Living gluten-free is optional for some and required for others. For either group, it can be a struggle to find those foods which are gluten-free. This is especially difficult when creating food storage.
Not all Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) are gluten-free. While gluten can be found in most of these meals, there are some exceptions to this rule. These include meal options such as Beef Stew, BBQ chicken, and Curry Chicken.
While the majority of options do have gluten somewhere in them, it is important to dive into what all of the options are, what they have in them, and what meals are actually okay to eat on a gluten-free diet.
Are MREs Gluten-Free?
Meals Ready to Eat, also known as MREs are packages of food usually used by the military.
These small packages of food are packaged in a way where they can last for many years without going bad. Outside of the military, many people like to use them for food storage, camping, or other survival situations.
The million-dollar question of the day is whether or not MREs are gluten-free.
Simply put, most are not. According to one U.S. soldier, “none are completely gluten free, which means soldiers with celiac disease can’t eat some of the limited amount of food provided.” Source
This lack of availability can make it really hard for those who are in the military to eat what is given to them. This struggle includes common people who buy MREs in case of a potential survival situation.
The fact of the matter is that gluten can be found somewhere in most MREs which makes most MREs impossible to eat for a large section of people.
Whether or not you live and can eat, may depend on the specific type of MRE you get. These specific types will be listed later.
What Is Gluten?
Gluten is a commonly found ingredient in most foods people can find at the store.
The primary purpose of gluten is that it helps a lot of different foods hold their shape.
“Gluten helps foods maintain their shape, acting as a glue that holds food together”
Source
So the primary purpose of this gluten is to shape these different foods, and this is usually done to items with grain in them.
Gluten can be found in most grain foods: this includes wheat, rye and barley.
It is hard to think of how many times I have eaten one of these without ever having to worry about possible side effects. It is so common that it can be hard for people to find good alternative options, both in and out of the military.
Whether it’s bread, cookies, cereal, or pasta, gluten is a commonly found ingredient that can cause disastrous problems for those who can not eat it.
Why Is Gluten An Issue?
I never knew that gluten was a major problem until I actually met someone with Celiac disease.
Celiac disease makes it so those that who have it cannot eat gluten. According to Harvard Medical,
“…gluten triggers an immune response that damages the lining of the small intestine. This can interfere with the absorption of nutrients from food, cause a host of symptoms, and lead to other problems like osteoporosis, infertility, nerve damage, and seizures.”
Source
This list of items can make it so that the person suffering can even potentially die from these complications. As you can see, this disease is a very serious issue.
As I said, I had to meet someone with the disease to know how serious it actually is.
Growing up, my family had a close family friend who had an absolute firecracker personality. She was never afraid to say what she thought or felt, and she never stopped herself when she wanted to say something.
She loved life and lived it fully, while she still does, she contracted Celiac disease a few years ago and can no longer eat gluten.
She still loves life, and she knows that there are worse things that can happen other than not being able to eat gluten. With that being said it is a struggle that she has had to learn how to work through.
It is impressive the lengths people have to go to avoid this gluten, and she is no exception.
I consider her like my second grandma, so needless to say we are close. One day she decided she wanted to take me to lunch, so we got in the car and she asked what I wanted.
I had no idea what to say so I just said pizza, the next thing I know we are driving 30 minutes to get to some restaurant on the other side of Sacramento.
I obviously asked why we drove 30 minutes to get pizza when there were at least 10 places closer to where we live. She said, and I quote, “This place got some mean gluten-free breadsticks.”
This experience really opened my eyes to the extent to which people have to go to when avoiding gluten.
Gluten Free MRE Meal Options
While most MRE options have gluten in them, there are a few notable selections that don’t have gluten in them.
- Beef Stew Complete Meal
- BBQ Chicken Complete Meal
- Tuscan Beef Complete Meal
- Chicken & Rice Complete Meal
- Curry Chicken Complete Meal
- Lentil Stew Complete Meal
- Pinto Beans Complete Meal
- Spicy Vegetarian Chili Complete Meal
- Spicy Southwest Chicken Complete Meal
While this list was obtained from an MRE website where people can buy different MREs, there was not any available for purchase when this article was written. Supplies will vary depending on the time of year and the vendor you go to.
When compared to the long list of MRE options, this list is small in comparison. It really goes to show the lack of options for those who require gluten-free food.
In the end, it is important to realize the impact that gluten has on some people. MREs are not the best option for those who are gluten-free but some can be a good fallback option if specific MREs are used. When it comes to food storage, having gluten-free options is important if you or someone you live with has a gluten intolerance.