What To Consider Before Shopping
As we mentioned, while there are several foods that can be helpful during an emergency, it is important to know what types of foods have real benefits before investing in them.
Just because something sounds good does not mean it will help you! Many products claim they are “healthy” or “nutrient rich” but cannot be confirmed as such.
Many of these so-called health foods contain too much sugar or salt to make them truly nutritious. The term ‘healthier’ may also be misused as this article has pointed out many times.
A lot of brands market themselves using misleading terms like ‘multi-vitamins’ or ‘fortification’ which actually do little more than cover up some nutritional deficiencies. Nutritionists are differentiating between true vitamins and minerals and fake ones (like A) more frequently than ever before.
We recommend staying well-fed and healthy at home by eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. These are the basics every body needs to survive.
Bulk Dry Foods
One of the most important things that you can stockpile if you are trying to be a more prepared individual is dry foods. These are usually categorized into three main groups, high protein, ketogenic, and vegetarian/vegan-friendly.
Dry foods are typically packaged snacks or meals that contain little water. This makes them easier to store because you will not have to worry about them going bad or needing to be rehydrated.
They also do not require too much energy to eat, making them easy to start off with and then adding some variety as your budget and hunger levels change.
There are many different brands of dried foods, so try several types to see which ones taste the best and help you achieve your goal of being a more nutritious person.
Canned Foods
One of the most common types of foods gathered by preppers are canned goods. While some may consider dried or packaged foods to be more practical, there is really no good reason to avoid buying cans of food if you’re looking to start your survival stash.
There are several reasons why canned foods are an excellent choice as part of your initial survival equipment. First, they are usually less expensive than other storage options like dry goods or packaged snacks.
Second, can stores have stringent quality control standards that ensure each product meets their highest purity requirements. This means things like sugar levels that meet national safety specifications, vitamin content that is guaranteed, and acidity that does not exceed what is allowed in water consumption guidelines.
Third, since canned foods do not require refrigeration, it does not need to be protected from heat fluctuation either. This makes packing and storing them much simpler. When shopping for canned foods, make sure to look for those with high quality lids that keep moisture out effectively.
Overall, plastic lined aluminum cans are one of the top choices when investing in this kind of shelf stock.
Cooking Oils
When it comes to cooking oils, your choice really does make a difference. We recommend using coconut oil in most of our baking and culinary recipes due to its nutritional value.
Coconut oil may be more expensive than other oils, but it’ll last longer too because it has an extended shelf life. It can also be melted easily without requiring special equipment or temperatures.
Many people use olive oil when basting meat or frying foods, but we don’t like recommending that since olive oil isn’t very nutritious. Unhealthy fats like lard and butter are sometimes used as cookware options, but we think this is not a good idea unless you’re actually starving and need to preserve weight!
Drinks
One of the most important things you can prepare for as an unprepared person is water. You should always have at least one gallon of fresh liquid per day to meet your body’s demands.
This includes drinking liquids such as tea, coffee, juice, and soup. The average person needs around 10 glasses of water every night!
Many people start their days by grabbing a drink from the fridge or the tap, but they never actually drink it because they are thirsty. Make sure to try keeping some drinks in different flavors so that you don’t get bored with the same thing over and over again.
Drinking enough water helps keep your blood hydrated, which is essential for proper functioning of your organs like your heart and brain. It also aids in digestion, skin health, and general wellness.
When preparing for an emergency, make sure to remember how much water you have consumed. If you find yourself running short, do not hesitate to ask others if they know where more can be found.
Spices & Seasonings
As we mentioned before, while some may consider baking to be an easy way to prepare foods, actually requiring only ingredients and utensils, knowing how to do it correctly takes more than just a few minutes of preparation time.
Baking requires careful measurement and control of several key components- temperature, moisture, and time! This is why most people who bake like chefs – they are trained in culinary arts.
If you want to know if you can call yourself a baker, then you should be able to make your own pizza, understand what kind of breads exist, and be capable of making enough pasta dishes or cookies to last you a month!
And though there are many recipes that require little to no knowledge of cooking, understanding what some of these spices and seasonings mean will help you create authentic baked goods.
Freeze Dried & Dehydrated
One of the most common ways to prepare food is by freezing it first or dehydrating it. This article will talk about how to make your own snacks that do both of these!
Freezing foods is great because you can store the packaged product in a freezer and later use the package to re-thaw and cook the food. It also helps preserve the nutritional value of the food, making the meal more efficient when you re-cook it.
Making your own dried fruits and veggies is another way to save money and start storing some basic supplies. Many people have their favorites, but there are many recipes out there that anyone can try.
How to Make Your Own Frozen Foods
Making your own frozen foods takes a few steps and can be done anywhere with an oven or refrigerator. These are the same things you would need to freeze raw vegetables and meats.
The only difference is that instead of using fresh produce, you use dry ingredients. The process is the same though – just remember to measure your nutrients correctly!
Some tips before diving into this project: buy the right size containers (important!), know what temperature your stove or fridge can handle (check using low heat), and organize the products properly so they do not get mixed up along with other items while organizing.
General Tips: remember to use proper hygiene during processing to prevent any possible bacteria growth!
What we recommend is buying a pack of 10 – 20 lbs of your favorite item, then setting aside
Whole wheat flour, bread and pancake mixes.
Whole wheat flour is all-natural and can be made from either white or whole grain wheat. It is typically mixed with water and baking agents such as milk, butter, and sugar to make dough that can then be kneaded and set aside to rise and bake.
Whole wheat pasta is one of the most popular versions of this type of flour. You may have heard people talk about it being “more nutritious” than regular pastas due to the higher fiber content. While this is true to some degree, it really does not matter too much unless you are trying to achieve nutritional balance.
A standard box of pasta contains around 200–250 grams which is enough to test whether or not your diet meets your nutritional needs. The extra 4–8 grams of carbohydrates per 100 gram serving will more than likely satisfy your hunger while also giving you some fuel for activity.
If you are looking to increase your overall nutrition intake, start by changing up the kind of pasta you use. Or if you already do, try making small changes like adding olive oil or cooking them longer and thinner. Either way, stay away from the low calorie, taste-bud numbing types of pasta!
Protein bars and protein drinks
Many people start to prepare by stocking up on supplies such as water, snacks, first aid kits, and of course, ammunition! Unfortunately, many don’t take next step which is figuring out what foods they can eat to fuel their bodies and keep them feeling healthy.
One important thing we call “peak season” in this country happens around April- May when stores are flooded with meat due to farmers needing it to feed to livestock or maintain muscle mass. This can sometimes be processed meat products that go bad if you aren’t buying fresh meats.
During these months, unless you have a freezer packed full of meat already or are an experienced cook, may cause nutritional dilemmas because there isn’t much variety available at low prices. Luckily, we have some tips here for you!
Protein bars and drink mixes are great alternatives to make sure your body doesn’t run out of the most essential nutrient. They are usually high in fiber and nutrition so even someone who hates eating vegetables might try one once.
Some examples of bar types include energy bars, chocolate milk bars, peanut butter bars, and even just plain dried fruits mixed into something sweet like oatmeal or yogurt.
Certain brands will also add flax seeds or spinach to give extra nutrients. Just remember to buy ones that do not contain too much sugar or fat since those could be hard to find later on.