Posts tagged: food for survival

6 Foods To Store For Your Survival

6 Foods To Store For Your Survival

Whether it’s an incoming natural disaster (hurricane, earthquake or wildfire) or warfare, it makes little difference, as the end result will be an imminent disaster. And in the case of such a scenario, you’re going to need to survive. Even if everything will change around, your need-to-feed won’t. And food will no longer be the commodity we got used to, it’ll be a scarce and necessary energy source. To better your chances you’ll need to stock provisions and fast, while they’re available and easily obtainable.

When considering what foods work best for survival purposes, you’ll need to take into consideration calorie count, ease of preparation, shelf-life, weight and even cost. Don’t go spending like crazy, search for alternate sources, but don’t take too long. And consider other products than cans; they’re great for surviving and will last long enough, but if you have to travel on foot, canned food will become really tiring really fast. Now let me show you out of my personal experience what are the best foods to put aside for “rainy days”.

1. Jerky

jerky Jerky’s dried meat. It’s tasty, rich and protein and you can make it out of beef, turkey etc. It’s easy to store and it’s available in either small packages (at your local market or store) or you can buy it directly in bulk and have it delivered to you directly. The processed meat goes to in order to create jerky is basically drying. In many primitive tribes around the world it’s still being prepared through smoking or drying in the sun.

2. Dried beans

Dried beansWhether we’re talking black beans, lima beans, kidney beans, peas or pretty much any other assortment of beans possible, they’re all great for storing, as they’re fairly rich in protein and vitamins/minerals. Dried beans are the best kind for survival purposes, as they come in larger packages then canned beans, but still weigh less, making them easier to carry in case you find yourself moving from one place to another. When it comes storing time, they’re not pretentious at all; they’ll keep just as well on the shelf, in your storage space or pretty much any place that’s not extremely hot. And preparing them requires no effort at all: just add water and let them soak.

3. Sea vegetables (powdered / pill form)

Sea vegetables It’s an item that’s becoming more and more available in stores with each passing day, due to its growing popularity. And with good reason: it’s rich in nutrients and vitamins, boost healing and tissue repair and usually have antibacterial and antifungal properties. These algae are a great source of food, being the most balanced source of vitamins and nutrients you can find. So when choosing the powdered or pill form, make sure you chose a product with a long enough shelf life, so it can be stocked for long periods of time.

4. Bulk Seeds and Nuts

Bulk Seeds and Nuts Many products fit this profile: almonds, nuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds even pistachio (even though it’s a bit expensive). All of these are oily, which makes them rich in fatty acids, but not only that. They also contain protein (not the best protein source though), minerals and vitamins. Salted bulk seeds or nuts may not be advisable for survival as the extra salt will increase thirst; and you don’t want to go through your water reserves too fast in case of a real survival scenario.

5. Rice

Brown riceRice has a good shelf-life, although this is variable depending on the conditions and the type of rice. Brown rice is typically listed as having a 6 to 8 month shelf life, whereas white rice can be stored up to 2 years under normal conditions. At cooler temps and in airtight, dry containers you will get a better shelf life. Brown rice is an excellent food source, rich in calories and packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals. You can easily cook it in boiling water for about 30 minutes – 1hour; once it’s fully expanded is done and ready for eating. But if you plan on saving energy, you can simply add it to warm water too, but it can take as much as 2 days to expand.

6. Canned Tuna

Canned tunaThis tiny fish is beneficial for your health, rich in omega 3 fats and protein. You can either cook it or eat it straight from the can. An average tuna can contains approximately 111 calories. It’s advised to eat the tuna upon opening the can, as the leftovers won’t last (not even refrigerated) for more than 3 days. The omega 3 fats are excellent in reducing the chances of heart attacks, which for someone who is facing hardships and struggling to survive day by day, could be very useful.

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There are plenty of other products to consider, even though they’re not exactly “survival material”. It’s good to have lying around peanut butter for example, as it’s packed with fatty acids, iron, and copper. Raw, pure honey is regarded as one of the world’s longest lasting foods. Coffee or caffeine based products are more than welcome in stressful situations and will give you that necessary kick-start in the morning. As for the kids, they’ll be thrilled and will get a major psychological boost from getting a bar of chocolate.

There’s still time. Think ahead, try and foresee any outcome possible and start filling up on the provisions that best suit your needs. Leave nothing to chance, get ready for what’s coming.

4 Survival Plants That You Didn’t Know Are Edible

4 Survival Plants That You Didn’t Know Are Edible
4 Survival Plants That You Didn’t Know Are Edible. Photo – Pixabay (PD)

If you spend time in the wilderness, you need to make sure that you are fully prepared to successfully survive for several days alone in case the situation ever arises. Emergencies happen, and sometimes there is no avoiding it.

In case you do wind up being stranded, it is important that you are able to gather your own food without eating something deadly. Here are several plants that you would never have guessed are edible.

Note: be absolutely sure of plant identification before attempting to eat a plant. If in doubt, skip it.

1. Dandelions

dandelionsYou’ve probably grown up your entire life thinking that dandelions are nothing more than a pesky weed that grows on lawns, but in actuality, they are very healthy and a great source of vitamins. You can eat the entire plant- including the flower- and it can be eaten either raw or cooked.

Dandelion tea is surprisingly common, and it is not unheard of for this plant to be used to treat certain illnesses, including ones caused by toxins. Plus, one of the best things about dandelions is that they are incredibly common and easy to find. No matter where you are located, you most likely will be able to find some of these with just a little bit of effort.

2. Nettles

nettles1Nettles are commonly found in both America and Europe, and they are best known for the fact that they can sometimes cause allergic reactions, in the form of a rash, when touched. Although these rashes only form on individuals who happen to be allergic to nettles, this plant has still earned the stigma of being dangerous because of it. This is by no means accurate, and nettles are actually perfectly safe to eat. Nettles are dark green and very leafy, and they are perfect for adding a little spice to your salad. Many individuals find the juice of nettles to be surprisingly appetizing, but you may want to stay away from the older leaves if you can do so. These leaves are known to “sting” occasionally, and the younger ones are significantly less likely to do that.

3. Clover

four-leaf-cloverLast but not least on our list are clovers. Like nettles, clovers are known for being especially tasty in salads, and they have a great flavor. It is common for individuals to collect them in order to put them into juices because they are not always easy to digest raw. But, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you must collect your own food in order to survive, clovers will definitely be of great help to you, raw or not.

It is also possible to dry them out and ground them into a fine flour that can be used for both cooking and baking, and many people choose to collect them for this reason. Additionally, clover tea has started to become popular over the years, and it is highly regarded for its nutritional value.

4. Cattails

cattailsYep, you read it right: cattails are edible.

Despite their unappetizing appearance and seemingly prickly texture, these plants are actually known for being very nutritious. If you are ever stuck in an area that is located near a pond or lake, chances are that you can find these guys somewhere. The edible part cannot be seen unless you pull the plant from the ground, and the root is the main source of vitamins.

If you do decide to ever eat cattails, make sure that you pick the most mature ones first. They are the most edible, and they will also have the longest roots. Also, make sure to never eat the top of these flowers, as that is not the part that is safe to eat.

Remember: Be Careful And Do Your Research

When you are fending for yourself in the outdoors, chances are that you will be able to find one of these edible plants. But, remember: it is incredibly important that you are positive about what you are eating.

Always make sure to use the universal edibility test before you decide if a plant is okay to consume or not, and when in doubt- don’t risk it.  Thankfully, all of these plants are very distinctive, and you should not have a problem discerning what they are.

If you liked this article, than you have to check out: 52 Plants In The Wild You Can Eat

By SurvivalDump