Spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam…
We’ve all seen long lists of foods that are recommended for stockpiling for emergencies. Some of them contain 50 to 100 different types of food that would enable you and your family to eat like kings for several months while enjoying plenty of variety.
A lot of these lists contain great, healthy items that are not only long lasting, but also nutritious. They’re the types of food that can keep you going for a long time if you and your family are stuck in your home or shelter due to an emergency or if grocery store shelves have become bare and are not due to be well-stocked again for a while.
But what if you were forced to limit yourself to only five types of food due to budget, space or time constraints? Which five food types would you choose? And what are the factors that would enter into your decision?
In “The 5 Foods to Store in Your Doomsday Shelter” there are recommendations from Dr. Carl Batt, from Cornell University’s Department of Food Science. Being an expert in microbiology, Dr. Batt places an emphasis on foods that will not spoil quickly.
Let’s take a look at a few of Dr. Batt’s suggestions. Canned foods are a no-brainer, so we don’t have to spend much time on that. As the article points out, they don’t last forever, but they do enjoy long shelf lives and can contain a variety of good foods.
I also can’t argue with spam and dried chickpeas, despite the fact that spam is not overly nutritious and the taste is something you can tire of quickly. But its sodium nitrate is a preservative and its gelatinous coating can kill bacteria. Chickpeas are high in protein and they store easily.
But Jell-O and saltines? I’m not so sure about them. Yes, they last a long time, but I can think of plenty of other food items that will last just as long and are better tasting and more nutritious.
What if you had to come up with a list of only five items for a doomsday shelter? What would yours be and why would you select them? I’m very interested in hearing from you about this subject.
I’ll only address items I have first hand knowledge of. Forget saltines, they go rancid after a year or so. As do mixes such as cornbread. However, you can fix it for the dogs. They like it.
Canned goods last many years. We routinely eat cans 7+ years old. Generally, the taste is fine, but there may be degradation of color in catsup, pineapple, and tomato products. Soda will go flat. Dry Gatorade mix is a good suggestion.
Cook those beans overnight in a crockpot. Very little electricity is used.
To those who are snarky about Spam, they’ve never been truly protein hungry. Once real starvation hunger sets in, any edible meat will be savored and appreciated.
May we never experience hunger.
fried spam and eggs or spam right out the can will keep you alive boot
In response to the comment on Gatorade. Bottled Gatorade uses high fructose corn syrup. Use the powdered form, it has real sugar and is less than 25% the cost of bottled and takes up little space.
Spam now comes in all kinds of seasonings and are really tasty, was not crazy about the stuff til they flavored it up makes great sandwiches.
It’s not exactly food but you should always have a few bottles of Gatorade for emergencies. If you come down with norovirus or some other intestinal malady, you can replace your electrolytes real fast and avoid other problems like arrhythmia. Also great for warding off muscle cramps.
1. grains– whole wheat, popcorn (can use to make corn meal), white rice, oat flakes; plus smaller amounts of brown rice, barley, millet, quinoa, etc. Flour. Pasta.
2. legumes– dried beans, lentils, and a few other pulses; plus regular canned beans.
3. canned proteins– Spam (hubby is from HI, so this is a staple!), canned chicken, salmon, roast beef, albacore, dog food. Dried eggs. Nut butters.
4. sugars– white, brown, honey, maple syrup, jams (most home made).
5, vegies and fruits– dried, freeze dried and canned. Plus fruit trees in garden.
Many of our long term storage items were from a few DIY sessions at a local LDS cannery (which, unfortunately, is no longer operating). These are “dry canned” in #10 cans, sealed with an oxygen absorber inside. What we have and amounts, is also based on recommendations on LDS websites, and modified/supplemented with personal preferences. Non-foods we store, but needed for diet: water, salt, vitamins. Garden provides several herbs, and citrus, pomegranates and guavas in season; other garden produce is in short supply, and not a reliable source due to drought.
Excellent list, I do so agree you have hit it on the nail. I have large box of only add water pancake mix and large box of Bisquick, instant whole milk. Canned hamburger, We must keep food for our animals also, like chicken feed and cat food and dog food.
If you click on the red highlighted words 5 foods to store in your doomsday shelter you will get your answer
I don’t like spam I think it’s dog food in disguise as real food to make you get sick and puke your guts out must also include as one of its ingredients castor oil.
Don’t tell that to Hawaiians. They love their Spam!
Believe in God, the Creator, is a basic and a given. Citing scriptures is good, valuable and teaching us the ways it should be but it is not enough for to value God and his creation we are responsible to use our brains. That is the ultimate gift in creation and not to use it is the ultimate sin, in my opinion. It is the 11th Commandment: You shall use ALL your God-given Gifts / Talents properly and fully to show appreciation and for His Glory.
So let’s use our ultimate God given gift, our brain, and try the best we can and are able to. That is our calling in this world,
Excuse me? Tire of the taste of Spam? I don’t think so. That would be like tiring of the taste of bacon. Thy are both pork and have similar tastes, and when fried up crispy, thin Spam slices are quite like bacon. I like to dip them in mustard, which I have never actually tried on bacon. Maybe I should!
P.S.I think most people today have never tried Spam but think it is awful stuff since it is the butt of so many jokes. The GIs loved it in WWII. And continued eating it when they came home. It is actually high-quality shoulder pork, one of the best cuts. South Koreans consider it a delicacy!
I like Spam and it does come in several flavors. We like it fried, too, but also in scrambled eggs. I really like that is’ canned, so can be around longer than fresh stuff and will not be going bad if the power goes out, like frozen foods would. People who don’t like Spam would be more than happy to gobble it down if they didn’t have anything to eat. :)
OK…Obviously, everyone is forgetting water. Or, is that a given? I estimate 2-3 gals a day per person.
1 gal a day for drinking, the rest for cooking, cleaning, etc.
Try soaking pinto beans over night then boil them 10 minutes and simmer with 1/2 a onion, 1/2 can of spam cubed, 1/2 fresh jalapeño, 1/2 bunch of cilantro leaves, and a teaspoon of chicken bullion. Simmer till tender.
Spam? About every 5 years i buy a can of Spam to see if its as bad tasting as i remember it to be. Guess what? My conclusion has always been “Wow, this is plain gross” Nuff said?
My husband likes Spam. I have always detested it, except when fried. However, the Nitrates with which it is preserved are poison – and for my husband especially since it causes his Gout to flare up mightily.
Don’t recommend it for long term storage (or short-term either). You can get much healthier, non-nitrate/nitrite meats.
