Survival Food Criteria
October 6, 2011, Submitted by: Ken Tweet
Survival preparedness websites, blogs, forums, all emphasize the message of procuring a hoard of survival food to be used when TSHTF. In fact it is probably the most often written-about topic on many of these sites, rightfully so I suppose. It’s the basic fundamental need for survival… food and water.
We too have written our share of articles promoting the notion of building up an extra supply of food. Instead of re-hashing the same message yet again, I got to thinking about another angle. What about the ‘criteria’ for survival food storage?
Criteria. A standard, rule, or test on which a judgment or decision can be based. In other words, criteria may be the requirements that must be met.
Survival Food Storage Criteria (Requirements)
The criteria will be slightly different depending on the intent or use-case-scenario. For example, the survival food that you choose for at home may be different from what you choose to keep in your vehicle 72-hour kit, which may be different from what you will keep in your BOB, which may be different from what you will take with you on a hiking or camping expedition.
It is a good thing to consider the various uses and intentions for your survival food and tailor your storage plans accordingly.
a few ‘criteria’ ideas…
Home Survival Food Supply
Must be foods that you KNOW you will eat
All foods must have shelf life of at least one year
Some of the food must have long term shelf life (years +)
Must contain variety of groups including meats, vegetables, grains, legumes, dairy, sweets, fruits
Storage must contain cooking oils, condiments, spices
Some of the food will not require cooking to consume easily and safely
Must utilize a food rotation method (first in – first out) to minimize spoilage or expiration
Vehicle 72-hour kit Food Supply
Food that you normally would eat
Special attention towards calorie-dense foods
Foods that do not require cooking
Shelf life at least 6 months (rotate vehicle storage every 6 months regardless)
Foods less susceptible to heat or melting while stored in the vehicle
If in cold environment, foods that can be consumed below ‘freezing’
Packaging that can be readily opened (keep can-opener if necessary)
Bug-Out-Bag or Backkpack Food Supply
Foods you know that your system agrees with
High calorie foods
Foods that are light weight but still calorie dense
Foods that are not particularly salty which makes you thirsty
Energy packed sweets (e.g. candy bars)
Simple and easy to open packaging
Add your own comments for the criteria list, or perhaps additional food supply categories.
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Great post. I would recommend some salty nuts, perhaps, to help replace the lost salts during your bugout (kept in BOB). Salts are critical and can also help prevent cramping. Thx for the post.
That is an excellent post. The one thing I have seen happen again and agin with people storing food is that they purchase food that they do not like and it ends up NOT being rotated because there is not a desire to eat it because it tastes bad. This food could be delicious to others but if you don’t like it persoanlly it could just sit and become expired. My suggestion is to get food that you really enjoy eating. After a disaster your favorite food may be the ONLY pleasure you have, and most people have to have something to lift them up a little after something horrific has just happened. As long as the food mets the criteria for be healthy enough and a the above suggestions.
One item that I have noticed that a lot of people store is cereal. While most cereal doesn’t have a shelf life of 1 year, it is an item that is used very often each morning by people and is quickly rotated. You could literally have 100 boxes of cereal and by the time you get to box #100 the expired date is still fresh. Cereal is something that provides much fiber and energy, at least the healthy ones and is usually easily digested. The last thing you need is constipation after a disaster, as some people cannot tolerate beans for example. Again, if it is properly rotated and used each day then this is an item that is an exception to the one year rule of storage.
@All; I have to say I violate the “rule” of store what you eat for the simple reason that a lot of what is “long term” storage food is wheat, rice and beans. Now I won’t say that I don’t like beans rice and bread, but they contribute to a larger waistline than I need for good health. My weight stays stable and in the “go zone” when I stay on a more natural (not organic) and lower carbohydrate, higher protein diet. A cardiologist will tell you that a large number of people on “heart healthy” diets will gain weight. Those diets tend to be high in carbs, low in fat and moderate protein and in spite of the dietary mainstream’s support of these kinds of diets they don’t work. That was sort of off topic, but I do store what I WILL eat and I don’t have a problem eating anything that I store. Now I do eat the three biggies I mentioned above but do so in great moderation. My $0.02. Enjoy.
I would also suggest that foods stipulating ‘Best Before’ should not be confused with ‘Use By’…
I have alot of foods in my pantry that say best before, however are still consumable well past that date! We had a industry wide shake-up here in Aus with these terms and therefore people should read into it – best before always means that food is best consumed before that date however will still be consumable well after that date! These include, cereals, muesli bars, grains, pasta and other foods etc…
Use By – well thats a no brainier I guess…
And rotation of foods is always a handy way to ensure that the most fresh foods aren’t consumed first, a can slider where newest cans are put to the rear and slide forward when the first is taken is a good idea, however space thirsty! And doing monthly stock takes for larger items, and other bulky goods ensures that your backup reserves are in order – this will ensure that the newest foods are where they should be.
One more thing – unless two people or whoever is managing the stocks, if they aren’t in ‘tune’ with the necessary ground rules for rotations of the pantry or wherever your prep foods are kept, whatever was said above may as well be thrown out… One person or a small team with the ability to adhere to a overall ethos of stock control will be needed to properly manage the safety of the food up until it is needed in such a time of disaster.
Hope this helps
Exactly right regarding the necessity for everyone at home to be on-board with the rotation rules. My wife and I have a basic set of two rules that work for nearly everything that is stocked. Regardless of where the food is stored…
ALWAYS:
Take from the Right and stock new items on the Left
or
Take from the Front and stock new items in the Back
We also have a Shelf Reliance rotation system (they make lots of different types) which we use for lots of canned foods.
@ Slazmo. Good advice on best before dates, this is true. For a bit of comic relief about best before dates was something hilarous that I once saw on Married with Children with the hapless Al Bundy. There was always lack of food at the Al Bundy house and Al chanced upon some Jiffy Time popcorn that was given to them as part of their wedding gifts with a best used before 1970. Al sure enough popped it as he was warned about eating something that about 20 years old and Al’s response was it says best used before and not use by. Always half starved he commented on how this little gift was a real find. His neighbor Steve started eating it and his wife tried to warn him about the ancient popcorn and he responded to her that he was well aware of his health and stop telling him not to eat certain things. The utter ridiculous satire in this comedy was classic in many other episodes.
This does prove that discretion needs to be used when using older food as eventually it will go bad and should not be used. There are many ways of extending the life of food as Ken’s other articles explain, especially cool dry areas that are preferably dark. If you happen to see this episode of Married with Children it should make you laugh, especially the facial expressions of Al Bundy, those really made the show.