legal to do so.

 

[AirForceRocks]

you can LEGALLY buy MRE's all over the place.

Not government ones. I'm not sure from where you get your info, but it is wrong. MREs that are produced for and paid for by the U.S. government cannot be legally sold.

I have seen them at resale places as well.... now some one who wants to start a fight might say well that is the rules lol...well.. that was thrown in for FIGHT and SHOCK value lol..

Actually, it was thrown in because it is the truth. Sorry that you can't recognize that, but that would be your problem, not mine.

MREs are, indeed, available through a variety of legitimate sources. A quick web search will give you an idea... and anyone who has access to a PX (and whatever the military stores are called by the other services- I always forget :rolleyes can probably stock up on them.

Again, these are not the ones that are produced for and purchased by the government for use by troops in the field.


MRE article

From the article:

The MREs that active soldiers get are fresher than what you would find at a surplus store or Web retailer. Apparently, there are two types of MREs. One is made specifically for the military. It's illegal to sell military surplus. The other type of MRE is the kind that is made under military specifications but not sold to the government. Those MREs are legal to buy.

 

[Hagred]

Originally posted by Chilehead
Hello all. Just got back from the park again & would like to mention something few know about. We packed 18 MREs in our luggage and took them into the park, 2 a day for the family. It was GREEEAAAT!!!

Chilehead, I want to thank you for giving us a great tip. Thank you very much!

I hadn't thought about doing something like this, but the more I think about it the more I like it. As far as utinsels and whatnot, that's not something I'm going to worry about, much less argue about.

Thank you for the great idea!

 

[CheapMom]

Originally posted by BethR
I know that I would never buy an MRE AFTER being consumed by the person to whom it was issued. Even if it WAS legal then!!!

funny

 

[skiwee1]

Well I won't comment on the free plasticware because who cares! But I will say that "cooking your lunch" in the park is just plain embarrassing. When will we bring the George Foremans to the parks and grill up a burger? I think this has taken budgeting to a whole different level. I would also be ashamed of feeding your 16 month old meal rations. For heaven's sake get the kid a real meal!

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by LauraR
Yeah, I think the government might be a little too busy going after terrorists to prosecute soldiers selling MRE's at yardsales. But if I hear of any big MRE busts in my area, I'll let everyone know!

Actually the government is too busy looking for those darn elusive WMD!

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by KathyTX
I think this is a very creative idea!
Snip

Many survivalist minded folks like to have a supply of them on hand, just in case.

I'm sure they come in real handy at WDW when you get lost in Fantasy Land too.

 

[Nebsky]

Chilehead...

Thanks for the great idea...I hadnt thought about it before.

This is a budget board and he found a way to save some money for his family. This is very creative and while I probably wont do it, I applaud you for your idea...Way to go. I thought the idea behind this board was a to get people together to share ideas/tricks/tips etc. If all we are going to do is slam ideas maybe we should all just go to time out for a while and think about it.

Life is too short to get bent out of shape over simple things.

 

[mugglemom]

I think you get an A+ for creativity! My DH was in the military and he would not eat for a weekend just to bring the MRE's home for our children! They always thought they were getting a real treat! Some of them are actually very good!

I will not touch the plastic fork controversy with a ten foot pole!

 

[CheapMom]

Originally posted by skiwee1
I would also be ashamed of feeding your 16 month old meal rations. For heaven's sake get the kid a real meal!

I bet it's a lot healthier than anything you could buy at the park

 

[jipsy]

CheapMom
You So Totally Rock, Squirt!

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Sparks, MD 21152 USA
Posts: 85

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by skiwee1
I would also be ashamed of feeding your 16 month old meal rations. For heaven's sake get the kid a real meal!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



I bet it's a lot healthier than anything you could buy at the park

Actually no. The OP stated they gave a 16 month old "energy bars". I can only assume they mean a power bar or a clif bar or something of that sort.

From the Clif Bar site:

Nutrition for Sustained Energy
With a mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fiber, CLIF BAR is a moderate glycemic index food. What does this mean? Basically, you'll benefit from a steady increase in blood sugar levels followed by a gradual decline (sustained energy!).

Know what that means? You keep going.

From the Power Bar site:

Designed by athletes, for athletes, each low-fat, nutritious PowerBar® Performance bar contains a unique, easily digestible blend of ingredients engineered specifically for the nutritional demands of endurance athletes.