Used Spam as a staple in Vietnam eat it right out of the can… Dad had in the Pacific in WW2 grew up in Pa. in the 60’s on it still use on hunting trips
1) Canned or Dried Meat, my protein
2) Peanut Butter, a second inexpensive protein
3) Dried Mixed Vegetables, gotta have fiber
4) Dried Fruit, gotta have a sugar
5) Grain, as I can grind for bread or cook in soup
Very good choices
“Faith without works is dead!” We can see where this country is heading and the perils are happening more frequently. It is not a matter of “if” but “when” we may need our emergency supplies. I have always had a “stash” of canned goods, but without rotating them, they expire. I have a 15 month supply of food, have the water filter, a generator, and have provided the same for my family. I want to be prepared and HOPE I never need it. I don’t want to see my family crying for food and water or a place to stay. I have a tent, mattresses, propane, guns and ammo and feel I’m as prepared as I can be…and I feel I was prompted to do this…NOW! I hope you all heed the signs of the times. Good luck and God bless.
I would like to say this about “expiration dates on canned goods–In 1966, in Vietnam, we were eating C-rations that were canned in 1944. They were still good. The canning process is much better, today. I never worry about the date on the can. If that can is not bulging or bent, the food will still be good.
It may be “safe” to eat – but it isn’t “good”. It won’t have the nutrition it once had and often does not have a good color or consistency. These are not recommendations for “good food” to me.
Five only is hard but if I have to do so I’d go with canned tuna, canned chili, peanut butter, crackers of some sort n canned peaches.
LINDA–WHAT JAMES SAID HAS MERIT. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE ON SUSVIVAL WEBSITES. RUN A TEST. OPEN A CAN OF SOMETHING YOU LIKE TO EAT TWO YEARS AFTER ITS “DEAD DATE” AND EAT IT ALONG WITH A CAN OF FRESH. HARD TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE. YES, YOU ARE RIGHT TOO, BUT IT WON’T GO SOUTH AS FAST AS YOU THINK. THE EXPERTS TELL US THE DATE IS N-O-T WHEN IT GOES BAD, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE SOLD AFTER THAT DATE. JUST THROW OUT BAD CANS AS JAMES SUGGESTED. YOU WILL SAVE A LOT MONEY STORING CANNED FOOD–JUST NOT FOR 25-YEARS.
Got my trusty peanut butter, canned chicken and tuna. I also have a pretty good supply of dehydrated fruits and vegetables than I was able to can up at a local food storage pantry. Cheap enough if you’re willing to do the work. I buy the freeze dried and dehydrated pouch meals when affordable. Been at it for over 2 years so doing pretty well. Peanut butter at least is high protein and can be eaten on crackers or bread easily. Not sure if I could take Spam for very long!
I’d think MRE’s are a good staple because of their variety and long shelf life. Canned foods, especially soups, are excellent. Dried food like pasta also have a long storage life as long as they are kept dry and sealed, are a good choice. Freeze-dried foods are probably one of the best choices nutritionally and longevity wise… Don’t ever forget Water; to drink and also sanitation.
MRE shelf life is 5 to 8 years. That is in ideal conditions. When SHTF happens, nothing will be ideal. Eat your MREs first.
My godson and I on a camping trip ate some MREs and LRPs that I had in storage for 20 years and they tasted as good as they did 20 years prior. Yes they really do keep if stored in a cool dry place.
I presume u to mean the foods you discussed were recommended by u but u did not say so one way or the other. U were entirely too wishy washy in your message. Means u need to try much harder to say exactly what u mean – otherwise your message is wasted.
I agree. I really dislike being “tricked” into clicking on a link to get the answer, only to find that the answer is not there! what a waste of my time, although the comments are very interesting.
Seems to me you people have forgotten God’s promise to His people. Your bread & water will be sure. Anyone coming to me in need will not be shot or turned away. I’m preparing because we are told that the last days will be more terrifying than we can even imagine. Every year when my mother finished with putting up her fruit she always said, “well, there is a supply of food for someone. We may not get to eat it but maybe it will help someone.” i’m so glad the Lord didn’t say, “You screwed up. i’m not dying for you. Thats your problem.” i’m glad i have a loving savior. “He who seeks to save his life will lose it & he who loses his life for My sake shall find it.” For those of you who don’t like scripture, my apologies.
Sweet Ruby, I love your inner beauty and trust in our God… and remember that there are many admonitions to hear and respond to warnings of impending disaster, too. I won’t go into scripture because it is easy enough to use a concordance or google online to find the verses and I never like to use scripture verses alone- it all fits together. Remember the story about the man caught in a huge flood, sitting on the top of his house and refusing help from people in boats, helicopters, etc because he was waiting for God to help him during times of trouble… when he died (of course, this is just a story, right?!) and asked God why he didn’t save him, the answer was that God warned him and provided everything he needed to be saved but the man didn’t take heed. We do indeed have a loving God, and the experience of Grace is the best gift anyone could ever have. I am sending you prayers of goodness, love, and a lack of fear. This, from a sister in Christ.
Ballintine,
Thank you for telling Ruby the lesson of the the man calling for and waiting for God and not seeing him in others repeated acts of kindness to rescue him then thinking he was betrayed by God.
Here’s a quicker version. Remember the guy who spent years praying to win the Lottery. One day there was a shout from Heaven – “Work with me, buy a ticket”.
We use to have spam regularly. One time I put what was left on plate in the frig for about 4 to 5 hours. Took plate out and there was a pale worm moving in the spam–half in and half out. No more spam for us. Have patriot dried food, canned veggies, tuna, chicken and veggies. Grow some things every season–in side and out side.
Dear Ruby,
As I read your post I was happy to see you are preparing for the inevitable as we are all hearing the trumpets blow but the faithful take action when the doubting Thomas’s won’t. I immediately wanted you to hear the story shared by Ballintine when it seemed you were not recognizing that via the holy spirt the lord will answer our prayers by using the Angels and spirits in others and that how God can be everywhere. You may use that stored food to barter for other needs or feed his children that have nothing.
As I live way up north, my biggest concern is how to stay warm when it gets to be -20 degrees, and I have not seen any ideas on that. If the grid goes down (no electricity), does anybody have any ideas, beyond Coleman camping stoves?
wood burning kitchen stoves.you not only cook on/in them.but they’ll keep a home warm as well.but you’d have to keep a pot of water on it at all times.on account the fire/heat will dry out the air if you don’t..
How does a single senior citizen get a wood burning stove set up in a ranch style home ? No husband here left 26 years ago ! no family in area except older ! How about a gasoline generator to keep all things electric going ?
