10-in-1 food parcel facts for kids
The 10-in-1 food parcel, also known as the 10-in-1 ration, was a special food package made for soldiers in the United States Army. It was designed to provide one meal for 10 men while they were out in the field, away from regular kitchens. Think of it as a big picnic basket filled with food for a small group of soldiers.
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What Was the 10-in-1 Ration?
The 10-in-1 ration was a type of "field ration." This means it was food packed specifically for soldiers to eat when they were on missions or in places where they couldn't get fresh meals. It was a convenient way to feed a small group of ten soldiers at once.
Plans for a Better Ration
In 1945, there were plans to make the 10-in-1 ration even better. One reason for this was that it was a bit like another type of soldier's food called the K-ration. The goal was to improve the 10-in-1 for use during and after the planned attack on Japan in World War II.
The idea was to make the ration provide three group meals instead of two group meals and one individual lunch. This would mean more variety and better nutrition for the soldiers. Even though the new ration would weigh a bit more, people thought the extra food and better taste would be worth it.
However, World War II ended before these new plans for the 10-in-1 ration could be put into action. This left a lot of extra food that wasn't needed by the army anymore.
Helping Others with Leftover Rations
After the war, there was a lot of leftover 10-in-1 ration food. A group called CARE stepped in to help. CARE is a humanitarian organization that helps people in need. They used the extra food to create CARE Packages. These packages were sent to people who were starving in Europe after the war, turning a military surplus into a way to help many families.
How Many Rations Were Made?
From the middle of 1943 until the end of World War II, over 300 million of these 10-in-1 rations were made. Each one cost about 85 cents. During that time, no other group food package was made for the army. This means the "Ration, 10-in-1" was the main and final small-group food package used by the United States Army in World War II.
