Food How to last food wise when things collapse

Hard to say whats best as people have different tastes for various foods. We have a working pantry where things are rotated out so nothing is out of date or not to far past the use by date.
We could easily go a whole year on what we have, but we can grow a good deal of food in our garden and put that up in air dried form or canned in addition to local forage that the majority have no idea about or would refuse to eat as they are not accustom to eating it. Heck I know I could give a half gallon of rice to any given number of homes around here that are starving and they would throw it out rather use it a filler.

Pizza, of course...

o)<

mike

dup

If the Supermarkets closed tomorrow and the power went off what would be the best food to have stored?

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The following are my opinions. YMMV.

Answer foods that are: nutritious, filling, calorie rich and most important foods my family will eat and not get tired of eating.

Stodges like rice and other whole grains, dried potato flakes and pasta are important fillers that extend other more nutritious foods and fill the empty corners of hungry tummies. They keep people from feeling deprived and hangry. They also don't require refrigeration.

Proteins: shelf stable meats and beans. Nuts for the most part, unless grown locally are way to expensive. Do need to check the peanut butter stash. Dried milk dates out before I use it and there are local sources for raw milk.

Spices. Spices change the taste of dishes enough that even though you're depending on the same basic carbs, proteins and veg they taste different. If eating from storage or dependent or what's glut is in season, people get tired of eating the same thing day in and day out. Tons of stored food will not help if people are unwilling to eat it.

Multi vitamins. The modern world has mostly forgotten things like pellagra, scurvy and rickets. Given a prolonged disruption in JIT they could happen.

Fats: olive oil butter are staples here. Animal fats like tallow and lard will be an adjustment.

Sugar and salt. Lots and lots of both. Relatively cheap, needed for food preservation and I can't grow or mine locally. Except for honey. Have never tried tapping maple trees.

Rice, beans, and spam.

I imagine the need for toilet paper of some kind would be substantial on a diet of 350 mls of coconut oil and greens each week. I'd also hope the person had an ample supply of body fat before trying to survive on so little. Fats and fiber make for rapid weight loss. Loss of muscle mass would also be a concern because of the lack of protein in the diet. Better find some pigeons.

Rice, dry beans of differing kinds, all kinds of noodles, dry mixes, spices, and sauces. Also, a big variety of canned meats. All to be supplemented with garden veggies and wild game, including fish. I do store lots of different kinds of canned veggies and soups from the store in the event our garden doesn't do well.

Illini Warrior said:

interesting that you should concentrate on cooking oil >>> a newbie on another prepper site was asking how to preserve the oil and what to expect ....

in the US we have more access to freezing than most other parts of the world - and veggie oil (corn, soybean and sunflower) are all relatively cheap - likewise with 1lb packs to 5 gallon buckets of lard >>>> if froze in a long term container the longevity buried in the bottom of a freezer is decades - and if the grid goes down the clock begins on the open shelf life - before rancid sets in - is several years ....

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You can make your own ghee pretty easily too, and it will keep without refrigeration.

We are not rice eaters, but in an emergency situation we'd be eating it. I've been storing long term foods for over 10 years, so that is 10 years into the 25 year shelf life. I doubt it will be bad in 15 years, but at almost 72, I'm not worried about it. I've got long term, medium term, short term and lights out right not stuff to eat.

We get a ton of food in commodities for the elderly and poor each month. I either store it or give it to the needy. Yesterday I had to clean out a freezer to make room for fresh venison and had at least 6 big packages of chicken that I gave to a disabled cousin. We are not that crazy about chicken all the time, and I'm leary of store bought chicken.

We are in good enough shape.

Judy

PS as for snaring small wild game, well everyone and their brother will be doing the same, so don't count on that for a big portion of your food.

Millwright said:

Spices.

Lotsa spices.

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Very important and often overlooked. I also keep lots of various ‘just add boiling water’ sauce mixes as well. Good for casseroles or stews of marginal foods and keeps it tasty.

China Connection said:

How to last food wise when things collapse



So this means if you are stuck you could survive on 350mls of coconut oil a week plus greens.

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This works out to 410 cals a day for the oil. Where do all the other cals come from? What about the protein?

Just a tip here......For those who may not have access to plenty of fresh water, buying canned veggies and meats, or using your home canning process, gives enough liquid to cook with. That saves on using your drinking water for cooking purposes.

Old Gray Mare said:

...Nuts for the most part, unless grown locally are way to expensive.

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And, tree nuts go bad faster than I would care for. If you open up a container of them and it smells like latex paint, don't eat them.