Gasoline generators cannot be used indoors. They take an amazing amount of gasoline to run which won’t be available after ANY disaster. Solar power is preferable, but have to have sufficient sunshine and a reliable battery storage system. I bought my wood burning stove at an “antique” store. It will suffice. But otherwise, use solar heat tubes (you can make a version yourself with pop or beer cans) to collect heat and get it into your home.
We have solar panels and generators. Our wood stove not usable anymore and at age can’t do wood splitting anymore –but was good exercise. Have electric heaters (1500 W). Looking for electric blankets. Have good hotplates and can cook outside on open fire. Water is our biggest problem. Have 2 patriot filters, sure like them. Living in the country so gun is necessary plus bow and arrow. Working on getting wind power to add to solar and for nites and cloudy. Have puzzles, magazines, portable DVD and vcr and movies and the best –the BIBLE. Lanterns and flash lites with rechargeable batteries –by solar power.
I did actually hear a trumpet blow over some clouds at night and there was a bright light above the clouds and it was wonderful. I was the only one who witnessed it and I am sad everyone looks like you must be crazy when I tell people about it. I know that Christ is coming at the last trump. But at the time I did not know that and I wondered if Christ was coming back then.
A wood burning stove is the way to go if you can keep a good supply of wood available. I needed about 21 – 24 cords to heat my house. But then again it was about 6,000 sq. ft. and was built in 1812 and with an average winter temp. of 30 degrees. In a much smaller (1500 – 2000 sq. ft.) and more modern (better insulated) home it would only take 10 -12 cords. Remember to keep a window cracked for oxygen though and a kettle of water would be a good idea too for some humidity. You would need a fairly large stove if you want to sleep through the night without having to get up in the middle of the night to stoke it.
For goodness sakes! Get a hunting and fishing license or a combination. If you’re wanting free range, no antibiotic, non GMO, everything the tree huggers say we should look for at our local grocery stores then nature’s pantry has it for you. It’s not like push if a shopping cart down a well stocked aisle but you can learn to fill your freezers and pantries with high quality fresh healthy food.
jeanine–someone is making a pellet stove that does not require electricity to operate it. google–wisewaypelletstove.com. he says u.s. delevery only. so if “way up north” is canada, you might need tio make a trip south. he claims 78% efficient and in the states a 40# bag of pellets runs around$5.00, and one bag will last 30-hours on the low setting.
I agree with the dried beans and rice suggestions, but at high altitude it takes ten to twelve hours to cook a pot of beans – that’s a lot of precious water boiling away and you have to consider the energy required to cook those beans. I’d stock canned beans – kinds we eat often anyway so they are rotated, and for dried legumes I’d stick with split peas and lentils, something that can be cooked in two hours or less. Soaking would lessen the cook time a little more. Brown rice is also on my list, although that also takes nearly an hour to cook at high altitude. We keep a supply of Costco’s canned chicken, albacore tuna, and sardines and always have lots of dried fruit on hand. Pasta sauces and v8 juice don’t have a really long shelf life but we still keep plenty in stock and rotate. Living in the city where a threat is more likely is a concern. I have a feeling the radiation would get us before we starve or die of thirst.
Dried beans cook in one hour in a pressure cooker. Presto makes one that is used over a fire. 2 cups dried beans, 8 cups of water and you’re ready for supper in an hour. magic!
I have not tried lentils or split peas but I do love pintos. Yes canned beans would be great. No to brown rise as it takes to long to cook. canned chicken, albacore tuna yes crackers, Old fashioned Oats, dry cereal, cream of wheat, flour, corn meal, grits, dry milk, dried eggs, Anything canned, jelly or jam, honey, peanut butter. Butter. I understand you can even get dried shortening. Oils of peanut oil, canola oil, olive oil. Shortening. Soda, Salt, black pepper, red pepper, Sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar. chili powder, oregano, garlic powder, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, allspice, cinnamon, cloves. bullion both beef and chicken, vegetable. thyme, vinegar, both white and apple cider(not apple cider flavored. Cocoa powder. Canned potatoes such as sweet potatoes and canned white potatoes. I do not know why canned goods do not last as long as they used to but I wish they would get back to canning them where they will last. Canned meats of all kinds. Canned hams, canned chicken, tuna, You never see canned hams any more and if you do they are refrigerated. I get the feeling that the food industry is trying to make us more dependent on them and they do not want the world saving food or being able to be more independent. It is all about money. Sad!
verdellfarkle–you need a PRESSURE COOKER at your altitude to cook with. it will save both time and money.
The first thing on my list Is Frank’s finest, the the best water filter in the world, summer garden and winter green house, and chicken coop for eggs and meat.
foodforpatriots.com
thanks all for your suggestions. Other than water I’ve been concentrating on 1). milk(s): powdered, canned & sweetened condensed(can make the occasional desserts/puddings). 2). Broths: water substitute for soups, stews, sauces, gravies, etc. & mix w/ dehydrated/freeze dried potatoes . 3). Canned soups, veggies, potatoes, chilies, stews, meats , etc., can be poured over beans/rice for a filling meal w/ variety. 4). Beans/rice 5). Water added pancake/biscuit/cornbread mixes – can make breads, sweets, sandwiches, fry breads, tortillas, fillers, gravies, noodles, etc. naturally I also have other canned items – fruits & pie fillings to make pies, cobblers, cookies, etc. one important category I believe is spices/condiments – powders, diced, chopped, salts, minced, dried, etc. also Sam’s sells cases of individual condiments which requires no refrigeration – mayo/miracle whip would be a biggee for me in making potato, chix, tuna, ham, etc salads.
To add to my stock I’ve also gotten the powdered honey, butter, shortening, whole & scrambled eggs from Augasen Farms. I’ve just ordered the powdered cheese, powdered tomato plus more of the few items I’ve already recd., along w/ de-hydrated bananas to make puddings/muffins/bread. I won’t open any of them til “the time comes”. Although food is our main stay, it also provides comfort and albeit false – a sense of security. I want to be able to provide as much of a sense of normalcy w/ meals as is possible. I have very few skills & don’t garden, can or de-hydrate but I’m a cooking fool great grandma who can whip meals up out of most anything. That’s going to be my contribution when TSHTF. I thank the Lord for all the blessings He has given me.
Note of caution. Be careful with the dried foods from Auguson (or any other supplier) if they contain other ingredients besides what you think you are buying. Their dried “honey” is some honey, with regular sugar, and other ingredients I don’t want. I far prefer real honey and it lasts virtually forever. Same is true for such things as scrambled eggs and other “mixes”. They have stuff in them you don’t realize unless you carefully read the labels.
