Emergency food.
- Thread starter Lucky
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POWs in the Korean war starved to death on diets of 1500 calories and less per day.
You may need as much as 4000 per day depending on your activity level and the temperature (really cold = more calories needed).
You might want to figure out a rough estimate of daily calories needed for each person in your group based on age, physical condition, weather, and activity level.
You may need as much as 4000 per day depending on your activity level and the temperature (really cold = more calories needed).
You might want to figure out a rough estimate of daily calories needed for each person in your group based on age, physical condition, weather, and activity level.
Jon Coppenbarger
Member
I like MRE's and do have a few of them. Could eat two a day and still have alot left after 6 months. Also if I need to I can use the cold weather ones as those cases I did not count into the above but all you need is one a day if you can stand all the calories. A couple extra cases of the dairy shakes help suppliment also, do like the chocolate ones.
coylh
Member
WT, you don't have to be a communist to eat rice, if that's the association you're making. Rice makes a good disaster food. It's easy to store, cooks by boiling, and goes with just about anything. Pasta is great too.
texascarl
Member
Dry beans, peas, lentils + another grain = a complete protein. So stock up on legumes and add barley, rice, corn meal or hominy (whole 'posole' &/or grits) steel cut oats, wheat 'berries' and some cooking oil (in a pinch you need lots of fat, add it to the bean soup). Get a big enameled stock pot to cook it in/sterilize water while you're shopping for your 'hard times food supply'. I always pack salt, sugar, tea, some extra bullion cubes and a ziplock of pre-mixed 'bean spice' blend (cumin seed, crushed red pepper, paprika, oregano) amazing what a difference this spice pack makes in the end result. Meanwhile, learn to cook lentils, bean/pea soup, posole, grits & polenta. This stuff all keeps well, but I rotate most of it twice a year.
Oatmeal/wheat porridge and hot tea may be a bland breakfast but it sure beats no breakfast at all.
Pack food? Couscous, bullion, tea, instant oatmeal. Peanut butter, dried apricots & almonds. Fishing kit of snelled hooks, swivels, split shot, mason's twine, mono, dry flies (at least 2 red ones for frogs), small treble hooks, frog gig head & snare wire.
Oatmeal/wheat porridge and hot tea may be a bland breakfast but it sure beats no breakfast at all.
Pack food? Couscous, bullion, tea, instant oatmeal. Peanut butter, dried apricots & almonds. Fishing kit of snelled hooks, swivels, split shot, mason's twine, mono, dry flies (at least 2 red ones for frogs), small treble hooks, frog gig head & snare wire.
Hutch
Member
I studied the underlying subject a LOT on the run-up to Y2K (Yep, I was one of THEM). Given the scenario being described, take whatever you can lay hands on. A lot will depend on what you plan to do next. If you are on a leather-borne E&E, then don't bother with food that must be extensively cooked, like dried beans and rice, which the DEAD OPPOSITE of what make sense to store well in advance of need in a fixed retreat.
If you are di-di'ing, then load up on water (but not more than you can carry) and something like trail mix, raisins, nuts and other high calorie-to-weight stuff. If you are stocking your hidey-hole, then other foods make sense, like oatmeal, dried beans, rice, ramen noodles, bullion (Note: Bullion does a great job of flavoring what would be almost inedibly bland, or tainted by the taste of the water), salt, pepper and other non-perishable stuff. Keep in mind that you may have guests at the residence (remember Preacherman's story?) and stock way more than your immediate needs. It's cheap insurance.
Regarding storage food, don't go too far astray from what you're already accustomed to eating. Rice, beans and peas, pastas are familiar to most of us. Bulgher (sp?), cracked wheat cereals, and much of what is commonly sold as storage food might not be adopted under austere and stressful circumstances. Not to be crude, but it might tax the available sanitary systems. If you plan to store these, learn to cook, eat, and enjoy them BEFORE you bet your life on them.
Again, to address the premise: Don't be that guy. It's too cheap, and too easily available prior to the emergency, to put this off. Just the opposite is true after TSHTF. Just be sure to have some of the bug-out chow ready to go. You don't want to go scrounging thru the pantry while the water is literally rising around your ankles.
If you are di-di'ing, then load up on water (but not more than you can carry) and something like trail mix, raisins, nuts and other high calorie-to-weight stuff. If you are stocking your hidey-hole, then other foods make sense, like oatmeal, dried beans, rice, ramen noodles, bullion (Note: Bullion does a great job of flavoring what would be almost inedibly bland, or tainted by the taste of the water), salt, pepper and other non-perishable stuff. Keep in mind that you may have guests at the residence (remember Preacherman's story?) and stock way more than your immediate needs. It's cheap insurance.
Regarding storage food, don't go too far astray from what you're already accustomed to eating. Rice, beans and peas, pastas are familiar to most of us. Bulgher (sp?), cracked wheat cereals, and much of what is commonly sold as storage food might not be adopted under austere and stressful circumstances. Not to be crude, but it might tax the available sanitary systems. If you plan to store these, learn to cook, eat, and enjoy them BEFORE you bet your life on them.
