iron rations
US /ˈaɪərn ˌræʃənz/
UK /ˈaɪərn ˌræʃənz/
1.
a small emergency supply of food carried by soldiers or travelers, intended to be eaten only when other food is unavailable
:
•
The soldiers carried iron rations for their long march through the desert.
•
We had to resort to our iron rations after getting lost in the wilderness.