I have found another useful container for storage. The 3 flavor popcorn tins in stores each fall are great for pre-packaged items like pasta, beans, sugar and rice. The lids fit well and they are easy to stack and store. We live on ranch acreage and they even keep the mice and bugs out. We use masking tape or blue painters tape to label the contents or just use a marker pen and write on the tin. Enjoy the popcorn.
Can hams last and are better than spam. !5 bean soup mix, water, misc. dried foods. Tuna also lasts. Eggs will last a long time if coated with vasalene. seeds for sprouts. Garden seeds.
1) DE. Google it. (Fresh water type only!!!) Put it in your jars of dried beans. Can put it on dried meats to keep insects from getting into the meats. Put it in your seeds to keep them dry and bug free. Take it yourself for cleansing your bowels. Use it to kill bugs in your garden or fruit trees. It’s great to feed to your pets and farm animals. Put it on their bodies to kill fleas & ticks. I put it in my hens food, spread it around the nests and in their dusting areas. Perma-Guard has the best quality of this product.
2) BTW, I never saw cured ham on anyone’s list. Lasts for a very long time.
3) Propolis. Google it. Can get it from a beekeeper. Can be used as an antiseptic (wounds. mouthwash). You can chew it for bowel issues. Make tonics with it.
To keep cans from rusting, it might be helpful to spray all seams with polyurethane.
Canned tuna fish has a long shelf life at least several years.
i have most ALL of what people have put down, for their top 5 on list is Yeast , can make bread and alc
I really appreciate all the info, but I don’t know if I would want to be holed up with these uneducated Billy Bobs that can’t spell, let alone proofread. Most of these people sound like Neanderthals with a death wish for what they are recommending to be stored. A lot of them will be dead in short order just from eating their own food. At least you are on the right track, Frank, by getting a general consensus on the subject. Thanks for all you do!
Tom – Many folks also have poor eyesight and shaky fingers. I’m not going to complain about spelling errors; someday typing will be hard for my old hands, too.
His choices are not very nutritious. I would prefer canned meats, dehydrated fuits and vegetables, chia seeds, and dehydrated peanut butter.
That guy or gal that can’t spell might be the one that saves your butt if things go to hell in a hand basket. I will take other skills over spelling any day!
It should be obvious that, unless you’re a regular McGyver, PRACTICAL knowledge will be more useful than a MA in business! It would be supremely ironic for an effete snob like you to be saved from starvation by a simple redneck who had used basic skills to stockpile enough supplies to share when you came begging for help…wouldn’t you agree?
What 5 items of food would I stock ?
1. Rolled oats & wheat- (grains) so many uses, nutritious, stores well
2. Honey- sweetener, calories, can make mead, medicinal uses
3. Dried legumes- beans, peas, lentils, great soup filler, nutritious with long storage life
4. Dried milk
5. Spices, salt, baking soda, etc for flavoring, medicinal, and making bread
Obviously water is crucial, but I don’t call that food. We have water collection and filtration and the ability to chemically treat water.
There are so many other things that we need in our storage, but those have been high priorities for us.
Live way out in country with fresh spring in back yard. Rice, beans, dried vegtables, dried meat, garden seeds, guns, reloader & assesoriès. Spices, first aid & great hint ground black peper. For food & first aid. I ripped my hand open where it bleed like a artery, I poured the ground black pepper in, wrap wound firmly wa-la change dressing daily & the wound that should of been stiches healed better. Hardly see scar in month.
How would you get to the spring in the back yard if radiation, avian disease that spreads by birds which often splash in water or if the government kills animals and puts them in you spring or your neighbors know that spring is there and lay in wait to take you out
I also have springs. The best one I laid a buried pipe to it and covered it under 20 feet of fill so nobody can mess with it. Solar power supplies a12V pump which keeps a 500 gallon tank filled. Overflow pipe carries excess water downhill far from the spring and dumps into an underground gravel bed beneath a garden area where it seeps out of the ground and flows down to a creek.
I’M OVERWHELMED BY ALL THE GOOD ADVICE. STILL HERE’S A FEW. BAY LEVES IN DRIED GOOD (BUGS DON’T LIKE THEM). THE RAW HONEY IS GOOD WITH IODINE FOR WOUNDS. THE HONEY IS A HEALTH FOOD. ALL DRIED GOODS AND CANNED YOU CAN PUT IN AN EMERGENCY BAG IS GOOD, BUT DON’E FORGET THE RED CROSS BAG OR BOX. I CARRY MY WOOL EMERGENCY BLANKET AND FEATHER PILLOW IN MY CAR AT ALL TIMES. EVEN SMALL RED CROSS PACKET IN MY PURSE. LATELY RECEIVED MY EMERGENCY TOOL FROM PATROITS, I CARRY IT IN MY BILLFOLD. GOT TO BE ABLE TO OPEN BOTTLES/CANS/ ETC. THAT TOOL WORKS. WHAT I BUY AND OR STORE I RECYCLE EACH JANUARY WHICH I AM IN THE PROCESS OF INCLUDING THE WATER. IF MY HOUSE DOES NOT BURN DOWN OR BLOW AWAY I HAVE ENOUGH FOODS FROM THE PATROITS GROUP TO LAST A YEAR AND FOR MY DAUGHTER AS WELL. ONE WHO IS NOT READY TO PREPARE BUT I DID BUY HER A FARMERS MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION AS SHE HAS LAND IN THE BACK OF HER PROPERTY THAT COULD GROW FOOD. OR KEEP ANIMALS SAY A COW OR GOAT FOR FRESH MILK. WE’LL SEE WHAT SHE DOES. I’M APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE SUGGESTIONS AS I’M 82 YEARS OLD AND I LISTEN AND READ. GET MY HEALTH RADAR MAG. MY DAUGHTER IS VERY TALENTED AND IF SHE SETS HER MIND TO IT, SHE WILL WORK ON SURVIVAL ANYTHING. KEEP ON SENDING THE TIPS, THE FIVE MENTIONED I HAVE. THANKS FOLKS.
All, what food saver is of good – great quality that would be recommended? I’ve go the average “Food Saver” brand but wanting something that seals better & has a higher quality of sealing material (for foods & misc long term storage). Thanks to all, Merry Christmas & may God be with us all.
Food saver brand is best!
