Actually, MREs are quite decent, even in situations where other alternatives are available. I have had the ones with the cool (actually hot) tiny bottle of Tabasco sauce, a very nice touch. They are definitely an improvement on the earlier C rats. They are a bit on the heavy side, but that is only a factor if you are backpacking. In emergencies, they do very nicely.

The Eleventh General Order in the military is "Complain Incessantly about the Chow, Always!"