page_title: Individual Meal Pack
section_title: IMP contents - 2005
hierarchical_section_title: Individual Meal Pack / IMP contents - 2005
context_page_description: The Individual Meal Pack or IMP is one type of field ration used by the Canadian Forces. The IMP is designed so that a continuous diet provides all the nutrition needed to sustain a service-person in the field. The IMP meets Canada's nutrition requirements, with the exception of calcium and folic acid, which are not significant if the consumption period of rations is less than 30 days. IMPs will provide 1200-1400 calories per meal.
  Three IMPs provide approximately 3,600 calories, enough to nourish a soldier undergoing strenuous physical activity. The meals are precooked and can therefore be safely consumed either heated or unheated. Under ideal circumstances the entrees are generally consumed heated.
  Contents of the combat rations are subject to a three-year research and development cycle, where new meals are added, and some replaced. Every second year, new meals are field tested by three groups of 60 people drawn from each of the three Canadian Army brigades. In all, there are 21 meals available - seven breakfasts and 14 meals suitable as noon or evening meals.
context_section_description: IMPs are divided into six different breakfast, lunch and dinner options.
  As of 2005, the following items were available (including all options):
  Entrees
  Beans and wieners in tomato sauce
  Beef Bourguignon
  Beef and vegetable stew
  Breakfast sausages
  Cannelloni with meat and tomato sauce
  Chicken à la king
  Chili con carne
  Gemelli pasta and vegetables in tomato sauce
  Gong Bao chicken
  Ham steak with mustard sauce
  Indian chicken breast
  Rotini with pepperoni and tomato sauce
  Sausage and hash browns
  Scalloped potatoes and ham
  Macaroni and Cheese
  Meatballs in flavoured sauce
  Meatloaf with onion sauce
  Minestrone stew
  Omelette with mushroom sauce
  Pork chow mein
  Swiss steak with Spanish sauce
  Veal cutlet with mustard sauce
  Fruits and desserts
  Sliced apples
  Apple sauce
  Raspberry applesauce
  Strawberry applesauce
  Blueberries
  Cherries
  Fruit cocktail
  Baked maple dessert
  Pears
  Peaches
  Pineapple tidbits
  Beverages
  Coffee, assorted
  Herbal tea, assorted
  Hot chocolate, assorted
  Grape
  Lemon
  Lime
  Mango
  Orange and pineapple
  Peach
  Strawberry
  Tea
  Watermelon
  Soups
  Cream of mushroom
  Chicken noodle soup
  Cream of tomato soup
  Cream of leek
  Miscellaneous
  Bread
  Assorted cookies and crackers
  Assorted chocolate bars
  Crunchy cereals
  Baked apple oatmeal
  Instant dressing mix
  Instant plain mashed potatoes
  Peaches and cream oatmeal
  Raisins and spices oatmeal
  Mexican rice
  Oriental rice
  Vegetable rice
  Strawberry pudding
  Banana pudding
  Jam, peanut butter and marmalade
  Sugar, coffee whitener, ketchup, salt, pepper, towelette, matches, paper towel, toothpick, chewing gum, tabasco and a spoon are provided in each meal.
  There are meals available to Jews, Muslims, Hindus and vegetarians.
caption: A Canadian cabbage roll IMP meal, unpacked
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