The Problem

I keep eating ingredients raw, then wonder why combat and radiation checks feel impossible.

The Solution

Cook (see cooking guide) MREs into Military Stew before boss or raid pressure so the meal does more than fill hunger — it provides a combat buff that stacks with armor and healing. Before Lab Sector radiation routes, prepare Radiation Soup and keep it as a timed safety layer alongside the Hazmat Suit (see armor and protection guide). For random Portal Stew effects, eat inside the base where bad rolls are recoverable. Bland Pea Soup gives Sprint and Sneak XP buffs. Simple Tomato Soup and Creamy Tomato Bisque provide the Souper Satisfied buff (slows hunger and thirst (see water management guide) drain). Prepare buff meals for a specific route, eat close enough to the challenge that the buff window overlaps the hard part, and restock after each major use.

Step-by-Step

1. Choose the route type before cooking: fight, radiation, portal, or general recovery.
2. Cook MREs into Military Stew before boss pressure, raids, or soldier-heavy Manufacturing runs.
3. Prepare Radiation Soup before Lab Sector pushes and treat it as support for the Hazmat Suit, not a replacement.
4. Eat unpredictable Portal Stew inside base or near recovery storage so bad rolls do not strand you.
5. Restock route meals after each major objective instead of waiting until hunger becomes urgent.

Common Mistakes

• Eating buff meals casually, then entering the route without the timed effect.
• Using Radiation Soup as an excuse to enter Labs without proper protection.