When people think of the Army, they don't usually think of their favorite food. However, the military is responsible for creating some of America's tastiest treats. Take a look at which foods are products of the U.S. military.
1. Supermarket bread
Out of necessity, the military created bread that lasts much longer than it used to. Regular bread goes stale and grows mold much faster than supermarket bread. This is because the bread you buy at the store is treated with starch-eating bacterial enzymes. These enzymes keep the bread soft and safe to eat longer.
2. Cheetos
During World War II, the military needed a way to reduce the volume and weight of its food shipments without losing the caloric intake of its soldiers. As a result, they created a full-fat dehydrated cheese product. When the war ended, the manufacturers responsible for the production of this food decided to add it to crunchy corn snacks, and the Cheeto was born.
3. TV dinners
While we mostly enjoy these convenient meals in front of the television or computer screen now, they were originally intended to feed bomber crews during World War II. These crews often had to take long overnight flights to get to their mission point, so the military found a way to freeze the basic parts of a meal such as meat, vegetables and starches in a tray for later heating.
4. Energy bars
For centuries, the military struggled with convenient, portable ways to keep its soldiers fed and alert. Luckily, in 1940, the Hershey corporation invented a melt-resistant chocolate bar for World War II soldiers. The Hershey invention was later freeze-dried and sent to space with the first astronauts, but it still had not reached its full potential. Not until Natick Soldier Systems Center took control in the mid-1960s did the modern energy bar take shape. While most energy bars today are dessert flavored, Natick's initial product was hamburger flavored.
5. The McRib
The military cannot really take credit for inventing the McRib, but the sandwich would not exist without military technology. In 1976, the Natick Soldier Systems Center innovated military rations once more. They needed a way to reduce the amount of money spent on meat, so they restructured cheaper cuts to look like tasty expensive ones. A few years later, fast food powerhouse McDonald's borrowed the process to create the seasonal meal we know today.
Maybe you didn't think of the military as an inventor of food before, but maybe now you do. Many of America's favorite foods are the direct result of military supply and demand.