Mark D said:

And, tree nuts go bad faster than I would care for. If you open up a container of them and it smells like latex paint, don't eat them.

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True. However, I've found that oven canning walnuts, pecans and almonds extends their storage life (cool baselment inside dark cupboards) to at least 10 years. If you don't use the entire jar after opening, refrigerate the rest until you use them up.

Summerthyme

We have our own pecan tree, so I don't store many ( a couple of gallons). I keep what I have shelled out in the freezer.

Creative alternative - Freeze Dried Food, stores for years.

I've got a bedroom filled with it.

JF&P said:

Creative alternative - Freeze Dried Food, stores for years.

I've got a bedroom filled with it.

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LOL, us, too. It's our back up plan if everything else fails.

summerthyme said:

True. However, I've found that oven canning walnuts, pecans and almonds extends their storage life (cool baselment inside dark cupboards) to at least 10 years. If you don't use the entire jar after opening, refrigerate the rest until you use them up.

Summerthyme

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I've been pressure canning now since 2014. Lots and lots of meat and veggies. The only thing that still scares me about pressure canning is the dry pack method because I don't want to break jars. Can you offer advice before I try this?

I'm not sure what you're asking. For nuts (and crackers... oyster crackers store very well this way) I use the NON approved method of "oven canning"... no pressure ccanning involved.

I do "dry pack" chicken wnen canning scraps for pet food, and I've never had a jar break that i can remember. It seems every year I lose maybe one jar to breakage in the canner... almost always with the bottom of the jar breaking off cleanly at the seam. But guven that I'm canning several hundred jars a year, and using jars as old as 100 years old (oddly, when I do lose a jar to breakage, it's almost always a newer ine), I don'tthink it's a huge problem.

Tell me what you are tryimg to and I'll see if I can help.

Summerthyme

summerthyme said:

I'm not sure what you're asking. For nuts (and crackers... oyster crackers store very well this way) I use the NON approved method of "oven canning"... no pressure ccanning involved.

I do "dry pack" chicken wnen canning scraps for pet food, and I've never had a jar break that i can remember. It seems every year I lose maybe one jar to breakage in the canner... almost always with the bottom of the jar breaking off cleanly at the seam. But guven that I'm canning several hundred jars a year, and using jars as old as 100 years old (oddly, when I do lose a jar to breakage, it's almost always a newer ine), I don'tthink it's a huge problem.

Tell me what you are tryimg to and I'll see if I can help.

Summerthyme

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Sorry for the confusion. Meant to say Oven Canning is what I am unsure about. After doing Pressure canning all these years, oven canning shouldn't present any problem, I just don't want broken glass in my food. I wonder if hardtack could be oven canned? Don't see why not.

This mob here in Australia are fast, to say the least. I phoned yesterday around midday and put in an order in and the next morning I got it delivered. A bit over 600 km away.

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Niulife Virgin Coconut Oil | Fresh is Best | Hand pressed in 1 hour‎
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Niulife Virgin Coconut Oil is hand pressed within one hour of cracking the coconut. Leaving you with the freshest coconut oil to make you feel good from the inside out. Handmade. Certified Organic. Types: Coconut Oils, Cocomino Sauces, Coconut Soups, Desiccated Coconut.

Ah... ok, sorry! Just remember, it is NOT a USDA approved process. But since you are "canning " dry foods that don't really "spoil" without canning (just get "stale" or turn rancid due to moisture and oxygen) it doesn't require really high temperatures. There are a couple different ways to do it... I've tried both, and both worked. You can either spread your nuts, crackers, hardtack or whatever on cookie sheets or a broiler pan and heat them until they are hot through... 250 to 275 degrees; nuts only take 15-20 minutes. In the meantime, you make sure your jars are perfectly clean and hot... you can either run thrm through a dishwasher, timed do they're still hot when the food is ready to pack, or put them in the oven al9ng with the food yo heat.

Once the nuts are hot you pack them quickly into hot jars, putting a lid and ring on immediately after filling each one. As they cool, they seal.

Or, fill the jars, put on lids and rings, put in a 275 degree oven for about 30 minutes, then remove and let cool.

I've never had a jar break in this process. Setting the jars (leave a bit of space between them for air and heat to circulate) in a rimmed baking sheet will at least contain the mess if you get unlucky and use a jar which has a weak spot. But its unlikely...

Summerthyme

Thanks! I will try the full jar method first.

