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CTE culinary students get a taste of military meals

Students preping meal with Sergeant.
CTE culinary students get a taste of military meals

Mount Vernon High School students in Culinary 3 got a taste of what military members eat while out on the battlefield on Tuesday morning with Marine Staff Sergeant Halmrast, who introduced students to meals ready to eat (MRE).

​The visit from Sergeant Halmrast started off with an explanation of MREs and the significance of these meals being high in calories. The purpose of these meals, she said, is to give the military proper nutrients for energy to fight in combat.

​These packages are complete with an entree, crackers with cheese spread, dessert, candy, a beverage and accessories such as mints and utensils. Each MRE contains an average of 1,250 calories, packed with protein, fats and carbohydrates.

​Sergeant Halmrast brought in a variety of meals for students to try, including chicken burrito bowl, southwest style beef and black beans with sauce, pepperoni pizza, beef goulash, beef patty with pepper jack cheese and jalapenos, and mexican style rice and bean bowl.

​Career and Technical Education culinary teacher Samantha Cohen explained that she wanted her students to see how nutrition plays a role in the military. She also wanted students to think about how they can improve on these meals; how to make them culturally relevant; and how they can improve upon the way they are packaged.

“I’m trying to have our students explore either career options or just the way they think about food in general,” Chef Cohen said.

Students opened up the MREs they received and learned how meals are prepared without kitchen equipment. With a flameless ration heater and water, meals are warmed up and ready to eat in just a few minutes. After preparing the meal, students were able to try their MRE to get the full experience of what soldiers eat on the battlegrounds.​

“It was quite easy to prepare it and it was really good,” said Thalia Allen, a junior at MVHS. “It’s high in protein, so that when they are on the battlefield, they don’t have to eat as much and it will keep them full for longer.”

Two students preparing MRE.
Two students preparing MRE.
Chef Cohen speaking with student in class.
Student preping meal with Sergeant.


 

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CTE culinary students get a taste of military meals

Mount Vernon High School students in Culinary 3 got a taste of what military members eat while out on the battlefield on Tuesday morning with Marine Staff Sergeant Halmrast, who introduced students to meals ready to eat (MRE).

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