INTERVIEW: Eating in the field with REAL MEAL

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Not all of us are hunters or gatherers, even fewer are real cooks: that's why it's worth taking ready-made food into nature or into the field. Militarily, we all know the American MREs. At the other, delicious end of the field nutrition spectrum is REAL Meal. We talked to Monica Matthiassen - who is also responsible for product development at the Norwegian company - about the real food from REAL Meal and its preparation. And we wanted to know what was the oldest REAL Meal she has ever eaten.

SPARTANAT: REAL Meal tastes like real food. That was amazing for us, with years of experience with MREs and similar stuff. How did your line of nutrition come about?

REAL Meal: Around 30 years ago, it all began with a delicious homemade stew and freeze-drying technology. "How on earth could I make their wonderful stew last," thought the family man and later founder of Drytech, Rolf Hansen. His passion for homemade food and living in nature had sparked an idea, a business idea. That's how Drytech was born in 1989. From that afternoon on, his garage smelled like a kitchen as Rolf reinvented the science of freeze-drying.

Today, his passion for homemade food and life in nature is shared by millions of people every year. That's why we offer a versatile selection of meals on the go, from breakfast to lunch and dinner. And for the extra energy boost to get you to your destination wherever you want. Our meals help men and women around the world achieve new successes every day: mountaineering groups, travelers, soldiers in various armed forces, triathletes, doctors in refugee camps, or families on their way to the weekend.

SPARTANAT: What sets REAL Meal apart from other outdoor and field food solutions? What is important to you?

REAL Meal: It's about taste. They say every great recipe contains a special ingredient. There are none in our dishes. The magic of this natural taste lies in the cold clear water, the fertile ground, and the pale Arctic light. Just like our ancestors, we catch and harvest, prepare food, and preserve it when nature reaches its peak.

For example, we produce all our fish dishes in January, when the cod begins its long journey from the cold Barents Sea to the Norwegian coast. Autumn is the high season for vegetables, berries, and meat. For us, it makes sense to cook and preserve food when the ingredients are at their best. That's why we're proud to prepare each dish with the utmost care. We also choose our suppliers carefully and know where each ingredient comes from. We believe that good food is created by good ingredients and patience - slow cooking.

Our secret doesn't lie in a recipe. It's in our freeze-drying process. We don't claim it's witchcraft. We just don't tell anyone how we do it. Otherwise, everyone would soon be doing the same. But we can reveal the basics. First, we prepare the meal. Then we freeze the stew extremely quickly at extremely low temperatures. Then we slowly and carefully warm up the food in such a way that neither taste, color, energy, nor vital vitamins can be lost. Until all the water has been removed from the dish. For us, this is perfect cooking.

SPARTANAT: Is there a difference between the civilian REAL Meals and the military REAL Field Meals - Arctic Field Rations?

REAL Meal: Real "Turmat" was developed for the outdoor market. The goal was/is to have very lightweight menus for every outdoor activity for our customers. The "Field Meal" series was specially produced according to NATO standards and even developed for NATO. It consists of individual menus and complete rations for the whole day. The target group here are armies, law enforcement, as well as survival, bushcraft, and preppers. The "Real on the Go" are our complementary products - such as energy drinks, protein bars, etc. - for these two lines.

SPARTANAT: You tell your consumers that the REAL Meals last for five years. How old was the oldest one you have eaten yourself?

REAL Meal: Last year, a customer called us, he had "found" a meal that was 17 years old. He asked us if he could still eat it, since the packaging was undamaged and the meal was likely still edible. We kindly asked him to send us the meals, and in return, we sent him new meals.

We then tried this meal in the company - the ingredients still had the same color, the food looked good and had a good smell. Admittedly, the taste was not as full as we are used to, but after 17 years, the taste and color of the food are likely to fade somewhat. We all tasted it in the company and none of us got sick. So there is no doubt that our method of preserving food works.

SPARTANAT: How often do you enjoy your own products? What is your favorite REAL Meal?

REAL Meal: We are surrounded by wilderness here in the north. The cold climate and harsh weather are no problem for us, we love the snow, the northern lights in winter, and in summer we have the midnight sun. I often go out in nature with my husband and children - whether it's skiing or hiking. While doing so, we enjoy our soups or stews - they give us and our children new energy to enjoy our outdoor activities. For us, the best place to spend life outdoors is here in northern Norway.

REAL Meal is available at EMERTAC.at (Exclusive distributor for Austria): The field rations are available for 17.50€ and the main courses individually for 9.90€ excl. shipping

EMERTAC on the internet: Emertac.at

REAL FIELD MEAL on the internet: Drytech.no

SPARTANAT is the online magazine for Military News, Tactical Life, Gear & Reviews.
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