Prepper Foods
Prepping for emergencies requires selecting food sources that will supply essential vitamins and calories, with many prepper foods being shelf stable to last through several crises. Discover the best info about survival food kit.
Oats are an indispensable staple in many prepper’s pantries as they provide carbohydrates, fiber, and protein – they even last up to 2 years with proper storage!
Dried Meats
Dried meats are an integral component of many prepper’s survival foods, serving as an easy source of protein in times when fresh meat may not be readily available. Dried meats can be created by placing raw meat into an environment to remove moisture; once done, they can be stored without losing their nutritional value for extended periods. Several methods exist for drying meat – sunlight or an oven can heat and dehydrate meat to retain more natural flavors while less likely to go rancid when exposed to air. Meats with lower fat content are best for drying because their flavors remain more intact when exposed to air.
Dried meat can be purchased in stores or made at home using various pieces of equipment, but it must be stored in airtight containers to prevent spoilage for optimal preservation. Shelf life depends on the method and brand used to preserve it, with some products promising up to 30 years. For homemade varieties made at home, ensure they’re stored in a cool, dark place in an airtight, moistureproof container for the best results.
Prepper suppliers offer a range of freeze-dried meats with unique benefits, like 4Patriots survival food supply with 136 servings of beef and chicken for an average calorie count of 180 per serving. Their packaging also protects them against rodents, oxygen, and water exposure.
Legacy’s Freeze-Dried Beef Bucket provides another option for freeze-dried meats: 96 servings of high-quality, all-natural, and gluten-free beef that can easily be added to emergency meals for increased nutrition. Legacy boasts that their bucket can feed five people for one week; all ingredients are all-natural and gluten-free. However, health organizations recommend no more than 2,300mg of sodium daily for adults.
Herbs and Spices
Herbs and spices can add depth of flavor without increasing sodium, sugar, fat, or calorie intake. As shelf-stable ingredients with long storage lives, herbs and spices offer versatile ways to enhance foods cooked together or added as toppings on dried fruits, berries, or vegetables for extra taste and texture. In an emergency survival situation, using herb and spice blends during mealtimes may keep morale up while keeping meals appealing; otherwise, reliance on bland food might quickly decrease confidence.
Herb and spice blends can be purchased as dried herbs or ground spices, which should be stored in airtight containers without exposure to heat, light, or dampness. Dried herbs usually retain their flavor for six months after purchase but may lose pungency afterward. Adding whole spices while cooking helps preserve flavor while increasing aromatic properties. Using a mortar and pestle or rolling pin allows the oils in the herbs to be released more effectively; for dishes requiring extended simmering, add them 45 minutes or so into simmering.
Herbs and spices are indispensable in an emergency preparedness scenario for making meals palatable while decreasing fats and carbs intake. While most have low calorie and sodium contents, some herbs such as thyme and cinnamon contain sufficient sodium content that they should be counted toward a diet plan. Furthermore, their various other properties make them suitable additions to the prepper’s food supply.
Cinnamon offers a delightful sweet taste that is an excellent replacement for sugar in many dishes without leading to an increase in blood sugar levels like regular sugar would do, making it beneficial for people with diabetes looking to control their blood sugar.
Herbs and spices add another benefit to a prepped diet: antioxidants are an essential source of protection from cancer and Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, herbs can aid digestion while supporting an enhanced immune system response.
Grocery Store Items
Food from everyday grocery store aisles may seem mundane when stockpiling for an emergency. Still, many are shelf-stable and perfect prepper foods – cost-effective and easily accessible, making them the best way to prepare for an unexpected crisis or disaster.
As part of your emergency preparedness stockpile, some essential grocery store items include rice, beans, and canned vegetables – these nutritious food sources have long shelf lives and should also help prevent food fatigue in an emergency. You should also include packaged convenience mixes such as pasta rice bean mixes or ready-to-eat meals that provide variety to help combat food fatigue in a crisis.
Fruit is another essential grocery store item to have on hand in an emergency, providing essential nutrients. Your stockpile should include oranges, bananas, apples, and pears for optimal nutrition in a crisis. Dried fruit years when adequately stored; strawberries and blueberries may benefit from freeze-drying to increase the shelf life further.
Vegetables are essential components of a balanced pantry, providing essential vitamins and minerals your body requires for health. Canned is preferable to fresh produce as fresh produce spoils more quickly over time. Furthermore, frozen produce such as peas and corn should also be kept on hand in case they need to be used later.
As part of your disaster preparedness plans, it is essential to consume adequate protein. Milk is one of the primary protein sources; however, due to its quick degrading rate, it should be avoided for long-term storage. Powdered or soymilk alternatives can last much longer when properly stored.
As you stock up your prepping food supplies, remember the “First In, First Out (FIFO) method.” Your pantry can grow over time by purchasing extra during each of your regular shopping trips and adhering to this model.
Comfort Food
Food storage is vital in emergencies like natural disasters, power outages, or any other form of disruption in life. Stockpiling non-perishable foods that won’t spoil over time – items like canned meats, dried vegetables, grains, sugar, honey, herbs & and spices, as well as coffee/tea/hearty soups/stews, is recommended – may keep your family safe when facing such scenarios.
Some items in this category can serve as comfort foods, providing a sense of safety and familiarity during times of uncertainty and helping alleviate stress and anxiety. As such, many prepper plans include these kinds of foods to relieve tension.
Scientific American reports that comfort foods can ease the traumatic impact of change by providing familiar experiences. They may remind us of childhood memories or meals shared with loved ones; some can even contain excessive calories, fat, and salt content – for instance, a delicious Empire apple can remind us of pleasurable afternoons spent apple picking with the family.
While comfort foods may be tempting, some should be avoided in your prepping pantry. These include foods high in fat and sugar that may lead to overeating and poor health outcomes. Instead, look to high-protein options that provide sustained energy to support long-term family meals and contain vitamins and minerals that strengthen immune systems.
Be sure to include dairy in your preparedness pantry, but invest in dry milk and cheese rather than liquid milk, as liquid milk has a much shorter shelf life than its counterpart.
Stockpiling fats and oils is also crucial. Consuming healthy fats such as saturated and unsaturated fatty acids forms part of a nutritious diet and can also serve as energy sources when cooking or acting as energy boosters.
An emergency food supply isn’t only necessary for survivalists; everyday families find it increasingly helpful. Following the tips above, you can stock a pantry full of non-perishable goods to protect their survival during unexpected circumstances.
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