Developed to be high in carbohydrates, the body’s most efficient source of fuel, each PowerBar® Performance bar packs 25 grams of complex carbs. That means you can easily satisfy the energy demands of your favorite endurance sports. Add to that our exclusive vitamin formulation which includes 100% DV of the antioxidant vitamins C and E and 100% DV of all eight B-complex vitamins to aid energy metabolism, plus 9-10 grams of high quality protein to help muscles recover and rebuild. These ingredients all add up to superior sports nutrition in a convenient, no-melt, no-crumble bar that fuels your personal best, no matter where your adventures take you.

These types of foods were developed for athletes, not 16 month olds and you should be drinking alot of water with them. So, as much as it pains me to agree with skiwee get the kid a real meal for a kid, not a 27 year old Tour de France enrollee.

As far as the MRE's, whatever floats your boat, but personally if I had to resort to eating those, I'd just save money for another year. My personal feeling is that it's a VACATION which means I splurge. I'm not dragging a George Foreman grill or a can of corn into the park; much less an MRE.

As far as the utensils go, plastic's pretty cheap and while I agree that the utensils are there for paying customers at the particular restaurant they are at, I don't think any of those restaurants are hurting. Unless however 55,000 DIS'ers all go steal 4 sporks/napkins per family. That could be costly.

c'mon.....if you really want to take issue with something how about the shorter park hours that just came out for February during "peak" season. We're paying an arm and leg to be there during that time, yet giving us less time to enjoy stealing plastic utensils! Now that's NOT right!!!

bwahahahahahaha

 

[crisi]

jipsy,

MREs have some of the same characteristics as energy bars - they are made for 18-22 year old kids who carry packs etc and are physically exerting themselves. High in calories, high in carbs - made to keep you going on a long march or in a trench. Not Tour de France enrollees, but soldiers - who have something in common with Tour de France enrollees - more than they do toddlers.

Brings new meaning to "commandoing" the parks.

 

[JerseyJanice]

No offense, but are you for real?

I have to wonder what branch of military you or AFamily member served in that you would know what an MRE is. Before tonight, I never even heard of that acronym myself.

Perhaps it is my being from the Northeast, but I get suspicious of folks who sound like CHtrolls.

 

[hawke]

what is a chtroll? or did you make a spelling error?

 

[JerseyJanice]

I meant "troll" of course.

This pesky wireless keyboard of mine has a mind of its own sometimes. I'm AFraid I make typos all the time without meaning to.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by JerseyJanice
No offense, but are you for real?

I have to wonder what branch of military you or AFamily member served in that you would know what an MRE is. Before tonight, I never even heard of that acronym myself.

Perhaps it is my being from the Northeast, but I get suspicious of folks who sound like CHtrolls.

My guess, the MRE was printed on the package the OP purchased at the yard sale.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by NADINENURSE
This is supposed to be FUN How different is this issue then and an adult eating and ordering a kids portion, or using 1 connection voucher for 2 people to eat ? Being judgemental here, where people are only giving suggestions, seems contradictory to the purpose of being on this board Disney costs what it costs, we go, so we accept this. Using the chairs at a public space or using the plastic "silverware", byt the way which might cost what, 1/8 of a penny ?, is not harmful Frankly , I enjoy hearing how other people do it I have used many, many suggestions, love the one about bring powdered drink mix and asking for ice water. My meager suggestions, if you don't like to hear about people being "innovative", don't go to a boaard that says BUDGET Sorry, but people getting mean makes me cranky

We are all entitled to express our opinion, even if it does not agree with the majority.
As to the plastic forks, etc, frankly I don't give a hoot if you take the whole display, but, I also imagine the same people that are snorting at the fact that it is, indeed, theft are the same ones that will get their knickers in a twist if someone mentions sneaking a 3 year 5 day old child into the park without a pass.
Theft is theft, simple.
Personally, if I were to eat those low cost meals, I would probably bring my own plasticware and paper plates.
I love hearing how to save money, that is why I come here, I was not aware to come here, read and post required that you agreed with everything talked about. This is not Stepford.

 

[Crissup]

So, the real question is, will the little heater pack put out enough heat to warm an institutional sized can of niblet corn?

 

[Bojangles]

It is on the box.