When its cooked ,it looks just like minced beef
What are the ultimate DD foods and why?
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Well, from its looks... the inventor of haggis must have been one hungry person.... or they lost one hell of a bet!
Hey are you familiar with the most expensive coffee in the world? Kopi Luwak otherwise known as Civet Coffee. It goes for 45 bucks for 4 oz. on Amazon. Now I want to know who was desperate enough for coffee to brew that first cup!!!!!
LOL... one of our family member is hosting a girl from China for the past two years. She gave him a big bag of the coffee as a gift.
Whoah no way, they sell in in NYC for like... 40 bucks a cup, and you need to make an appointment. Did you taste it? I want to know if it taste good or taste like &*^%. Pun intended 
I am so glad I don't drink coffee. But would it be that different from an egg? Just thinking.
Norwegian, Bravery is right. Try to store what your family already eats. An emergency situation is definitely not the time to change the menu around to unfamiliar foods, especially with kids. If you or your wife don't cook from scratch, you might want to learn, it will make storing food easier. I know that sounds odd because you can buy ready made whatever, but if you have the ingredients, you can make whatever it is you want and you don't have the added chemicals and crap that is put into a lot of convenience foods.
Let them start trying new foods now so they get used to them.
Norwegian, Bravery is right. Try to store what your family already eats. An emergency situation is definitely not the time to change the menu around to unfamiliar foods, especially with kids. If you or your wife don't cook from scratch, you might want to learn, it will make storing food easier. I know that sounds odd because you can buy ready made whatever, but if you have the ingredients, you can make whatever it is you want and you don't have the added chemicals and crap that is put into a lot of convenience foods.
Let them start trying new foods now so they get used to them.
And Mike, I love a good homemade meal! Except it's usually me making it, lol. My girls did cook for me last night though.
Maybe I struggle to understand all of this. As earlier mentioned I'm quiet green...
But I think there are two sides. For me I like to store food (likely to be eatable) for 10-12 months after I bought it. Then throw it and another round start. So my family and I will have something to eat for some days, even weeks, in case a disaster happens without any warning.
Secondly we need something to eat after we can leave (or stay) in our home. Either by gardening and make the food ourselves or if things are not so bad, we can buy. The plan is not to leave. Understand that we might have to.
But I starting with the first part and of course try to learn and understand more (much more
).Both my wife and I can cook and we can make food from fire or by using gas. But we do not know how to survive if we have to leave, not yet anyway
I think I understand what you are saying and I'm going to address several things you posted.
1. You like to keep foods for 10-12 months that your family likes to eat and then you throw it out and start over. To be honest I'm not sure what foods you keep in your pantry, but most canned, jarred or tinned foods stay good well beyond their expiration dates, so you don't need to worry about it going bad and making your family sick.
The easiest way that I have found to build up your food supply is to make a menu of foods that you and your family like to eat, then when you go to the market just pick up a little extra that can be put on your shelves. For example, if your child likes canned ravioli, instead of buying 1 can, buy 3 each time you go to the store. Just buy extra to have on hand, that way it's not a huge expense all at once.
2. You are right in the fact that you need to have seed enough to plant a garden. If you already know what grows well in your climate or if you have a garden already, then try to find heirloom varieties of those vegetables and fruits. With the heirloom produce, you can keep seed from your harvest to grow during the next season.
3. Like you, I do not plan to leave my home unless I absolutely must. Dehydrated foods are lighter to carry and you can pack more food into small spaces with it. However with dehydrated foods, you must have enough water to rehydrate the food to eat. Which means storing extra water in addition to your drinking water, unless you have an adequate water source you can depend on.
4. It's good that you and your wife both cook. Now is the time to start familiarizing your family to longer term storage foods such as oats, rice, and beans to name a few. Learning many ways to cook the same ingredients will come in useful to battle something called appetite fatigue, which is when even though you have food, you choose not to eat because it's something you're tired of. You see this a lot in the elderly who just seem to nibble at their food.
5. Are you asking about building shelters, hunting, and defense tactics? There are plenty of people on this forum that can help you out as well as suggest other sources of information.
I don't know if you and your family go camping, but that is a good starting point.
1. You like to keep foods for 10-12 months that your family likes to eat and then you throw it out and start over. To be honest I'm not sure what foods you keep in your pantry, but most canned, jarred or tinned foods stay good well beyond their expiration dates, so you don't need to worry about it going bad and making your family sick.
The easiest way that I have found to build up your food supply is to make a menu of foods that you and your family like to eat, then when you go to the market just pick up a little extra that can be put on your shelves. For example, if your child likes canned ravioli, instead of buying 1 can, buy 3 each time you go to the store. Just buy extra to have on hand, that way it's not a huge expense all at once.
