Food stories

This is what soldiers around the world eat

No battle was ever won on an empty stomach. According to historians, a Roman legion needed as many as 120 sheep per day. Nowadays, the army’s rations are much more compact and varied. But exactly what the men and women get to eat differs quite a bit from country to country. YouTuber David Hong found out how.

Foto van culinair journalist Steffi Posthumus

door Steffi Posthumus

David tried the meals of 14 different countries: Russia, England, Germany, Italy, France, Canada, Croatia, Poland, the United States, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Spain and China. David himself really liked the Russian one. “Everything was well seasoned: the bacon added flavor to the rice, and the meatballs were also deliciously juicy.” Which meal appeals to you the most?

: Rusland: appelmoes, erwtenstoof, gehaktbal, bacon, crackers, rijst met erwten en vlees, smeerkaas, wortel en aardappel

: Engeland: muesli met melk, spotdrankje, koffie of thee, snoep, cranberry mueslireep, fruitcake, vegetarische pasta, havermoutkoekje en hazelnootpasta, pastasalade met tomaat, gezouten nootjes

: Duitsland: hazelnootpudding, worst, erwtenstoof met worst, gehaktrolletjes met rijst, muesli, havermout met melk en fruit, roggebrood, cranberry mueslireep, pure chocolade, crackers

: Italië: biscuits, chocolade, pudding, koffie, tortellini, rundvlees, fruitsalade, crackers, tonijn en soep

: Frankrijk: terrine, crackers, chocolade, noga en snoep, muesli, havermout en fruit, instant tomatensoep, ham, worst

: Canada: warme chocolademelk, sinaasappelsap, koffie, muesli met banaan, brood, appels, baked beans, ketchup, pindakaas, aardbeienjam

: Kroatië: peperbiscuits, gezouten crackers, chocolade, ananas, papaya, kalkoenpaté, smeerworst, sardines, koffie, sinaasappelsap, soep met rundvlees, thee