SouthernBreeze said:

Just a tip here......For those who may not have access to plenty of fresh water, buying canned veggies and meats, or using your home canning process, gives enough liquid to cook with. That saves on using your drinking water for cooking purposes.

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It would increase the amount of sodium in the diet significantly. For some this could be a significant health issue. Also I would avoid using water potatoes have been cooked or canned in for drinking water. If totally desperate and there was nothing else yes I'd drink it but only under those circumstances. They are in the nightshade family. Look up solanine.

Luxury items: Commercially canned sauces, Jello, boxes of instant pudding, Stove Top Stuffing, candy, dried gravy packets, powdered vitamin enriched drink mixes: Tang, Ovelteen, Instant Breakfast. Don't forget tea and coffee.

Just add water meals in a package, broth and canned soups are convenience foods that could be real helpful in some situations like the whole family is down with the flu and Mom is trying to take care of them and cook. Just because grocery stores close doesn't mean other problems can't crop up at inopportune times.

Old Gray Mare said:

It would increase the amount of sodium in the diet significantly. For some this could be a significant health issue.

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Yes, of course. Everyone will have to make their own adjustments according to their individual health issues. I just buy canned veggies that have no salt added, but you are correct, canned meats are too salty for some. I don't use the liquid from those. With the home canned process, one will have to decide that for themselves.

mecoastie said:

This works out to 410 cals a day for the oil. Where do all the other cals come from? What about the protein?

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I’m a little suspicious about the original source, they are making a commission on sales, and there was a reference regarding the superiority of “our” particular product. I wouldn’t base my entire storage program on this one item.

Profit of Doom said:

I’m a little suspicious about the original source, they are making a commission on sales, and there was a reference regarding the superiority of “our” particular product. I wouldn’t base my entire storage program on this one item.

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That comment about 350mls a week is from China Connection not the article sourced in the post.

The 50 mill a day is from the manufacturer that has, in turn, sourced them from research studies.

If you visit a third world country and meet someone poor you will find that they eat very little and do very little but are however not sick.

When you get stuck into work then you burn calories. However, if you don't have a job or money then you need to conserve your energy not burn it up. Food costs money so what are you going to do if your money runs out?????????

China Connection said:

The 50 mill a day is from the manufacturer that has, in turn, sourced them from research studies.

If you visit a third world country and meet someone poor you will find that they eat very little and do very little but are however not sick.

When you get stuck into work then you burn calories. However, if you don't have a job or money then you need to conserve your energy not burn it up. Food costs money so what are you going to do if your money runs out?????????

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So you are just going to lay around and eat coconut oil? I would venture to say that nobody is going to survive long on so little. Those poor are subsisting on far more than that. I do not believe that the manufacture is claiming that one can survive on the oil alone but that it be part of a healthy diet. The Nazis did extensive studies on the min to keep someone alive and I believe it was around 1100 -1300 cals.

I have at no point said that one can survive alone on oil.


What I have said is that one could easily find oneself without refrigeration and out of carbohydrates etc for energy.


Greens grow quickly but carbohydrate foods take months and are easily stolen.


Mollasis is another food that is cheap and stores well.


Most seem to have no idea how hard things can become quickly.

China Connection said:

I have at no point said that one can survive alone on oil.


What I have said is that one could easily find oneself without refrigeration and out of carbohydrates etc for energy.


Greens grow quickly but carbohydrate foods take months and are easily stolen.


Mollasis is another food that is cheap and stores well.


Most seem to have no idea how hard things can become quickly.

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SO what did you mean by this:

"So this means if you are stuck you could survive on 350mls of coconut oil a week plus greens."

Tell me how you can last for a couple of months if your food reserves have been stolen and you have no power?

I am not talking about noral times.

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As modern science is learning more about how our bodies work, coconut is exploding in popularity. And it’s no wonder. Here are 10 reasons why you should add coconut oil to your diet today.