2. You are right in the fact that you need to have seed enough to plant a garden. If you already know what grows well in your climate or if you have a garden already, then try to find heirloom varieties of those vegetables and fruits. With the heirloom produce, you can keep seed from your harvest to grow during the next season.
3. Like you, I do not plan to leave my home unless I absolutely must. Dehydrated foods are lighter to carry and you can pack more food into small spaces with it. However with dehydrated foods, you must have enough water to rehydrate the food to eat. Which means storing extra water in addition to your drinking water, unless you have an adequate water source you can depend on.
4. It's good that you and your wife both cook. Now is the time to start familiarizing your family to longer term storage foods such as oats, rice, and beans to name a few. Learning many ways to cook the same ingredients will come in useful to battle something called appetite fatigue, which is when even though you have food, you choose not to eat because it's something you're tired of. You see this a lot in the elderly who just seem to nibble at their food.
5. Are you asking about building shelters, hunting, and defense tactics? There are plenty of people on this forum that can help you out as well as suggest other sources of information.
I don't know if you and your family go camping, but that is a good starting point.
@old_anorak. Thanks for a very good and helpful reply. The points above clarifies a lot. Understand those questions I have probably are discussed years back for you guys in here.
Apology for short comments. Are busy today.
Point 1: agree, know that most canned food can be stored longer than their expiration date. I just wanted a process easy to remember. Now I might expand with some months. Perfect!!
Need to check much more on what I can buy that we eat today and can be stored for a good while.
Point 2: This is something I feel we can manage pretty good since I come from a farm (way back so I might be a bit rusty...).
Point 3: Also a point I think we will manage pretty good. Just need to find space in our basement.
Point 4: Good point. Will do.
Point 5: So far no. We live kind of outside the most dangerous place if the sorst should happen. Kind of relate to our basement. Maybe I need to re-think this, but right now I feel there are so much more I need to do and understand.
Yep, we go camping and have lots of equiment already.
Really happy I found this forum. I will be around a lot. But now I need to prepare for my kids birthday (twins). Lots of prepping needed
Apology for short comments. Are busy today.
Point 1: agree, know that most canned food can be stored longer than their expiration date. I just wanted a process easy to remember. Now I might expand with some months. Perfect!!
Need to check much more on what I can buy that we eat today and can be stored for a good while.
Point 2: This is something I feel we can manage pretty good since I come from a farm (way back so I might be a bit rusty...).
Point 3: Also a point I think we will manage pretty good. Just need to find space in our basement.
Point 4: Good point. Will do.
Point 5: So far no. We live kind of outside the most dangerous place if the sorst should happen. Kind of relate to our basement. Maybe I need to re-think this, but right now I feel there are so much more I need to do and understand.
Yep, we go camping and have lots of equiment already.
Really happy I found this forum. I will be around a lot. But now I need to prepare for my kids birthday (twins). Lots of prepping needed
i spent some summers in FL..i remmeber the rains.if theres one small rain cloud in the sky,it'll down pour.if not dureing the summer..then its out right hot out.
Am planning to get a 240-serve (+56-serve bonus) package from Wise Foods as a final back-up (this would not be part of my rotating stocks). What is your opinion?
I have quite a bit invested in freeze dried foods,mostly Saratoga Farms and Mountain House.While I don't think they are the greatest thing ever when it comes to flavor,but,for the ease of preparing and the shelf life,they're not bad at all.However,you do pay for that convienence.
But now on the other hand,I also garden and can a bunch of my own stuff for a fraction of the price.Just this week alone i've canned tomatoes,veggie soup,chili,salsa and green beans.In my opinion,my own foods are much better and far cheaper,but requires quite a bit more effort.
But now on the other hand,I also garden and can a bunch of my own stuff for a fraction of the price.Just this week alone i've canned tomatoes,veggie soup,chili,salsa and green beans.In my opinion,my own foods are much better and far cheaper,but requires quite a bit more effort.
I would say that if it is moderately good, then that is okay since we just need to survive and not really be that gourmet about it.
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I would rather eat my own verses someone else if I can. I can spend 20 cents for a pack of seeds that gives me $40 dollars and more worth of product. I have already harvested 1 watermelon and there is another 13 growing. Around here a watermelon will cost you almost $6!
Exactly,it's great stuff to have around,but there are other ways to bulk up on long term stores as well.
Funny you said that,lol,I just pulled my first cannon ball watermelon today and got a couple striped that should be ready in about a week,haha.
Am considering the limitations of my current location and availability of items here in the country.
As to limitations of living in a condo (it is more a matter of convenience, I work in the next building, my teenage daughter walks to school, my other daughter is just a 15 minute ride away), dehydration and other activities are kinda hard to do here. Mostly canned and packaged stuff. Although we do grow some small items in our 2ft by 10ft plantbox.
Availability of survival items here are very low. MREs can be found but with only a shelf life of about 3 years (cost-wise versus storing canned goods with the same life, I would go for the canned goods).
