1. Chicken Pasta Italiana
2. Green Pepper Steak with Rice
3. Homestyle Chicken & Noodles in Gravy
4. Mushroom Gravy, Mashed Potatoes & Beef
5. Three Cheese Lasagna
6. Zesty BBQ Sauce, Diced Potatoes with Beef

1. Chicken Pasta Italiana
2. Green Pepper Steak with Rice
3. Homestyle Chicken & Noodles In Gravy
4. Mushroom Gravy, Mashed Potatoes & Beef
5. Vegetarian Three Cheese Lasagna
6. Zesty BBQ Sauce & Potatoes with Beef
7. Pancakes, Apple Topping & Bacon Breakfast
8. Pancakes, Blueberry Topping & Bacon

Unlike the usual hiking fare, Heater Meals are not freeze-dried or dehydrated. They are ready-to-eat main-courses or complete meals (including a side dish, dessert, and a drink) that only require heating - and the heat supply comes with it! At the time of this writing there are seven different Heater Meals available: Chicken Pasta Italiana, Green Pepper Steak, Chicken and Noodles, Mushroom Gravy Potatoes and Beef, Vegetarian Three Cheese Lasagna, and Zesty BBQ Potatoes and Beef. Complete meals also have two breakfast choices: Pancakes with Apple Topping and Bacon, and Pancakes with Blueberry Topping and Bacon. Both options provide plastic cutlery, napkin, salt, pepper, and Mrs. Dash seasonings. No refrigeration is necessary, and Heater Meals have a two-year shelf life.

The meals come in a cardboard box. Inside the box is: the meal in a sealed plastic container; three pouches: water, the heating catalyst, accessories (cutlery, napkin, spices); and a styrofoam plate.

The heart of the Heater Meals is the Flameless Ration Heater (FRH) designed for use in the U.S. military as part of their new style MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat). The catalyst used is a combination of "food-grade iron, magnesium, and salt*" and is activated with a saltwater solution. While the FRH can be purchased outside of the Heater Meal they are sold only in cases of 648 units. The FRH is designed to raise the temperature of 8 oz (227 g) of food 100°F (38°C) in 12 minutes.

* from the Heater Meals website

1. open the box
2. remove all contents
3. place the catalyst pouch on the tray
4. pour the water onto the catalyst
5. place the food container on the tray
6. put the tray, with the food, back in the box, close the tab
7. wait 10 minutes

After the 10 minutes is up, remove the contents from the box, peal back the plastic cover on the meal container, add your spices (if desired) and enjoy!

One note: this is a catalytic (chemical) heating system. This means that the colder the weather the longer it will take to heat the meal. If the temperatures are cold enough I find that I have only a warmed meal, edible but not a "hot meal." The U.S. food service industry recommends serving temperatures of 140°F (60°C). Since the FRH is designed to heat the food only 100°F (38°C) above ambient temperature, I do not use Heater Meals when the outside temperature will be below 40°F (4.5°C).

After the meal is complete there is about 4-6 oz (113-170 g) which the camper has to pack out. Consisting of:

• cardboard box
• plastic dinner plate
• styrofoam tray
• heating pack
• plastic bags
• cutlery

While it is safe to dispose of these items at home, they cannot be left at the campsite and must be packed out. I've considered the environmental impact and consider it no worse than having to dispose of a metal fuel tank at the end of a trip.

I've had most of the Heater meals and have found them quite tasty, without being spicy. The meals are filling enough for a breakfast or lunch, but I do take the Plus meals (side, dessert, drink), or my own items, to round out a dinner.

Nutrition: Checking the information panels on the package of Spaghetti and Meatballs I was impressed to find that there were no preservatives, the vacuum sealing makes normal preservatives unnecessary. This meal contained 320 calories (110 from fat), and 1140 mg salt; but this is not a gourmet meal for home, and I consider the added calories and salt necessary on a good hike.