Again, to address the premise: Don't be that guy. It's too cheap, and too easily available prior to the emergency, to put this off. Just the opposite is true after TSHTF. Just be sure to have some of the bug-out chow ready to go. You don't want to go scrounging thru the pantry while the water is literally rising around your ankles.
Cosmoline
Member
No Tuna!
Sardines beat tuna completely when it comes to survival food essentials. They are dense with key vitamins and minerals, have a fantastically long shelf life, and offer both fat and protein. Canned tuna is very low in fat and has far fewer vitamins. It's a good food for staying thin, but esp. without mayo to bolster it, the stuff will not keep you warm and alive.
Sardines beat tuna completely when it comes to survival food essentials. They are dense with key vitamins and minerals, have a fantastically long shelf life, and offer both fat and protein. Canned tuna is very low in fat and has far fewer vitamins. It's a good food for staying thin, but esp. without mayo to bolster it, the stuff will not keep you warm and alive.
Lucky
Member
A lot of people mention Ramen noodles, are these like Ichiban?
Also, I remember now from Ancient Civilizations class that civilizations have grown up around CORN BEANS and SQUASH. You put a few of all 3 seeds into a mound of dirt, and they grow together. The beans grow up the corn stalk, and the squash has big irritating leaves that keep animals away. And it's also a balanced diet!
I guess I'll get some of these seads since they're all on sale now.
How do you guys feel about eating animal organs? I like liver, liver tastes good, but if you eat the liver of an animal that is poisoned, don't you eat all the poisons?
Also, I remember now from Ancient Civilizations class that civilizations have grown up around CORN BEANS and SQUASH. You put a few of all 3 seeds into a mound of dirt, and they grow together. The beans grow up the corn stalk, and the squash has big irritating leaves that keep animals away. And it's also a balanced diet!
I guess I'll get some of these seads since they're all on sale now.
How do you guys feel about eating animal organs? I like liver, liver tastes good, but if you eat the liver of an animal that is poisoned, don't you eat all the poisons?
Cosmoline
Member
The liver is an excellent way of determining the health of an animal. In my experience, the ones that have been eating nasty things or have got sick will have nasty looking livers. The liver should be free from spots and appear moist and full, not thin, dried out or pale. As far as I know, toxins are not kept in the liver of a healthy animal but rather cleaned out of the blood there and sent to be excreted. In a healthy animal the liver should have a storepile of nutrients and vitamins. I've seen hare livers that look good enough to eat raw (I believe some do--I'm not that hard-core), and some others that are just nasty.
"Just a note--I've found jerky far too salty for situations when you're trying to conserve water. Kipper snacks seem to be less "thirsty" as a food."
The "jerky" sold in stores is a snack food, and often heavily spiced. Traditional style home made jerky is just dried meat, nothing else, and is bland. At least the jerky I made was this way, some people spice it, and have the same problem as store bought jerky. If making it as a food source, instead of a snack food, leave out the spices. It can be eaten as is, or dropped in water for a stew base or soup,(it reconsitutes somewhat into meat again). It's very light weight also.
The "jerky" sold in stores is a snack food, and often heavily spiced. Traditional style home made jerky is just dried meat, nothing else, and is bland. At least the jerky I made was this way, some people spice it, and have the same problem as store bought jerky. If making it as a food source, instead of a snack food, leave out the spices. It can be eaten as is, or dropped in water for a stew base or soup,(it reconsitutes somewhat into meat again). It's very light weight also.
Lucky
Member
Interesting about the liver, until I learn what good and bad look like though, it'll probably be dog food for whatever dog is around.
About jerky, it's really good when you add a good dose of ketchup (mostly sugar) with teriyaki sauce and bbq sauce and smoke sauce. Or smoky bbq sauce, or smoky teriyaki bbq sauce. You take the roast, slice it thin, then kneed the slices around in the sauce until they're coverd, and let them marinate overnight. Then slap on dehydrator and wait.
About jerky, it's really good when you add a good dose of ketchup (mostly sugar) with teriyaki sauce and bbq sauce and smoke sauce. Or smoky bbq sauce, or smoky teriyaki bbq sauce. You take the roast, slice it thin, then kneed the slices around in the sauce until they're coverd, and let them marinate overnight. Then slap on dehydrator and wait.
CAnnoneer
Member
Heh.
You'll eat what you can find, and you WILL like it!
Duh.
You'll eat what you can find, and you WILL like it!
Duh.
On liver, you may need to be very careful about what animals' livers you eat. Some species can build up toxic levels of vitamin A. Only one I know of is doggies, though. From what I've read, people have died of vit A poisoning, from eating their sled dogs' livers.