Am considering the above freeze dried stuff as an alternative, that we don't need to rotate, in the event that we have to bug-in longer than we need to. (Part of this would actually be stored in my BOL for variety since in my BOL, am basically complete with what we need from 30 coconut trees, a few dozen fruit trees, sweet potatoes, etc. plus a deep well)
Overlord, one of the things you need to check is that while the company says there is enough for 'x' amount of meals, you need to know how many calories that they consider a meal to be. I know that there is one company and I can't think of which one, whose daily calories for their meals came out to about 700 calories per day for a grown adult. That isn't going to cut it, especially if you are in a situation in which you have to be physically active.
Maybe use the dehydrated to add to the foods you already have stored, incorporate them into meals for the family.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't buy them, just to be aware of the calorie counts for each person and plan accordingly.
Maybe use the dehydrated to add to the foods you already have stored, incorporate them into meals for the family.
I'm not saying that you shouldn't buy them, just to be aware of the calorie counts for each person and plan accordingly.
Thanks anorak for the advise on that. Hmmmmm.... Forgot to check that out. Am familiar with MRE and MCW/LRP packs but not those dehydrated foods. Will do my research
Even dehydrators are not common here. If there are, they are quite expensive. Wish I had a terrace to be able to use the sun (unfortunately, rainy season is here again....)
Even dehydrators are not common here. If there are, they are quite expensive. Wish I had a terrace to be able to use the sun (unfortunately, rainy season is here again....)
Last weekend, I brought back from my BOL a Jackfruit weighing about 10Kg, a lot of bananas, and about 20 pieces of Santol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santol_(fruit))
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If canned properly, would be fine. If I recall correctly 5 years is the recommendation, though I've read accounts of much older being consumed with no adverse affects or even taste.
Basically, if you hear the "whoosh" sound when you open it, should be ok.
However, if bugging out, different DD food than if bugging in. If on the move, I'd concentrate on freeze-dried meals over MREs. They will taste better and last the same (and often lighter).
Also, concentrate more on bringing spices and oils to help you prepare things you catch and kill, vs. actual food stuffs. Jerked meat and dehydrated foods are other good ideas for preserved, on the go food.
Ration bars are almost a given....though not very satisfying. Bring along a bottle of multivitamins too, to fill in the gaps.
Bugging in is different. You can stockpile buckets of rice, beans, pasta, etc., and jars upon jars of canned goods. Not so when on the move.
Did some checking. Since there is no local distributor of Wise Foods, it has to be shipped either from the US or Australia. The costs are extreme. Customs and Parcel would amount to almost the same amount as the product making it twice the cost.
We are very selective with the freeze dried foods we buy.I don't really believe in the meal kits,they are crazy expensive and a rip off,we prefer to get foods that can go with our staples such as soup mixes,freeze dried meats,pasta sauce mixes,powdered butter,scrambled eggs,fruits,ect.,all stuff that can be added to a bland meal or help make a meal like oatmeal-add some freeze dried blueberries or apple dices,a little cinnamon and sugar and now it's a tasty treat.Same with beans,It'll be nice to add ham and onion to a pot etc..I recommend just being selective in what you're buying,watch or sign up to get specials and coupons and skip the meal kit deals,buy individual #10 cans or cases of 6 for best pricing.We just watch for sales and keep adding a little at a time as we can afford to.
Edit-yeah,if shipping is that bad,it may very well may not be worth it.
Edit-yeah,if shipping is that bad,it may very well may not be worth it.
SB, we don't usually have to #10 cans or if there are dehydrated meals, these are very expensive also. I have started packing some cream soups which can be mixed with the rice when cooking. I also have some powdered meat seasonings that are very simple to prepare.
Yep, I would add a few cans to my stock every time we go to the grocery.
Yep, I would add a few cans to my stock every time we go to the grocery.
Did some checking. Since there is no local distributor of Wise Foods, it has to be shipped either from the US or Australia. The costs are extreme. Customs and Parcel would amount to almost the same amount as the product making it twice the cost.
Amazon. Often, can get free shipping deals. Check it out.
All this said, I'm sure my doomsday diet would consist of veggies grown in the garden, stored rice, beans, and mashed potatoes, fruit from trees, while meat would mostly be rabbit, chicken, fish, frogs, birds, squirrels, snakes, armadillos, possum, etc. Maybe supplement with some insects if we had to, but likely not having to. Sure, it wouldn't be what we are used to today, but we'd get through it.
Rice is ok it is complex carbs which break dwn over time for sustained energy and has alot of protein , beans are high in protein, pasta'a are good for energy because they are also a complex carb . trail mix is great if you get the mix with peanuts and fruit alot of protein and natural sugars. And anything high in fat content cus if u dont have fat intake it doesnt matter how much you eat you will not survive .
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Just ate dentymoor beef stew out of the can at work the other day myself.
