Lions were sort of intrigued by MRE's for long runs but they were nosebleed $15 before Bide, now $18.  The fact is they're just an aggregation of cheap foods way below $18 & 1 heated mane course.  All the value is in the heating element & of course the branding.  So lions figure they'll never eat a real MRE but might create one if they can just obtain a standalone heating element.  The robot would carry the food & water.  Where lions live now, no running involving a robot ever goes very far from food cheaper than an MRE.  Where lions are going to live, there isn't going to be cheap food near the robot accessible paths.  The big need now is food during a 100 mile loop course.

https://www.amazon.com/MRE-Flameless-Heater-Pack-12/dp/B00KI3MC6O

https://www.ozarkoutdoorz.com/products/mre-flameless-heater-pack-of-12

https://afsurplus.com/products/mre-heater-pack-of-10

There are heaters scavenged from expired MRE's & some claiming to be new.  All you have to do is add water to the heater, put the heater in a noodle bowl & let it cook.  Lions have trouble digesting noodles while running though.

https://www.amazon.com/MRE-Beef-Chicken-Entrees-Combo/dp/B01IC401J0

There are also standalone mane courses scavenged from expired MRE's.  These have no heaters.  As with all Bezos goods, they're only in bulk now.

https://www.amazon.com/Mountain-House-Stroganoff-Backpacking-Servings/dp/B084PD55JY

The winning strategy seems to be an MRE heater with purpose made camping food.  That's going to be a lot more compact & faster than a gas stove.   Camping food is still ridiculously expensive but not as bad as a real MRE.  It's probably going to be just as expensive to create freeze dried food as buy it.