Stocking food for emergency preparedness means using your head before your heart (or in this case stomach). For those with dietary requirements above the usual that sustain life, having those specific ones on hand or ones to replace the fresh food sources, should be your first order of the day. Next, realize that although you may love foods like white flour bread and those cheap noodle packs so easy to boil and eat, there are little if any nutrients in these simple carbohydrates. Any vitamin enrichment will be minimal and usually artificial. Look at health sustaining ones that will keep your energy going long-term and not just for the next hour or two, and ones that will provide the nutrients you need to keep your immune system up. Let's face it, in stressful times, our immune systems take a beating, so this is not the time to skimp on ensuring you have a good diet, if at all possible. Of course I am referring to those more ideal times when you have access to the three-day or more food store per person you have stocked well in advance. You will hopefully after reading this.
Protein - canned foods such as beans, tuna, chick peas, sardines, salmon, canned ham. Some of these also have a high liquid content such as the chick peas and beans, or canned bean salad. Powdered milk, and, um, if you find the taste lacking, keep some chocolate drink powder on hand to make the milk palatable tasting. Peanut butter, canned nuts, (make sure the expiry date is viewed, as nuts tend to go rancid more quickly than some foods and thus a shortened expiry date). Whole grain cereals - a good one will include protein, vitamins, minerals, fibre and complex carbs. Jerky - beef, turkey or any other meat, will be chock full of protein, but also include not so lovely additives such as sodium nitrate, so they are not always the best choice.
Carbohydrates - again whole grain cereals, whole grain flours such as buckwheat, Scottish oats, barley. You can cook them up and add your sugar you packed, some cinnamon and milk you mixed up, and voila, you have a very nourishing and sustaining meal.
Foil meals - these are found in camping stores and online. These have a long shelf life, might be somewhat more expensive than other foods, but the convenience of these cannot be underestimated when trying to stock up with nutritious foods.
Don't forget the can opener, utensils, wipes and sanitizers in case water isn't as abundant as you were planning on.
High liquid foods - canned fruit, canned vegetables, apple sauce, soups, - these will provide an extra dose of liquid although some canned vegetables and soups have a high salt content.
Comfort foods - the extras that keep you more cheerful for their presence - chocolate, honey, jam, salt, sugar, instant coffee, tea bags, hard candy. These may not be necessary, but having a caffeine withdrawal headache along with the stress of the emergency or disaster you are facing, does not seem such a smart move. And as for chocolate - what can I say? It speaks for itself in providing a bit of welcome reprieve from ordinary foods.
Baby food - don't forget these if you have infants in the home or on the way. Pablum, jars of food, canned formula.
Time frame - although three days of food per person is a good place to start, if you are able to store more food, I would definitely advise it. There are people in New England kicking themselves this past December/08 after not being able to get to a store for days, being stuck in the house with no power, maybe a wood stove, and wishing they had some of the foods listed above to keep them going during the two week or longer power outage. Be prepared!
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