History and Contents of the American WW2 K-Ration Dinner Unit

During the Second World War, feeding soldiers on the move was a constant logistical challenge. Troops needed meals that were lightweight, compact, and durable enough to survive rough handling in the field. Among the solutions developed by the U.S. Army was the K-ration, a boxed individual daily ration designed for combat situations.

Each K-ration was divided into three separate boxed meals Breakfast, Dinner, and Supper, intended to provide a full day’s nutrition. Although never meant to serve as a soldier’s sole diet for long periods, K-rations became one of the most recognisable wartime rations.

This article takes a closer look at the Dinner K-ration through an example of an opened “Moral” version, complete with printed packaging and contents. This later issue highlights how the ration evolved beyond simple practicality to include elements intended to boost soldier morale during the war.

Development of the K-Ration

The K-ration was born out of a series of experiments led by Ancel Keys, a physiologist at the University of Minnesota. In 1941, Keys was asked to create a lightweight, non-perishable ration that could sustain paratroopers and other mobile troops in the field. His prototype, consisting of biscuits, dry sausage, hard candy, and vitamin tablets was compact enough to fit into a soldier’s pocket.

Following successful trials, the ration was adopted as the K-ration (the “K” reportedly chosen to honor Keys, though the Army also liked its distinctiveness). By 1942, it entered large-scale production and distribution.

The ration was packaged in small cardboard cartons, each holding a meal unit. The design emphasized portability and durability: the outer box was often waxed or laminated to resist moisture, while an inner carton kept the contents organised. Early versions were plain brown, but as the war progressed, more colourful “morale” packaging was introduced, carrying printed text and graphics.

Although designed for short-term use such as during airborne drops or rapid advances, K-rations were often issued for weeks at a time, leading to complaints from soldiers about their limited variety and small portions. Despite these shortcomings, the K-ration played an essential role in sustaining troops across Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific.

Menus of the Three Daily Units

While contents varied slightly depending on supply and manufacturer, the Army standardised the three meal units:

Breakfast Unit

• Canned meat (often ham and eggs)
• Biscuits
• Powdered coffee, sugar, and sometimes dried fruit
• Chewing gum, cigarettes, toilet paper

Dinner Unit

• Canned cheese or meat spread
• Biscuits
• Candy bar (chocolate, caramel, or fruit-flavoured)
• Powdered lemonade or fruit drink
• Chewing gum, cigarettes, matches, spoon, toilet paper

Supper Unit

• Canned meat (pork or beef loaf)
• Biscuits
• Chocolate bar (sometimes vitamin-fortified “D-ration”)
• Powdered bouillon or coffee
• Chewing gum, cigarettes, sugar, toilet paper

The Dinner K-Ration

The Dinner unit of the K-ration was intended as the soldier’s midday meal. Like the Breakfast and Supper units, it provided around 1,000 calories as part of the K-ration’s daily 3,000-calorie target. Combining a canned meat or cheese item, biscuits, a sweet, a drink mix, and small extras. While its design was practical, soldiers often found the portions small and the food repetitive.

To illustrate the contents more clearly, we can look at a surviving example from my collection: an opened “Moral” Dinner K-ration. This later-war version featured printed packaging designed to look more appealing than the earlier plain brown boxes, and carried the slogan “Ration Type K.”

Components of the Dinner K-Ration (“Moral” Version)

Outer Carton

The outer box is printed in dark green ink with the ration details and camouflage design pattern, an improvement from the plain brown cardboard of earlier issues. The packaging was waxed for water resistance and intended to survive handling in the field.

The front features the text “Dinner“ in large letters, “Ration Type K” and a message instructions for opening and hiding the packaging.

Open inner bag carefully. It may be used as a waterproof container for matches cigarettes and other items. For security, hide the empty can and wrappers so that they cannot be seen.

The rear of the box features the text “Dinner” and a list of the rations contents:

Cheese: should be eaten cold Assorted Biscuits Confection - Lemonade or Orangeade: add two-thirds cup cold or hot water. 4 lumps of Sugar - Chewing Gum Cigarettes - Matches

One side of the box features information about the packer of the ration while the other contains a mosquito and malaria warning.

Packaged by THE CRACKER JACK CO. CHICAGO 83, ILL

NOTICE - Mosquito bites cause malaria. If you are in a malaria zone keep your shirt on and your sleeves rolled down, use mosquito repellent when out of doors between sunset and sunrise.

Canned Meat or Cheese Spread

The central item in the meal was a small tin, in this case containing processed pork spread. Designed to be eaten cold and usually spread onto the biscuits, it provided protein and fat in a compact form. The can was packed inside its own small cardboard carton to stop the can from damaging or rattling against the other items.

Chewing Gum

A stick of Wiggley's Cinnamon chewing gum is included (brands vary). Gum was considered a small luxury, often traded or shared among soldiers.

Cigarettes and Matches

The ration would have contained a miniature four pack of cigarettes and a book of matches. Cigarettes were seen as essential for morale, and their presence in each ration unit was a defining feature of American wartime rations. Unfortunately the cigarettes are no longer present in my example, but typically this would have included brands such as Lucky Strike or Camel.

Accessory Pack (Cellophane Inner Bag)

A sealed cellophane inner bag held many of the smaller components together, keeping them dry, compact, and separate from the canned item. Inside were:

Biscuits (Crackers)Three compressed rectangular biscuits provided the main carbohydrate source. Hard and dry, they were filling but relied on the canned spread for flavour.

Candy BarA small chocolate or fruit bar offered quick energy and a morale boost. Soldiers often valued these more than the main canned item.

Powdered Beverage MixA packet of lemonade or fruit drink powder gave soldiers a refreshing alternative to plain water, and was often mixed directly in a canteen cup.

Sugar CubesTypically the ration would contain 3 or 4 sugar cubes, but in this example a single 1.2 ounce block of sugar is present, indicating the ration was likely created post August 1944. The sugar was primarily added as an extra calorie boost for the ration and to sweeten the fruit drink.

Sundries (Spoon, Toilet Paper)A disposable spoon and a few sheets of toilet paper were tucked into the pack, providing basic practicality for eating in the field.