MR Frank,,,,,,,,,I have purchased many of your products and im getting ready in case something happens i hope it never doe,s happen god willing …..I want to tell the people out there of some of the things i have done ,,,1st im married to a really nice vietnamese lady ///i recomend all of you to find an asian store they have alot of dried foods very low prices to many to list our cabnets are overflowing with dried foods ..i live on a lake here in texas catch fish anytime i need to ..i puchased an online book from backyard liberty.com..i have built 2 aqua ponics grow tanks i have fish in the bottom and veggies on top they hold 220 gallons of water each with pumps …my next project is to take these systems and go off grid ..i will be puchasing a solar kit from harbor freight 135.00$ add 2 solar batteries and a converter to run my pumps ..i hope this info helps somebody oh before i go i have a 475 gallon hot tube on my back porch for clean back up water …plus lake water …last subject to help everybody …if you catch fish after you clean them put them in zip lock baggies fill with water as much as possible and date the baggie then freeze them i have eaten fish that was 5 yrs old and are still fresh as the day i froze them ..if electric fails us all the fish can still be sun dried …good luck ya all …hope nobody tries to take what i have// guns will be blazing
My wife and I are vacuum packing all kind of dry food I have a vacuum pump rigged up and we use canning jars to save our food in so far we have about 3 hundred quarts with all kinds of dried beans we have cornmeal,rice,powsered milk and just about every kind of macaroni ,spegittie ,flour.sugar and any thing that is dried. In this way I have saved some cornmeal for over 10 years and you could not tell that it was not fresh Plus we have a large selection of canned goods about 900 cans I know this sounds like a lot but my kids and grand kids live next door to me and they do not believe any thing bad will happen so they are not getting ready I also have firewood propane gas and stove and plenty of charcoal to last me a long time.So I do believe that I am ready.
Do you use a FoodSaver (or similar) to vacuum can? Or have you rigged up something else?
I am glad to hear about the cornmeal as I had to feed some old meal to the chickens. The meal was just stored in a gallon jar and went rancid.
For 1) dinners I have rice & beans, pasta, spices, canned meat; 2) breakfast: oatmeal & powdered milk, dried fruit 3) lunches & snacks: Peanut Butter, dried fruit, energy bars, soup packets; 4) drinks: Emergen-C, drink powder, tea & coffee; 5) A Four week supply from Food for Patriots adds variety. I can see I’m sadly short on veggies. Thinking about dehydrating…
As for non-edibles, I have a 5-gallon pail with lid for a potty pail. I keep garbage bags, toilet paper, personal wipes, hand sanitizer and soap in it. The pail itself can be the toilet if you put a garbage bag in it. Then its easy to haul away.
Thanks for the potty advice. I would like to put a outhouse in the corner of my yard (I would be the closest to it). The small town won’t let me. If I lived another block in a couple of directions I could have one.
Hummm, That is really a tough question from the top of your head, Frank. It took me several days to come up with an answer. So here is my list:
1.) Water and or a non-contaminated water source – Although water isn’t consider food, a person would not be able to survive very long without it. I have stored about 50 gallons per person and animal in my home.
2.) Dried or Can Fruits & Vegetables, Grains & Cereals – These are the items that I have stored up in case of an emergency. For the most part, they are and have been canned by my wife and myself. That is why I have included these items; what seems to be more that one item. I figure that if I canned them, then I can count them as one item.
3.) Canned Meats & Fish – I haven’t canned my own meats as yet; but, I will when I purchase the right equipment, A canning pressure cooker is needed. Until then, I must rely on can goods from the store.
4.) Oils & Spices – With oils, I can cook my food, preserve my food, and make soap to wash and clean with. The spices will add taste to my food, help preserve my foods, and provide me with medicinal properties when needed.
5.) Nuts & Seeds – With nuts and seeds I can grow my own food. I can also eat these items as a protein source.
Since I put water down and it isn’t consider a food source allow me to add this:
6.) Juices, Powdered Milk and Sugar – Juices have the minerals and vitamins a person needs to grow strong and healthy. The powdered milk is to help the children grow big and strong and to be used in food preparation. Sugar, to aid in preserving my foods, adding taste, and medicinal properties.
I hope that my list will give others Food for Thought. So what’s on your list?
I have some dehydrated meats as well and I do can some meats – breakfast sausage, actually, cans up really nicely and tastes great.
I didn see any where on here where people mentioned mouse traps, bug spray, garbage bags. There will be an over abundence of rodents and bugs if you dont have a way to get rid of them from your house. I use sticky traps now if i have a problem but you will need something long lasting that you can use over and over.
Louise, if you can eat a mouse trap, bug spray, or a garbage bag; I guess you will need some Pepto-Bismol too. :-)
Rodent control, one more reason why we have cats..
Seriously though,the top five that I have is:
A two-years supply of freeze-dried food
A fresh water well with several types of filters
A garden containing vegetables, spices, and herbs
Four types of fruit trees in the back yard
A stockpile of honey, coffee, turkey and deer (depending on the hunting season)
Being a country boy, probably the five best, except for my shotgun and lots of shells, would be:
Cigarettes
Coffee
Sweet tea
Catfish
Collard Greens
;-)
Jim, you forgot pork rinds. You can’t eat cigarettes, although my granddad tried to make me eat one when I was young. :-)
Yes, you can eat cigarettes, eat two of them once a year to rid your body of worms
you forgot the beer
30 year shelf life foods are best. I stock dried corn, beans, wheat, sugar, salt, honey, and tons of dehydrated, canned veggies and fruits. Also have dry milk, eggs and powdered shortning. Dried and canned meats, cheeses, sauces, butter and Ghee. You can even get dried sausage and canned bacon!
my choice of five foods would be :
water
canned and dehydrated meats
canned and dehydrated fruits and vegetables
wheat
variety of dried legumes and other seed grains
but I would also want to have plenty of seeds to grow fresh vegetables of course you can sprout wheat and other seeds to have a nutritious fresh greens.
Unfortunately that is really not just five items. Not sure I can pick just five.
1. Canned kippered herring
2. wheat grass or spirulina sprouts
3. organic coconut oil
4. canned B&M brown bread w/raisins
5. organic 70% chocolate bars
Also raise chickens, keep all different kinds of seed to plant. Have a gun and know how to shoot it, also not JUST a gun but learn to shoot a bow & arrow, there are even arrows being shot from a dressed up old timey beanshooter or slingshot because there something out there that’s living that you can eat if you have too and you’d be surprised how good it will taste to you if it comes to that but they can also be a way to protect yourself.
Get some 55gal barrels and catch water from off roof, you can always make it safe to drink plus you’ll need it to keep clean and even flush your toilet. You’ll need plenty of water. Toilet Paper you’ll need plenty of that too. Use all the water in your canned foods to use for other things. Learn to make a solar cooker to cook with and to boil your water. Magnesium, a Magnifying glass to help start fires and boil your water too. Make a Solar heater to keep warm. Store Nuts, Rice, if you store flour or meal put a stick of Spearmint gum in them they say that it keeps the bugs from growing in them. Dried Beans are always good Raisins mixed up in your Peanut butter is good for you plus helps keep the raisins from going bad. Water is very important so if you have a well try to get an old timey hand pump to change to if need be. Dehydrate everything you can get your hands on from meats to fruit to veggies Also get a vacuum sealer, or look on Youtube to see all the ways to vacuum seal anything and everything you need to keep dry foods, matches, even some important papers (Just in case) But whatever you do, do it now because if you wait you just may be too late.
