The K-ration, developed by University of Minnesota physician Ancel Keys, provided three complete and balanced, 3,000-calorie meals in compact packages. Each soldier was issued three boxes per day containing breakfast, dinner and supper. Though intended only for use in combat conditions, troops often ate K-rations for weeks on end, and they quickly tired of the monotonous meals.
A typical breakfast box contained canned meat and eggs, biscuits, a compressed cereal or fruit bar, instant coffee and cigarettes.
The contents in a typical dinner box, consumed during mid-day, included canned spread cheese, biscuits, a powdered drink mix, a candy bar, cigarettes, chewing gum and toilet paper.
A typical supper box included canned meat, biscuits, a packet of bouillon, a powdered drink mix, a candy confection, cigarettes and chewing gum. These K-rations came from Mr. Wendal J. Kulenkamp, a St. Paulite serving with the U.S. Army's 560th Medical Hospital Ship Platoon (Separate).
Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society
Dates: 1941–1945
Identifer: accession 2001.2.3-5