It keeps you full throughout the day – In recent studies, the MCTs (Medium-chain triglycerides) in Coconut Oil have been shown to reduce calorie consumption in people. In other words, when people ate foods high in MCT’s they were less hungry and therefore ate less.
May reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke - Saturated Fats have been criticized in the past, but not all saturated fats are alike. Recent studies suggest that diets high in saturated fats from certain sources, such as coconut oil, can have beneficial effects on your health, such as reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
A cure for yeast infections – Unrefined coconut oil is very high in Lauric Acid, which studies have suggested can be a very fast and effective way of killing the bacteria Candida Albicans, a very common yeast infection in people. It can also be an effective prevention from developing yeast infections in the first place.
Paleo and Ketogenic diet friendly – Coconut oil is free of carbohydrates, which makes it a perfect food for people on low carbohydrate diets such as Paleo and Ketogenic diets. Diets low in carbs can have various health benefits and can be an effective way of shedding excess kilograms. Studies have also suggested that Ketogenic diets may be effective in reducing the rate of seizures in epileptic patients and also in reducing tumours.
Gives you more energy for longer – Coconut oil is a Low Glycemic Index(GI) food, which means it doesn’t raise your blood sugar levels after consumption as much as higher GI foods do. This can increase mood levels and give you less sugary cravings throughout the day while keeping your energy levels consistently high.
It may be effective in preventing and reducing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease – In patients with Alzheimer’s disease, it appears that there is a reduced ability to use glucose for energy in certain parts of the brain. Research suggests that Ketones can provide an alternative energy source for these parts of the brain, therefore reducing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Consuming coconut oil helps the body produce these Ketones, and can therefore assist in reducing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
Good for your cholesterol – When most people think of Cholesterol, they think the aim is to reduce or remove as much of it from your body as possible. This however couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, without cholesterol, the body would simply be unable to function. The real aim is to essentially raise good cholesterol (HDL) and lower bad cholesterol (LDL) in our bodies. Studies have shown that the Lauric Acid in Coconut Oil can help raise HDL and lower LDL which may lower your risk of heart disease.
It makes everything smell and taste amazing – Dreaming of that tropical getaway? While cooking with coconut oil won’t quite get you there, the smells and tastes can certainly make you feel like you’re one step closer to that tropical island paradise.
It’s all natural – Unlike many oils that go through various processes and refinements before it hits the shelves, unrefined Coconut Oil is all natural, straight from the Coconut to you, with no added nasties. In fact, Niulife Coconut Oil uses their patented Direct Micro Expelling (DME™) process to extract the Coconut Oil within one hour of opening a coconut.
You can empower and bring hope to others – When you buy Niulife Coconut Oil you help to improve the well-being of the rural population of tropical countries. This is achieved by revitalising the smallholder coconut industry through the use of modern technology and by working in partnership with local communities. You can read more about the Niulife story here

https://www.niulife.com.au/blog/10-good-reasons-to-add-more-coconut-oil-to-your-diet/

The country's monthly minimum wage of 1,307,000 bolívars — around $6.03 on the black market — is enough for two cartons of eggs, a kilo (about 2.2 pounds) of cornmeal and a box of pasta, or two liters of milk, four cans of tuna and a loaf of bread.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino...flation-life-daily-struggle-venezuela-n854746
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At the root of the country's malaise is hunger. Asked about their weekly eating habits, 30.5 per cent said they often ate only once a day and 28.5 per cent reported that they ate "nothing or close to nothing" at least one day a week. In all, 78.6 per cent reported trouble keeping themselves fed.

https://www.smh.com.au/world/south-...ften-eat-only-once-a-day-20180918-p504cy.html

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Herrera says most Venezuelans are anemic because their diet lacks the iron found in meat, green leafy vegetables and the national maize flour, which has become increasingly scarce and is now substituted by the government with imported versions that do not have the extra vitamins. This other flour – like Mexican maize flour which can be used to make tortillas but not arepas – is distributed through Local Food and Production Committees (CLAP) which are controlled by government supporters.

According to the study, 87% of Venezuelans are now living in poverty

In contrast, 7.2% of respondents said they had gained 7.6 kilograms – a figure that is also a source of concern. “A diet based on root vegetables and flours will make some people fatter but not save them from the malnutrition epidemia we are going through,” said Herrera.

The results of the survey quantify the extent of hunger in Venezuela and the increasing levels of poverty. According to the study, 87% of Venezuelans are now living in poverty.

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/02/23/inenglish/1519384349_718243.html

The post above shows the vital importance of having at least a year's worth of a hood multivitamin in the preps. While currently, they are considered by most medical authorities to be pretty useless or redundant, in a situation like Venezuela, they could be lifesaving.

Sprouts (so putting some appropriate seeds in the preps) are very nutritious, as well.

Summerthyme

I personally ate no meat products for 7 years and had great health. I did eat butter but.


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Can You Only Eat Vegetables & Still Stay Healthy?
Vegetables don't provide all of the essential nutrients.


While a healthy vegetarian diet that includes a variety of different foods can provide all of the nutrients you need, a diet consisting of only vegetables doesn't. Vegetables don't contain sufficient amounts of certain vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B-12 and vitamin D. You need to consume a wider variety of foods to get the recommended amount of essential omega-3 fats and all of the necessary amino acids.

