The evolution of MREs is surprisingly fascinating.

…the Metabolic Kitchen, the lone culinary research and development center for the world’s most technically advanced military, is what I’m after. This is the place that developed pizza that can survive for three years without refrigeration; a strangely convincing approximation of key lime pie that can be sucked through a tube at 9Gs, or nine times the force of gravity; dehydrated chili that can endure an Antarctic expedition; and ice cream that can go into outer space. I’m here to find out how.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/natick-lab-military-food-science