Cosmoline
Member
That's a good point about Vitamin A, though I think the specific problem was in polar animals like Polar Bear and in sled dogs living in those conditions. Wilkpedia says Xavier Mertz died from an overdose after eating too many dog livers on an Anarctic expedition, though I know Nansen and Johansen did very well eating polar bears and sled dogs. Maybe the rules don't apply to Norwegians My bet is they knew enough to not touch the livers. Here's an interesting chart I found comparing Vitamin A amounts:
http://members.tripod.com/~Prof_Anil_Aggrawal/poiso032.html
In contrast look at the vitamin A contents of the livers of some common animals living in the polar regions in the following table. For comparison, I have also given the vitamin A content of the human liver. As you can see, most animals, especially the polar bear have very high amounts of Vitamin A in their livers. Common name Zoological name Vitamin A content of the liver
in International Units (I.U.)
per gm of specimen
Weddel Seal Leptonychotes weddelli 444
Man Homo sapiens 575
Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina 1,160
Antarctic huskies Canis familiaris 10,570
Arctic bearded seal Erignathus barbatus 12,000-14,000
Polar bear Thalarctos maritimus 24,000-35,000
Apparently, cod liver oil is OK, but you have to watch out for the more intense halibut liver oil.
My bet is they knew enough to not touch the livers. Here's an interesting chart I found comparing Vitamin A amounts:http://members.tripod.com/~Prof_Anil_Aggrawal/poiso032.html
In contrast look at the vitamin A contents of the livers of some common animals living in the polar regions in the following table. For comparison, I have also given the vitamin A content of the human liver. As you can see, most animals, especially the polar bear have very high amounts of Vitamin A in their livers. Common name Zoological name Vitamin A content of the liver
in International Units (I.U.)
per gm of specimen
Weddel Seal Leptonychotes weddelli 444
Man Homo sapiens 575
Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina 1,160
Antarctic huskies Canis familiaris 10,570
Arctic bearded seal Erignathus barbatus 12,000-14,000
Polar bear Thalarctos maritimus 24,000-35,000
Apparently, cod liver oil is OK, but you have to watch out for the more intense halibut liver oil.
sigstroker
Member
Hormel Chili. It's reasonable even when cold. Beef stew is nasty unless it's heated. The chili comes in lightweight cardboard boxes that pack well with no wasted space, unlike cans.
John G
Member
Nothing's got a shelf life like pure, old-fashioned honey. It's good in tea, oatmeal, or on bread or crackers. Plus it beats sugar by a longshot.
brerrabbit
Member
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What about whole grain animal feeds such as corn, rolled oats, barley etc. They may not be very tasty but are loaded to the gills with carbs and fiber, and even a bit of protein. As a bonus they are incredibly cheap, I think corn was going for 12 bucks a hundred weight last I time I bought some. I would think they would definately provide a decent diet, especially if supplemented with a bit of game and other more expensive stored food.
Back when I was a kid, I knew a few families that regularly cooked feed corn as a meal, usually with salt port.
Not sure if I would touch the creep feed, but it does look and smell amazingly close to a popular breakfast cereal put out a few years ago.
Back when I was a kid, I knew a few families that regularly cooked feed corn as a meal, usually with salt port.
Not sure if I would touch the creep feed, but it does look and smell amazingly close to a popular breakfast cereal put out a few years ago.
What John G said.
Yep; honey (and or dried fruit) will take the blandness out of oatmeal etc. I like "raw" unheated honey best.
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http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org
Yep; honey (and or dried fruit) will take the blandness out of oatmeal etc. I like "raw" unheated honey best.
----------------------------------
http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org
phantomak47
Member
In college , I had ramen around for years and it tasted the same from the day that I bought it.
Steam dragon
Member
Thunder,
I may be wrong, but I think the shelf life test is still ongoing...
Had some last night, bought in '97
Was fine.
I may be wrong, but I think the shelf life test is still ongoing...
Had some last night, bought in '97
Was fine.
Sindawe
Member
Honey can also be used as a topical antiseptic on wounds if other antibiotics are not available.
Cautionary note: Do not feed honey to children under 12 months of age.
In long term situations, honey can be mixed with water and fermented, making the water "safe" much as wine and beer are. The advantage there is that the end product (Mead) from amateur brewers is often much more palatable than their beers.
Cautionary note: Do not feed honey to children under 12 months of age.
In long term situations, honey can be mixed with water and fermented, making the water "safe" much as wine and beer are. The advantage there is that the end product (Mead) from amateur brewers is often much more palatable than their beers.
Cosmoline
Member
I believe they found several bulk packs of ramen in that Chinese site with all the clay warriors.
coyhl - not at all. I remember 'those guys' going out on patrol for long periods and surviving very well with a roll of rice strung across their shoulders.
Mixed with cooked dog or snake it lasts a long time. In NO they could probably use alligator.
'Those guys' had a pretty functional uniform for hot, humid weather and wet conditions - pretty similar to what is in NO now.
Mixed with cooked dog or snake it lasts a long time. In NO they could probably use alligator.
'Those guys' had a pretty functional uniform for hot, humid weather and wet conditions - pretty similar to what is in NO now.
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