Living in the Northeast, any suggestions on what to do with The rain water I catch in the 55 gal barrels when it’s 10 degrees outside? other than bring them indoors.
Thanks, stay safe and prep on!
How much rain do you get when it is 10 degrees? None, I would think …
Pick up a water heater coil. Depending upon the type of fuel available you can use electric, wood fire with a transfer coil, gas or solar. Screw into drum and wrap in a drum blanket to insulate conect it up and run prior to it freezing solid. A side valve a few inches off the bottom will work best for access.
Take your matches and dip them in nail polish and when day their waterproof. Food can be cooked in paper cups in a fire,breakfast foods in a paper lunch bag, foil dinners, stick bread make your own dehydrator tent. dries with soler power. experiment. Flower pots are also grills
Canned Meats
Dried Fruits
Ramen style noodle packs
Water
Canned or freeze dried green vegetables
That is five. That should get the protein, fats, carbs, vitamin C to fight off scurvy, and maybe fiber. Sodium chloride can be found in the canned goods.
If I can add a few more….
Spices
Dried Beans/Peas
Enriched Corn Meal
Powdered Milk
Gluten free Cakes/Wafers (oat, rice, etc).
Powdered dressing and gravy packets
living in the country:
gun
bulletts
seeds
that’ll cover it :)
Hey EVERYBODY – – – Thanksgiving Dinner over Peggy’s house, If you dare to knock on the door. :-)
Skip highly processed foods, they are less nutritious.. Remember herbs and spices for flavor and first aid..
1. water
2. dried milk
3. peanut butter
4. herbs, spices
5. seeds: rice, beans,
6. dried fruit and veggies
7. knowledge of wild foods and how to attain them
…. All of these are equally important.. Stay out of cities whenever possible..
Useof super glue , liquid or gel, is good for mending small cuts or scrapes . It has an infection fighter in it. I have used them and it works great !!!
The most versatile foods to stockpile are not mentioned. Shows how in the know people are. As a hobby learning how to live a healthy lifestyle is about discovering the truth then pursuing that newfound light. Example. . Did you know. Flax seed can be. Stored. For a long time and hand. Ground fresh for omega3 plus it swells up to trick you into feeling full. Also organic coconut oil is a muti purpose item. Conditioner,. Tooth paste, cooking oil and raw energy food. Try sprouting to as well as a mushroom do it yourself grow kit. Dont forget about powder whey. Maca and msm. Yerba matte works wonders on the. Psyche . Finally, make kale chips for calcium, get colloidal silver , have essential oils , potassium iodine and sea salt . Castille soap and pine tar soap and apple cider vinegar and baking soda are all multi purpose items to have. The most important thing , though is a bible because Jesus will return and we can decide to be ready or we. Can decide not to believe. Hope this list helps
Bless you your post is awesome! As a believer I’m agreeing. Thank you! Wish I could talk with you more on FB
Karen Dumont
Jesus tells us to watch and wait. As Christians, we won’t want to go into town until most of the persecutions are over and most of the neighbors have passed away. The goal is to survive with our Faith in Jesus still intact. For non-food, I would store good Christian books, my High Blood Pressure Pills, New socks, blankets, a water filter, a good can opener, a current Tetanus Shot, and multi-vitamins. For food, if I were limited to 5 kinds, I would store canned Pork “N” Beans, Raw, Local Honey (This can be used for a topical antibiotic), MainStay Bars–a shelf-stable carbohydrate, 14 gallons of Water, and a variety of canned meat or fish. In reality, I know what’s coming, so I am not limited to 5. I have whole wheat, barley, brown rice, oats and corn with a hand mill to make flour. I have several buckets of Honey, unbleached flour, sugar,and pasta, Dehydrated and freeze dried fruits and veggies. Spices and bullion for soup. Recipes, buddy burners, charcoal & a solar oven. I garden every summer and bottle the fruit I get. The MainStay Bars can be purchased from BePrepared.com Keeping Utility Bills paid up would be smart and rent or house payment 3 months ahead. To John, I would say, Ramen Noodles have only carbohydrate value and salt. To Dr. Bratt, I would say Garbanzo Beans should be canned already because dried ones take too much energy to rehydrate and cook. The Citric Acid in Jello only keeps 18 months, then tastes bad. There are many good choices out there for us who plan ahead.
The one thing that I think will help with food longevity is a good quality vacuum sealer and quality sealer bags. If oxygen can’t get to the food it will keep much, much longer than keeping in mason jars,etc. The sealer I have and use constantly even has an attachment for canning jars that will remove the air from them. It is definitely a valuable tool for any prepper to have.
I realize these are not foods, but some important items for top of list:
-Magnesium fire starter (Harbor Freight has these)
-Tree branches / logs (what if natural
gas is unavailable due to natural disaster or government intervention?)
-Pain relievers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, Salon Pas heat strips, Ambesol for dental pain), multivitamins and minerals, herbal remedies, anti-nausea ginger chewing gum (pharmacy aisle), ipecac syrup, etc.
– charcoal hand warmers/toe warmers (put inside your clothing in cold weather)
-Foil emergency blankets, rain capes (buy at Walmart in the camping section… various sizes, colors, can be used to cover stuff, too)
-Waterproof galoshes, rubber gloves (both tight and loose), food prep gloves (many uses, keeps hands clean when water is unavailable)
– Plastic wrap, kitchen and trash can garbage bags can carry and wrap things, and are reusable
– Use clip-style pant hangers to suspend blankets to dry in your basement if you’re stuck there, plus wire coat hangers to string together (hook one onto “shoulder” of next hanger to suspend from beams to add length; makes hanging from ceiling easy)
– One gallon size of distilled water (easy for kids and elderly or injured to carry and use). Buy a few whenever you shop!
-Hand- crank flashlights and radios. Batteries don’t last forever!
-Solar powered lantern ($20.00 at Harbor Freight, also comes with batteries!) is very bright.
-Candles of all sizes, along with glass jars and lots of waterproof matches.
LOOK AROUND YOUR HOUSE OR LOCAL HUNTING/DEPARTMENTS FOR IDEAS!
