Army food is the food that is served to members of the military. MESS and CHOW are two terms used to refer to the meals served in the military. MESS is a term used to refer to the place where the meal is served, while CHOW is a slang term for food. K-rations are pre-packaged meals that were developed during World War II and are still used today by the military. They are designed to provide soldiers with a balanced diet in a lightweight package.