Stockpile nuts for survival

Some people think preppers are nuts. That’s OK.

Many people who prepare for an uncertain future know they’re doing the right thing. And that it’s just a matter of time before their preparations are going to save their lives. Or at least allow them to handle a crisis much better than they could have otherwise.

And speaking of nuts, many of those who stockpile survival food with a long shelf life also like to keep a good supply of nuts on hand.

Many different nuts provide plenty of healthy fats and protein. And those are two commodities we’ll all be able to use when dealing with an emergency.

Variety of nutritional benefits

One of the great things about nuts is that there is a nice variety of them. And different nuts provide different nutritional benefits.

Stockpiling them is a wise decision. But if you find yourself out in the wild without them, you may be able to find trees that produce edible nuts.

Nuts are great to munch on as is. But there are other ways to consume them. Such as adding them to trail mix and sprinkling them on a salad.

The only downside to nuts is that it’s easy to eat too many of them. They are high in calories, so they can lead to weight gain.

9 nuts you should store up

Here is a list of nuts I like. Feel free to let me know of any you enjoy that are not on this list.

Peanuts. The most basic nut (which is technically a legume) contains amino acids and antioxidants, and is a good source of protein, fat, carbohydrates and fiber. They are available just about anywhere.

Pecans. Nature makes it easy to shell this nut. As the shell starts to split, the seeds usually fall out. Pecans tend to mature in the late summer and fall. A nice source of carbs, protein and other vitamins and minerals.

Almonds. This nut has become so popular in recent years it could probably win an election. They have a lot of calories, but they’re also a good source of protein, fat, carbohydrates, calcium, iron and other minerals.

Butternuts. If you live east of the Mississippi River and north of Tennessee, you may have seen a butternut tree. Lots of healthy fats in the butternut, as well as protein. One pound of butternuts contains about 3,000 calories.

Pistachios. A nice source of healthy fatty acids and antioxidants, the pistachio is a popular green nut. Overall, pistachios do not contain as many minerals as other nuts, but they are very high in potassium.

Hickory nuts. Similar to walnuts – but easier to crack open – hickory nuts store very well. They can be found all over the country. They are easy to dry and process for long-term stockpiling.

Cashews. Many people believe that cashews are the tastiest of the nuts. It can be very difficult to stop eating them, due to their creamy texture. Most of the fats in this nut are monounsaturated fats.

Walnuts. You’ve heard the expression, “A tough nut to crack.” That certainly applies to walnuts. They are lower in carbohydrates than most nuts, but higher in calories. They are a good source of protein and fats.

Hazel nuts. These nuts may not have as much protein as other nuts, but they contain plenty of other health benefits. A good source of fats and carbohydrates, with the majority of fats being monounsaturated.

We could all take a tip from squirrels – stockpile plenty of nuts for the future.