This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8045740.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Troops get 'takeaways' in rations | Troops get 'takeaways' in rations |
| (4 days later) | |
| Bully beef has had its chips as far as UK forces are concerned, with frontline troops preparing to tuck in to Thai green curry or pilau rice. | Bully beef has had its chips as far as UK forces are concerned, with frontline troops preparing to tuck in to Thai green curry or pilau rice. |
| The Ministry of Defence has unveiled a new ration pack, replacing traditional hard tack biscuits with Oreo cookies. | The Ministry of Defence has unveiled a new ration pack, replacing traditional hard tack biscuits with Oreo cookies. |
| It has introduced 20 new menus, with 18 halal, vegetarian and Sikh and Hindu variations, after soldiers complained there was not enough variety. | It has introduced 20 new menus, with 18 halal, vegetarian and Sikh and Hindu variations, after soldiers complained there was not enough variety. |
| They will be trialled over three months by all three forces in Afghanistan. | They will be trialled over three months by all three forces in Afghanistan. |
| Lt Cdr Neil Horwood said the new menus have been drawn up by soldiers who have recently returned from operations in Afghanistan. | Lt Cdr Neil Horwood said the new menus have been drawn up by soldiers who have recently returned from operations in Afghanistan. |
| "The problem with the old packs was duplication... 80% of the ration packs were the same. | "The problem with the old packs was duplication... 80% of the ration packs were the same. |
| "No-one wants to eat baked beans for breakfast every day for four months," he said. | "No-one wants to eat baked beans for breakfast every day for four months," he said. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Sergeant Chris Challis shows what is inside one of the ration boxes | Sergeant Chris Challis shows what is inside one of the ration boxes |
| Instead, there will be a choice between a cooked breakfast, muesli and porridge. | Instead, there will be a choice between a cooked breakfast, muesli and porridge. |
| Lt Cdr Horwood said the stressful environment of a conflict zone tended to suppress troops' appetites and the new menus would encourage them to eat food with the right nutritional balance. | Lt Cdr Horwood said the stressful environment of a conflict zone tended to suppress troops' appetites and the new menus would encourage them to eat food with the right nutritional balance. |
| Such are the demands of their work, personnel must take on 4,000 calories each day - almost twice the usual guideline amount. | Such are the demands of their work, personnel must take on 4,000 calories each day - almost twice the usual guideline amount. |
| So the new multi-climate packs will tempt them with salmon pasta, mixed bean salad, Shrewsbury or stem ginger biscuits, along with many of the favourites from the old ration pack. | So the new multi-climate packs will tempt them with salmon pasta, mixed bean salad, Shrewsbury or stem ginger biscuits, along with many of the favourites from the old ration pack. |
| Each has an 18-month shelf life and includes a mixture of dry foods and boil-in-the-bag pouches, as well as sachets of seasoning and tiny bottles of Tabasco sauce. | Each has an 18-month shelf life and includes a mixture of dry foods and boil-in-the-bag pouches, as well as sachets of seasoning and tiny bottles of Tabasco sauce. |
| Maj John Gilbert, 46, says that rations have gone through huge improvements since he joined the army 27 years ago, when food was largely in heavy tins. | Maj John Gilbert, 46, says that rations have gone through huge improvements since he joined the army 27 years ago, when food was largely in heavy tins. |
| "We used to have steak and kidney pudding which we called a baby's head because it was a thick suet crust with tiny bits of meat inside," he said. | "We used to have steak and kidney pudding which we called a baby's head because it was a thick suet crust with tiny bits of meat inside," he said. |
| He said the new packs were lighter, easier to carry and could provide a morale boost to troops keen for a hot meal. | He said the new packs were lighter, easier to carry and could provide a morale boost to troops keen for a hot meal. |