Must-Have Foods to Put In Your Survival Pantry+Other Resources

Poor Man Survival

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15 Must-Have Foods to Put In Your Survival Pantry+Other Resources

I’ve noticed that most preppers know the importance of food storage, but few of them have the must-have foods for adequate prepping sitting in their survival pantry.

Well, my job is to help you get prepared to the best of my ability; that’s why I came up with this handy-dandy checklist of long-term food storage. This covers all the basics, from commonly known foods that are long-lasting and crucial to survival, to those that aid in medicinal uses.

Rather than spoil the fun, I’ll get right down to it – here’s my checklist of:

15 Must-Have Foods to Put In Your Survival Pantry

1 – Rice

Rice is a huge staple in most people’s diets, and for good reason. It’s cheap, healthy and a great source of carbs. Plus, you can dress it up with all kinds of sauces/toppings for a whole variety of versatile dishes. I recommend storing plain white rice, as it has a longer shelf-life than brown.

2 – Meat Cans

You should buy these in bulk and keep a variety on-hand, such as pork, beef, and chicken. Feel free to add canned fish, too, such as salmon and tuna. Canned meats are great for long-term storage, and can be used in a ton of different dishes to keep your taste buds interested.

3 – Oats

Oats are a crucial ingredient for a number of foods, such as oatmeal, breads, and cookies. Plus, they have great nutritional value, and are low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium.

Fun Fact: you can use oats for more than just the tasty treats listed above – you can also use them to add bulk to casseroles and meatloaf. This is a trick used in the Great Depression – mostly to help folks get full faster with as little ingredients as possible.

4 – Coffee And Tea Bags

If you need coffee or tea to wake you up now, what makes you think it’ll be different in a survival situation? Stay alert by stocking up on your favorite coffee (choose from instant, pre-ground or whole bean) and teas (caffeinated and non-caffeinated).

5 – Chicken/Beef Broth Cans

Broth is great for adding flavor and giving you a boost of sodium in your diet. Plus, you can throw your favorite veggies and meats in there, bring it to a boil, and serve it as a hearty soup.

Helpful Hint: boil your rice in chicken broth (instead of water) to make it extra delicious.

6 – Powdered Milk

Much like its liquid counterpart, powdered milk is a great source of vitamins A, D, and B12, as well as protein. However, unlike the liquid version, powdered milk stores for WAY longer. When you’re in a crisis, you’re going to depend on this substance for bone-strengthening energy.

7 – Fruit Cans

Fruits are generally high in fiber and nutrition, yet are often overlooked by preppers – this is a shame, since their canned versions are often delicious and store for years. Add some sweetness to your diet by stocking up on your favorite kinds such as pineapple, pears and peaches.

8 – Vegetable Cans

Veggies are overlooked by lots of preppers, too (after all, how many people actually like to eat their greens?). However, missing out on veggies means missing out on a lot of vitamins and nutrients in your diet. Plus, many preppers say they actually like the canned versions better than the raw. Stock up on canned veggies to keep you feeling full and energized.

9 – Honey

This one might seem counterproductive; after all, isn’t honey just basically pure sugar, and mainly used to sweeten your tea? Well, all these are true, but honey also has some surprising medicinal benefits. For one, it is a natural anti-inflammatory, and helps reduce cough and allergy symptoms.

It’s also a natural antibiotic, and can be applied to wounds and burns to help treat them. Plus, you might scoff at the sugar content, but not only does it help keep the honey last for years, but it also acts as a natural energy booster and helps boost memory.

I should mention that honey, though helpful, can’t assist you in every emergency – however, this first-aid kit can. Explore its usefulness and versatility (it’s perfect for your car, home, or office!)

10 – Variety of Seasonings

So many preppers don’t think about the importance of seasonings! Condiments such as garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and cinnamon (i could go on and on) are healthy, nutritious and add a boost of flavor to your survival food.

Plus, let’s be honest – eating the same foods day in and day out can get tedious – you’ll liven up your taste buds and make these meals more bearable with the help of spices and seasonings. Stock up on all your favorites.

11 – Pectin

Most preppers couldn’t tell you what pectin is, but it’s incredibly helpful. Pectin is a natural substance found in berries, apples and throat lozenges.

It’s what causes jams, jellies and fruit juices to thicken up, and is the element that really soothes your sore throat (sorry, that cherry flavor in the lozenges is just to keep the flavor bearable).