One thing I do not see anyone adding is Honey. Not just for sweetner, but for health benefit. Get raw honey and you have a good food full of antioxidants, has anti-inflamatory properties, and keeps forever (found still edible in Egyptian tombs). We have even used it to soothe skin irritations. Read up on this superfood and you will be amazed. Make sure it is RAW, though, not just Organic. Pasturization kills all the good stuff. Don’t worry, even raw it is safe to consume. Don’t have to spend too much either, even found a good quality brand at Wal-Mart! Also, get some cimmamon. Good for seasoning and health benefits. Doesn’t take up much room, either.
Honey is also a superlative wound healer. No need for antibiotic ointments if you have honey. In fact, honey works faster and more effectively. Surprisingly, it also takes the pain from a wound away instantly. And you are right, it never spoils. Another staple that never spoils is white rice.
Wow you are so right about the honey, I can tell you from personal experience that honey is a wonder working material. My son’s dog was injured rather badly her leg was scraped down to the bone and they had no money for a vet but called around for advise an old veterinarian advised them to get some manuka honey and bandage the dogs leg after applying they did this for about a week and you would not believe it but that dogs leg healed so well you would not believe it if you didn’t see it! Honey is really a must have wish I had thought of it but now it goes on my list for sure. thank you !
I forgot honey on my list and white sugar keeps well..
Our emergency larder is looking better, but not great. We have been dehydrating food like crazy. We have eaten some just to see how it works out. Delicious. My wife pack a quart canning jar with dried veggies, some spices, some beef boullion and voila! we have a ready made soup or stew that will feed a party of 10 dinner. All you do is add water and rehydrate. As for products you can buy? Peanut butter keeps a decent while. Spam is there. Dried beans are okay as is rice. But I highly recommend getting a dehydrator. You can store almost any food for a long time.
I think hard about what I buy. In a true emergency, what good are beans. Are we going to have water to cook them in ? Are we going to have water to bake our bread (flour/yeast / peanut butter stashes? What good is the soap? Maybe we need some kind of water decontamination and water carrying system if it far away (a lake or stream. I buy canned foods that are high in protein and have meat or beams n them. Soups. Canned vegetables and Fruit nutrients and for the juices, Canned juices for the liquid. Emergencee for extra vitamins, store up on pharmacy items. bandaids and prescription lidocaine for pain relief. It’s Seeds for planting. I always think that we’ll have all of this but we’ll probably be in hiding somewhere because the people who don’t have this (the have-nots) will come after us. Society will break down. It’s not going to be good if something really does happen. We don’t really have a plan for what happens if we have to truly use this stuff.
You know, part of the reason I feel good at the end of the day is that I’m helping more people be in that “have” category.
There are a number of water storage containers available as well as water treatment which can keep your stored water good for five years. There are also many purifying systems available. Every family should have one or the other.
You can buy canned beans. Already cooked and have liquid in them so you can use less water. also have you heard of the phrase buy what you use and use what you buy? A couple times a year, live off your food stores for a week or so, so you know how to use them without any convenience foods. Then you will know what to do if you truly have to live off this stuff!
Watch canned food carefully.. Cans rust..
Beans and rice can be cooked then dried.. They reconstitute well..
After having lived through an ice storm that caused month long power outages in Maine, and huddling in a cold room under a blanket, too cold to get up and rummage through #10 cans of dried food, I decided that meals ready to eat in the form of bottled meat sauces such as chicken enchilada, sloppy joe, spaghetti sauce, spicy indian beef, and pulled pork are the way to go. They can be heated in 5 minutes along with a little rice, noodle, or tortialla, they make a meal. I have also bottled homemade soups. This saves on both time and money and has gotten us prepared.
One more thing we have done: Bison Pumps sells a pump which we have installed inside the house in the basement Ibecause it can only be within 25 vertical feet of the top of the well water. In a power outage this will not only draw water from the well, it will repressurize our system so that we can draw water from any faucet, shower, and flush.
I agree it should be foods you normally eat, so as not to cause upset tummies and diarrhea when you certainly don’t want to deal with that. I agree with the jello however. In crisis situations people burn more calories and nice warm jello not only tastes good, but if you stock the regular kind, has lots of sugar for an energy boost. Kids like it too. And….jello is good for helping upset digestions if you have diarrhea. A lot depends on whether you’re stocking for a week (think power outage), or true doomsday scenarios. Crackers take up less space and store longer than a loaf of bread, and saltines have less fat than other varieties so will hold longer, also are good for kids and upset tummies. I basically agree with the expert. One thing I’m adding to my personal stash that I NEVER see on any “must have” list is Ora-jel tooth pain reliever. Found out the hard way over a holiday weekend just how miserable a toothache can be…..don’t want to have THAT problem if I can’t get out of the house.
You know, Orajel is an inspired item to add to the stash.
Thank you, Frank! It could probably be used to dull the pain of a bad cut too. Does anything hurt worse than a papercut? It’s just a topical lidocaine preparation after all. I’m thinking minor burns. (I stock Solarcaine for sunburn and minor cuts. Ora-jel tubes are smaller and would fit in a bug-out-bag better.) They say burns are more likely when inexperienced people are burning candles for heat and light in a disaster/power outage situation. I’ve never seen any statistics to back it up, but it makes sense. Maybe some of your readers have anecdotal information from recent East Coast power outages/storms?
There is a plant here in this part of Texas that I live called a thorny ash. You can peel the bark off and chew it and it will numb your mouth. I’ve never tried it but I bet you could mash it down and make some type pain relieving salve.
Well as for food you guys have pretty much nailed it here. As for topical meds believe it or not Preperation H, store brand will work as long as it is yellow. Believe it has bee wax in it and it works to reduce inflammation and swelling on a minor wound. The other thing I would stock would be Novalson ointment and flush that you can get at Tractor Supply or Southern States. Only supposed to be for animals but have used it on myself with no problem. I get a strained muscle pull out the bottle of white lineament they use on horses. Very effective and not that expensive.
Use Oil of Cloves, dabbed on a tooth ache sparingly – incredible pain killer!
I bought various beans from the supermarket. Can anyone tell me how long they keep? There are in the
orig. bag I bought them in a few months ago.
I try to buy extra everyday items here and there and
add to my booze and toilet paper supplies. You could either barter it or use it. But, a stash of Jack is primo to me and T.P. well, it’s a necessity.
i have had them in the bag for two years and there still good,i live in a semi cold state ,in a mason gar the have lasted me 5 years and there still goog just take longer to cook, you have a good day
To Katherine who oven canned her beans. Do you put water in the pan so the jars won’t break when you do this?
