Tuesday, February 18, 2014

The Many Uses Of Halal Rations

By Jerri Perry


One thing that all people need is food. No matter what their ethnicity, religion or language, they need to eat in order to survive. However, it's not always possible to prepare a meal right there and then. With halal rations, Muslim people can have a quick and nutritious meal or snack simply by opening a ration pack.

Ration packs are prepackaged meals most often used in the military. They don't require refrigeration and are usually light and easy to carry over long distances. Usually a ration pack contains everything a person might need for sustenance during the day, from full meals to snacks and energy-giving drinks. The individual items are packaged in such a way that they don't require can openers or other special utensils. Sometimes they even contain a chemical heating tablet that can be used to warm up the contents of cans without having to make a fire if one is far away from civilization.

In Islam, there are certain foods that are forbidden. They include pork, blood, alcohol and any products derived from these, such as certain types of gelatin or black pudding. Islamic law calls food that is allowed 'halal' and these foods should be prepared separately from other meals so that there won't be any contamination with, for instance, blood.

Ration packs that are halal don't differ drastically from regular rations. However, they only contain items that are acceptable according to Islamic dietary laws. You won't find pork in them, for instance, and snacks that contain gelatin will contain gelatin derived from cattle instead of pigs. The meals will be prepared according to Islamic law too, using separate cooking utensils and maybe even a separate kitchen.

There is a good reason why the military issues ration packs to troops before they go into battle. On the battlefield, there is no time to stop and prepare a meal. In addition, troops won't have the means to do so anyway and it can be downright dangerous to make a fire and give away their position. It's much easier and safer to simply find shelter for a few minutes, open a can and enjoy a quick meal or snack or even a cup of coffee.

Ration packs can help save the day in disaster situations too. In those first hours or even days after a flood or an earthquake or another tragedy hit, the priority is to find an save survivors. Flying in ration packs during this time will eliminate the need for people who could be more helpful elsewhere to now have to set up a kitchen and cook huge meals. Having halal packs available too will ensure that Muslim rescue workers and victims alike will not go hungry.

Of course it's not only in combat or disaster situations that ration packs come in handy. They're perfect for hiking and other activities in the outdoors. Even where camping is allowed, the making of fires may be prohibited and those chemical heating tablets can save the day.

Several catering companies prepare prepackaged meals not only for military use but also for outdoor lovers. You may find their products at stores that sell outdoor supplies. Don't wait until the last minute to buy these, though, because depending on where you are, you may have to order halal rations specially.




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