Food for Fighters (1943)

K-ration The K-ration was an individual daily combat food ration which was introduced by the United States Army during World War II. It was intended to last for a day and provided three courses: breakfast, dinner (lunch) and supper. While it was intended that the three meals be eaten in the named order, they were not always issued in this manner. History In 1941, Dr. Ancel Keys (a University of Minnesota physiologist) was assigned by the U.S. War Department to design a non-perishable, ready-to-eat meal that could fit in a soldier’s pocket. Keys went to a local supermarket to choose foods that would be inexpensive, but still be enough to provide energy. He purchased hard biscuits, dry sausages, hard candy, and chocolate bars. He then tested his 28-ounce, 3,200 calorie (871 gram, 13,400 kJ) meals on six soldiers in a nearby army base. The meals only gained “palatable“ and “better than nothing“ ratings from the soldiers, but were successful in relieving hunger and providing sufficient energy. The Army add