I oven canned my beans, black eye peas, flour and sugar, etc., in quart jars. I placed the food items in jars and put the jars in pans and placed in the oven at 325 degrees for about 30-45 minutes,( depending on your oven), placed the rings and lids on jars after time in oven and they will last for years. Also, place Bay leafs around your storage area to keep away insects and pests.
Did you put any water in the pans that the jars sit in or is the process completely dry?
I have a can of beans for 20 years. It was one of those things that was pushed to the back of the pantry. Just last week my wife found them and made chili out of them. They were still good. That is when she found the other cans of beans, also 20 years old.
canned soups
canned vegetables
dry pasta
canned tuna
peanut butter
Storing dry foods may seem to be more practical, but water may be scarce so canned goods make more sense. They can also be consumed without cooking if that is not an option.
The five food items I would store is the same food items I have been storing since 1998 in preparations for Y2K. First and at the top of my list is long grain brown rice. Don’t believe the BS about not being able to store brown rice for more than six months. That is pure BS. I have eaten brown rice that has been stored for over ten years. Simply put the rice right out of the bag into Quart canning jars and cap with new lids and rings. I don’t know how long it will last but I can testify to ten years. The second food is dried beans stored the same way. The third food is black eyed peas. Stored the same way. The forth food is canned tomatoes I grow and can every summer. The fifth food is canned greens I grow and can every year along with wild greens I collect from the forest.
MY TOP 5 FOODS FOR NUTRITION & THRIVING IN EMERGENCY SURVIVAL TIMES
Except for dry items & #5 (which may be eaten raw), these foods are fully cooked and need no precious water for cooking. Some are easy to heat in boiling water which can then be used for washing and cleaning or used again for heating food.
1. Canned beans (and chili) as well as pasta sauce, as they require no precious water and may even be eaten cold. “Best by” dates at 1½ to 2 years. Also dry beans, lentils, etc., brown rice, and whole grain pastas for longer term (indefinite) and lighter weight.
2. Canned fish & fowl. Costco carries Wild Planet wild Albacore tuna (in its own juice, nothing added), most safe and tastes like fresh! “Best by” about 1-1/2 yrs. Also Chicken Breast, tasty, about 2½ years.
3. Organic Brown Rice bowls (2 servings) at Costco, 1 year. Trader Joe’s Indian Fare in foil pouches (very tasty & good for a strong immune system), other similar food in foil pouches, 1½ years.
4. Peanut Butter, no additives but 1% salt, good on crackers, biscuits, or bread. Best within 1 yr.
5. Seeds for growing fresh vegetables, especially green leafy veggies, also broccoli, carrots, etc., and garlic cloves (on the bulb, not loose) for cooking & planting (use the largest ones).
Those are great suggestions. The problem is keeping the foods rotated so they are within the “Best By” dates. I’ve bought a quantity of freeze dried meals with expiration dates 10 years in the future so I don’t have to do the rotation thing:
Sorry, he may call himself a doctor, but his list doesn’t do anything for me. Spam, Jello, and saltines are things I never eat. My list includes a variety of dried beans and grains, some home canned and home dehydrated fruits and vegetables, with a few commercially canned and dried foods to fill in the gaps. I would also include a selection of dried herbs and spices to add flavor to what could otherwise be a bland, monotonous menu. In a SHTF situation, good nutrition is especially important.
The manufactured food in stores is killing us. Some things NOT to stock include items with MSG, artificial sweeteners, fructose (includes sugar, which companies put in nearly everything, even in mayonaise!) Duke’s is an exception. Glycerine (glycerol) is a healthy sweetener. High sodium (without enough potassium to balance it. “Lite” salt is available that has an equal amount of potassium) Trans fats, of course.
So kick Jello and saltines if they have partially hydrogenated (trans) fats, or if you’re avoiding grain, gluten, etc.
And most canned foods for any of the above ingredients.
Powdered milk is not going to keep long term if exposed to heat and unless stored in nitrogen.
Shortening that has partially hydrogenated oils. Clarified butter is better.
Salt can be mixed with “No Salt” (potassium chloride) tho lite salt is cheaper than mixing yourself. I’ve already covered sugar and flour.
Read the ingredients on the soup mixes… and on EVERYTHING!! You’ll probably be shocked at all the crap they sneak into “our” food.
I have used powdered milk after being in only the original foil pouches for five years.. It was still good..
Five items or five catagories of items I’ve come up with.
1- Pkg. soup mixes, they make 1/2 gal each.
2- freeze dried meats (beef,pork,ham,sausage) add to your soup mixes or eggs.
3- sour dough starter flour, salt and sugar
4- powdered milk,eggs and butter flavored shortning
5- water soap and bleach
With a little thought and work, this could get you by for a while.
that makes no sence
I agree
5 foods? Dry beans, powdered milk, powdered eggs, dried vegetable mix, dried fruit mix. The menu would be boring, but it would be nutritious. Having a hand pump for our well, as well as medical supplies plus hunting and fishing equipment would be good.
For me, the staples include brown rice, dried beans of several kinds, powdered milk, canned goods including lots of canned fish (sardines, herring, tuna & salmon) & SPICES. Spices can make the difference between just filling your belly & having a delicious meal. Every food item is chosen with the nutritional value being #1. Twenty pounds of marshmallows are no good to anybody, but 20 pounds of beans can make 3 months worth of substantial soup when combined with veggies.
I’m interested in what the 5 items are!
I also would like to know what the 5 foods are.
TWO of the foods were spam and OTHER canned foods. Such as canned beans in tomato sauce. (I clicked the link)
Five Items for doomsday shelter:
Fire starter ie flint and steel.
The book STALKING THE WILD ASPARAGUS. My family eats a lot of tasty weeds with the help of this book. Free food!
I always carry a good knife, doomsday or no.
Whatever you eat, canned or dry, normally. Get extra each time you buy to build up supply.
A garden. We had so much fruit this year, we could use it to trade if put up correctly.
PS
Saltines have a very short shelf life because of the fat content.
Thanks for the info on this book. I was looking around for a book like this and appreciate the recommendation.
smoked fish and meat. sausage, bacon, hot dogs, V irginia ham (it last for years) other should last months w/o refrigeration if kept in dim, cool places, canned meat and fruits and veggies (home grown of course!!) and LOTS of ammo for your defense weapons.!!
No one here brought up aquaponics. It is a viable self sustaining way to grow your own vegetables and fish of your choice. In a long term situation, canned goods will run out. Gardening is good as most likely grid electricity may be gone too. I grew up gardening and yes it requires work but it is easily self sustaining with a little maintenance. I recommend heritage seeds or anything NON GMO as far as seeds go. Fresh tomatoes taste good no matter who you are. Aquaponics can be used in conjunction with your canned goods.