Comfort Foods Deserve a Place in Your Stockpile
The word “comfort” sure is comforting, isn’t it? When I think of that word, I imagine lying in a hammock on a warm summer day, or relaxing on a porch with a beverage on a pleasant evening, or sitting by the fireplace with a cup of coffee when it’s cold outside.
In a number of the emails, blogs and articles you’ve seen from me through the years, I’ve mentioned the importance of including “comfort” foods in your food storage plans. But I haven’t really gone into too much detail about what those comfort foods are.
Yes, it’s important to keep your body healthy by eating nutritious food that will provide you with the energy you need. That will be especially true during a crisis when you might be on the move and when your stress level will be higher.
But giving your family members and yourself an emotional lift once in a while with some foods you and they love will do wonders for everyone’s state of mind. And you can’t underestimate the value of keeping attitudes upbeat at a time when depression could easily set in.
So, what do I mean by comfort foods? I mean anything that goes down easy, tastes great, is easy to prepare and reminds you of a time when things were better. Are most of them “healthy” and “natural?” Probably not, although some are. Some are probably high in calories and carbohydrates, and some include a little too much sugar.
But if a vast majority of the foods you are consuming are nutritious, you can afford to eat a snack once in a while that may be better for your attitude than it is for your cholesterol level.
If you asked 15 different people to list their top 15 comfort foods, you’d probably get 15 different answers. But there would certainly be some overlap. Here’s a list that comes to mind for me.
Hard candies. My favorites are caramel and butterscotch, but you might prefer cherry, root beer, butter rum or other flavors.
Chocolate Pudding. This might be the universal kid-favorite comfort food, but adults love it too.
Popcorn. You don’t have to be watching a movie to enjoy it, but I’ve found it’s difficult to watch a movie without it.
Pizza. Are you kidding me? I have yet to find anyone who doesn’t like pizza, despite the great debate about which is better – thin crust or deep dish.
Mac and cheese. Another item that few kids will turn down. As a child, I always loved it when Mom added hot dog slices to my mac and cheese plate.
Candy bars. Yes, I know, too much sugar. I wouldn’t suggest living off of them. But once in a while, a Three Musketeers, Snickers or Milky Way really hits the spot.
Peanut butter. Most people use this as a spread, but have you ever put a spoonful in your mouth and just savored it? I have… many times.
Hot chocolate. There should be a federal law requiring parents to serve this when their kids come in from playing in the snow.
Honey Coated Banana Chips. I never realized how great these tasted until I finally tried them.
Freeze-dried yogurt bites. I like these a lot more than I thought I would.
Granola bars. These are almost too healthy to count as comfort foods, but I’m including them because they taste great and are so easy to open and pop in your mouth.
Trail mix. Dried fruits and nuts are tasty, and I like the kind of trail mix that “cheats” by including M&Ms and chocolate chips.
Fruit, Veggie & Snack Kit. Yes, I know, I sell this one in my Food4Patriots product. It has become quite popular.
Coffee or tea. For some folks, coffee is not a comfort food; it’s an absolute necessity. For others, it could be a pleasant reminder of more normal times.
Hostess Twinkies and Cupcakes. A nutritionist just rolled over in her grave, but as long as you don’t fill an entire bug-out bag with them, I think you’re OK to enjoy a few of them once in a while.
To your survival,
Frank Bates
P.S. As mentioned, everyone’s comfort food list will be different. The important thing is to make sure you include at least some of your favorite comfort foods in your food stockpile. Your sweet tooth – not to mention your kids or grandkids – will thank you.
Like what you read? There’s more where that came from. See how your stockpile stacks up… Click here!
The thing about comfort foods is that they are an emotional memory of a good time that has past. You could and should include such items as comfort foods in your store supplies for they can become a moral booster when things look bleak and discouraging.
For me a comfort food would be meatloaf and mash potatoes. To others it might be a chocolate chip cookie or an Oreo cookie. Others still, it may be some form of candy or a combination of comfort foods.
One thing about comfort foods is this; if you are not careful it may be the first thing to be used and or disappear from your stores. Just think about your kids, what is the first thing would they reach for? That’s right, the sweets then they would work their way down from there. In fact, I have even heard of people whose own family members found the stored supplies and secretly ate the comfort foods without a thought of what they were really there for or regards for the value it holds for the entire family. These family members didn’t feel that they needed to be held accountable because they didn’t see the need for the storage of extra food stuff or comfort foods. To them what they see is what they eat. It is for this reason I would like to issue a warning to you folks. First, make it plain and simple that your supplies is for the event of an emergence that may or may not occur. You will have to tell them that you will not tolerate any pilfering of your supplies for there will be a consequence for their actions and it will be sever. (You will have to mean it. You can not pussyfoot around about it. You will have lay out the ground rules and make no exceptions about it.) I find it best not to tell any of my family members what I have, except my wife. I just warn my kids to stay out of my stuff, including the extra supplies.
Second, you will need a plan as to when to use your comfort foods. For if the situation calls for it; you not be resupplied for quite awhile, so use your comfort foods sparingly. If you can have a plan menu, maybe allow a comfort food to be offered once a week.
Third, think about the flood victims. With their food under water and spoiled, even if they had stored extra, it is all gone without any hope to be resupplied. This is why you need to think outside the box for your survival needs and how to properly store your supplies and what supplies you should have stored. You may never know what emergency you may be facing and you really can’t afford resupplying spoiled goods for each and different emergency. I tell my kids, “Do it once and do it right and you will never have to come back and re-do it or worry about it.”
Hi,
I sampled your awesome pizza. I am a heart patient and eating pizza is not an option because of the ingredients. I could eat your pizza. I have been trying to go on your web site to order them. I can’t find them. How do I order them?
Thank you,
Conrad
Hi Conrad. Check out our catalog at http://www.4Patriots.com. Click on Catalog near the top and then choose a free Catalog to be mailed to you, or just download it as a PDF.
I would like to purchase a tote with granola and milk only. We have eaten the granola from 3 of our totes and it needs replacing.