MREs aren't designed to be "good" as most people would use the term. They're designed to provide a shitload[1] of calories in a lightweight, easily-transportable package with a ludicrously long shelf life.

The other thing I'm still convinced it's designed to do is ... less obvious. Let me just say that when eating MREs I typically needed to use the facilities every three or four days. That's it. And almost always after eating one of the barbecue menus.

But I'll tell you what, you add three or four packs of that instant coffee to a pack of beef stew and you could go for two days without blinking.


[1] Oops, was that a pun?

I'm not a coffee drinker, so I couldn't vouch for the taste. But the coffee drinkers I knew said the stuff they put in MREs was caffeine crystals with brown coloring added.

As to the not going bit ... as long as you avoided the barbecue items, and of course the beans, you just never got the urge. Matter of fact, the beans even had a warning printed on the side that you were not cleared for flight status for (IIRC) 24 hours after eating one.