 |
| Photo by Kristian Thogersen |
Thursday I talked about why I am taking steps to prepare my family for an emergency. Today I want talk about primal approved foods that have a long shelf life and would be great to keep stocked.
Proteins & Fat:
Canned Fish- Sardines, Anchovies, Salmon, Crab, Oysters and Tuna. Full of protein and Omega 3 fat. Be sure to buy wild caught.
Jerky- Beef, Turkey, Salmon. The shelf life of jerky varies depending on how it was processed. The more moisture is removed the longer it will keep. Make your own or buy from a natural retailer such as U.S. Wellness Meats. Stay far away from the MSG and HFCS laden jerky at most supermarkets.
Coconut Milk- Native Forest uses BPA free cans. (I found that out right after stocking up on Thai Kitchen)
Coconut Oil- If you are going to be doing any cooking you will need a good oil and this is a far better alternative to the commonly recommended vegetable oil. The shelf life is 2-5 years. Coconut oil can also be used as a fuel in oil lamps to provide light.
Home Canned Homemade Bone Broth- This one takes a little know how but if you own a pressure canner you can can your own bone broth. Filled with vitamins and minerals and if you have a way to heat it up it is incredibly comforting. See how I make my bone broth here.
Almond Butter- Jarred almond butter will last for about a year.
Fruits & Vegetables:
You can probably survive on just the proteins and fats listed above but keeping fruits and vegetables on hand will provide more vitamins and make eating a lot more fun and interesting.
Home Canned Fruits and Vegetables
Fermented Fruits and Vegetables- Sauerkraut, kimchi, salsa, there are dozens of possibilities. Full of good bacteria for the gut. A good book on how to make your own ferments is Wild Fermentation
Jarred Olives
Freeze Dried Fruits and Vegetables- These have all the nutrients of fresh fruits and vegetables without any additives. They can be eaten as a crunchy snack or re-hydrated. They are also lightweight and would be easy to carry. You can buy them from Harmony House Foods or Just Tomatoes Etc.
Dehydrated Fruits and Vegetables- Similar to freeze dried but these should be re-hydrated before use. You can make these easily at home with a dehydrator. I plan on making some this summer and I will post about it. You can also buy them from places like Harmony House Food.
Larabars- These have protein, fat and fruits. If you need to evacuate I would take several of these, jerky and water. Larabars have a shelf life of 12 months.
If you have something to add to this list please tell me about it in the comments.
I used to read preparedness blogs before going paleo. Once I made the switch to paleo eating I kind of forgot about it. Thanks for this post, it is a great reminder. And I realized I already have most of those things in my kitchen anyways =]
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it helped. It's really just about keeping some extra on hand like you said.
ReplyDeleteI make lots of broth, but always freeze it...never even thought about trying to can it, but I will now!
ReplyDeletewow, adding to my computer favorites and preparing my self as soon as I can... thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis guy online that gives a lonnnng speech about the dire necessity of stocking away 37 emergency foods. Of course he's selling his publication. Several reviews of those who purchased said it was bogus and most of these foods can be found online at different sites and how to store and prepare. Your site is very interesting which I found on one just browsing on Google. I have most of this stuff and the protein bars I love are Cliff's top of the line the 20g Protein builders.One of best Ones I've tasted and healthwise as well. YUP some bad Magumbo is coming down the line and I want to be as prepared as I can to help my son, his fiance and my toddler grandson survive. THANK YOU MUCH FOR THIS INFORMATIVE SITE.
ReplyDeleteI'm so proud of you and those enlightened others doing the same. I am older than most of you probably, but when I was a new mother in Encinitas, California I began learning to make my own and how to be prepared and store. Throughout the years I realized that in a true emergency when you are displaced from your "food storage"..minimalizing what you need to survice is a must. Backpacks..lightweight and efficient to carry seeds to sprout. Blue Green Algae from the pristine Klamath lake in glorious flake form to sprinkle in to water to "drink" you nutrients (and will also detox the residual toxins you are breathing in).Water ? Never throw out the water from sprouting..a quick sip and you will be filled with nutrients..use again to sprout additional sprouts..each time the nutrients become greater still..small portable water filters for each person. Stainless steel water bottles or larger for each person. Lara bars for bulk if you want. When using micronutrients for your food source your energy is max and you don't require "bulk". Digestion takes energy away from you..so "Predigested/fermented" should be your first choice. Think wilderness survival...everyone should have a tough-soled pair of shoes and 3 pairs thick socks..glass shards, etc. will cut the feet. MicroFleece pants and jacket WILL keep you all warm ;o ))). This is what I consider to be the "keep in easy access reach" stash to grab first in emergencies. We kept it outside of the house due to Earthquakes. Gigi
ReplyDeleteOne more thought...remember that all the foods you are storing in jars, jerky etc require that you DRINK of ADD lots of water to them to be able to digest them. Water is going to be the trickiest to access in a true emergency. That is why I stress the micronutrient preparing. Algae does not go bad and can be packed in soft containers. It's power comes from the core of the earth's nutrients..it is Primal..and sustains all other macro nutrients on the earth. It is the "beginning" of all else. Have fun in your preparations and believe in your choices. Do your research as well. Gigi
ReplyDeleteFreeze-dried foods need to be rehydrated. If you don't it sucks water out of your body as they digest. Not a good thing in an emergency when water is scarce.
ReplyDelete