Protein

Protein is important as a source of amino acids, which you need for creating new cells. While animal foods provide all nine of the essential amino acids in sufficient amounts, soybeans and soy products are the only vegetable source that provides them all. Adding grains and nuts to your diet or consuming dairy or eggs will allow you to get the amino acids you need, since animal products and the grain quinoa are complete proteins and grains and nuts provide the amino acids not found in vegetables.

Omega-3 Fats

You need a certain amount of fat each day for good health, including omega-3 fats, which are essential. Vegetables only contain a small amount of fat and don't contain omega-3 fats in significant amounts. Fish are the best source of omega-3 fats, providing docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, but you can get some omega-3 fats from nuts, flaxseeds, green leafy vegetables, soybeans and algae. However, the vegetarian sources of omega-3 fats contain alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA, which isn't very efficiently converted into the DHA and EPA you need.

Vitamin B-12

Vitamin B-12 is another nutrient that you can't get from vegetables, since it is only found in animal foods. You need vitamin B-12 for forming healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen around your body. Vegetarians need to either eat foods that are fortified with vitamin B-12, like some breakfast cereals, or take a vitamin B-12 supplement.

Vitamin D

Vegetables don't provide any significant amount of vitamin D. You need vitamin D for absorbing calcium and keeping your bones and teeth strong. Sunlight provides some vitamin D, but usually not enough to meet your vitamin D needs. Other sources of vitamin D include fortified milk, liver and egg yolks.

Considerations

Some other essential nutrients, including iron and zinc, aren't as well absorbed from vegetable sources as those from animal sources, so the recommended intake of these nutrients is higher for vegetarians to compensate for this. For example, vegetarians need to consume about twice as much iron as non-vegetarians, according to MayoClinic.com. The healthiest diets are those that include a wide variety of foods, so don't restrict yourself to eating foods from only one food group.

https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/can-only-eat-vegetables-still-stay-healthy-7561.html

China Connection said:

Tell me how you can last for a couple of months if your food reserves have been stolen and you have no power?

I am not talking about noral times.

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If your food reserves have been stolen how do you still have coconut oil? As for food reserves being stolen we have a couple of caches around the property each with about 4 weeks worth of basics. We did that for either theft or loss of our house due to fire. Each one only provides about 1500-1800 cals a day for 4 so it is not ideal but it would keep someone alive. In addition to that we have been slowly adding a variety of permaculture crops to the property and we all have a good idea of what wild edibles are available on the property and in the immediate area. There is game in the woods but it wont last long in a grid down scenario. In a pinch the ponds across from the house could provide fish, crayfish and a couple snapping turtles if we get there first. As for power, our house is designed to run without it. Wood from the property is our primary heat and I can cook on the woodstove. Have both a spare woodstove and a wood cookstove in the shed if needed. Solar lights and kero lamps could provide our lighting. As for refrigeration we would do without. Got a well bucket and rain catchment for water and a composting set up for human waste. Most importantly we have a group of people so we wouldn't be going at it alone.

You never answered my question. Did your comment mean that you think someone can survive on 350 mls a week of coconut oil and some greens?

One can grow fly maggots on nothing but grass and piss. So eating some greens and maggots will keep you alive indefinitely without the coconut oil.

One can set up white ant traps for food using dried greens.

One can set up worm traps for food using greens and calcium.

One can shit and piss into a small pond and grow duckweed in season like mad and dry for protein. Oh, yes its a green.

Having some coconut oil hidden etc is just extra insurance and extra calories.

I know what people are like in hard times and unless you have standby ideas you could easily end up in big trouble.

Mosquitofish




A food source for small ponds away from rivers. They breed fast.

China Connection said:

One can grow fly maggots on nothing but grass and piss. So eating some greens and maggots will keep you alive indefinitely without the coconut oil.

One can set up white ant traps for food using dried greens.

One can set up worm traps for food using greens and calcium.

One can shit and piss into a small pond and grow duckweed in season like mad and dry for protein. Oh, yes its a green.

Having some coconut oil hidden etc is just extra insurance and extra calories.

I know what people are like in hard times and unless you have standby ideas you could easily end up in big trouble.

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How much of this have you actually done?

All except the white ants.

I have lived for months on maggot as my only protein.

Duckweed I have been playing with for years,

Worms I have played with for years. Also eaten them.

Maggots produce like mad. Very similar to egg protein. Can be dried.

I have chickens but expect to have them stolen when the curtain goes down.