Stock up on pectin to help you if you get sick, and use it for thickening up your jams and jellies so you use less ingredients.

12 – Pasta And Spaghetti Sauce

No prepper should be without these two ingredients. The pasta will help keep you full and energized, and the spaghetti sauce is low in fat and saturated fat.

Plus, both items can be found for incredibly cheap and can be stored for years. There’s few long-term storage meals that offer this kind of bulk for your buck.

13 – Cooking Oils

It’s a lot easier to cook stuff in the pan when you’ve lathered on a little bit of oil. Plus, oils are great for storage and offer lots of healthy, nutritional benefits. Stock up on plant-based cooking oils for survival.

14 – Peanut Butter

Peanut butter may just be the perfect snack – not only is it great by itself by the spoonful, but it also helps make a variety of delicious sandwiches. Plus, peanut butter is naturally packed with protein and fat – crucial for muscle building and energy levels. Make sure to stock up on this long-term storage snack.

15 – Purified Drinking Water

This is one of the most important items on this list. After all, it’s been proven humans can survive up to three weeks without food, but only up to THREE DAYS without water. Stock up now on lots of gallons of purified water

Now I know this list was chock-full of survival pantry supplies, and I believe in every single one of them. However, I’m also a big believer in making things easy for myself, too. After all, prepping should still be fun, and as stress-free as possible.  Watch the video link from Healthy Prepper:

https://youtu.be/hQAYpYZo40Y

 

 

What You Need to Know About Meals Ready to Eat (MREs)

I’m sure you’re familiar with MREs. But unless you have military field experience or you’re an avid outdoorsman, this piece will answer a few questions you probably have about freeze-dried food.

Questions about storage, shelf life, preparation, taste, nutritional value and more. Plus, you’ll discover what that weird four-digit code printed on each MRE is and why it’s important to track it.

Be sure to read this article before your next trip to the Army surplus store — especially if you’re considering adding MREs to your emergency food storage.

Because you never know what will happen, and you should be prepared to protect yourself and your loved ones no matter what tomorrow brings.

50 Low-Priced Items That Will Be Invaluable When the SHTF

At some point or another, I’ve discussed the importance of having virtually every single one of these items when the SHTF. But this post from Ask a Prepper puts them all down in one convenient checklist.

Take a look and count how many of the items on this list you already have. This will give you a better idea of just how prepared you really are to handle an emergency — and you’ll know what still need to buy before the next big disaster strikes.

 

1. 13 Tips on Surviving a Protest

Protests are becoming more and more common in our increasingly polarized nation. And while I stand behind everyone’s right to free speech, I never want to find myself caught in a demonstration turned violent.

Here is a great article from Joe Alton over at DoomandBloom.net with 13 tips on safely navigating civil unrest in your town.

Some of the recommendations are also aimed at helping you protect yourself while participating in a protest. Because civil debate and the right to peacefully demonstrate is one of the hallmarks that makes this country great.

2. If You Don’t Have This One Item — Nothing Else Matters

You can have all the food and fancy survival tools in the world, but if your bug-out bag lacks this one item, you’ve essentially signed your own death certificate.

I’m not trying to be hyperbolic or frighten you. It’s true. And I can say that with certainty, because this particular device saved MY life when an overseas mission went awry.

Now I make sure I have one of these handy gadgets in every single bug-out bag I’ve put together for myself and my family members. And I recommend you do the same. Because someday, this object could be the one thing that stands between you and certain death.

Additional Resources

Is there an ultimate rifle setup for survival self-defense? (Video) »
When you're doing a job, using the right tool makes the job easier. This is true if you are doing carpentry, working on a vehicle, laying bricks or, defending yourself or family during a breakdown of civilization or martial law scenario. More »

Self-defense tips for older folks »
Every week our member service advisors at the USCCA get calls asking about self-defense strategies to help our older members. During a typical conversation, the caller will say something to the effect of, "I'm not as young as I once was and I can't do those drills. What can I do to fight better?" More »

 

P.S. I personally buy a lot varied freeze-dried foods from Harmony House, Wise Foods and other suppliers as they pack easily and the shelf life is long.  I store them in sealable totes which stack easily in our fruit cellar.

Yours for better living,

Bruce ‘the Poor Man’

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