MRE stands for Meal, Ready-to-Eat, which is a self-contained individual United States military ration used by the United States Armed Forces and Department of Defense. It is intended for use by American service members in combat or field conditions where other food is not available. MREs have also been distributed to civilians as humanitarian daily rations during natural disasters and wars. MREs are the main operational food ration for the United States Armed Forces and contain a full meal packed in a flexible meal bag. Each meal bag contains an entrée and a variety of other components, such as a side dish, dessert, crackers, and a spread. MREs also come with a flameless ration heater that can be used to heat the food. The shelf life of an MRE is three years when stored at 80 degrees F, but this can be extended or shortened depending on storage temperatures.