A Food Stockpile Guide for Normies

Get some powdered electrolyte drink, Gatorade or the natural kind.

Peanut butter has a massive ammount of all three kinds of caloric intake (Fat, Protien and carbs). It's shelf stable. Doesn't require cooking. Cheap to buy in bulk. It's one of the best survival foods.

Japanese and Chinese rice are VERY different
(brown rice goes rancid fast)

Recently I learned about a special kind of rice called PARBOILED rice. You can find it on Amazon. It's pricier than normal rice but it doesn't require any rinsing before cooking, whereas other long grain/basmati does. It comes as a long grain or a basmati. It sometimes goes by the name of "golden rice" or "sella rice".

Good tips, thanks! Peanut butter is a good one; need to grab a tray of that.

In relation to canned/tinned food...

Those 'EZ-Open' cans with the pull ring are not viable for long-term storage. That scored section in the top that facilitates 'EZ-Open' is thinner than the can material and is prone to early failure.

I have experienced failure of these types of cans after only a couple of years. Hams, soup, beans, etc. That thin, 'EZ-Open' score line is a weak point in the integrity of the can.

Chinese rice being sold as Japanese rice because of Corona virus..pass on the rice

Here's what you need, and the reasons for each one.

Peanut Butter - Long shelf life, High energy density. Contains fats, protiens and carbohydrates.

Tinned Meats - Dense source of protiens. Easy to prepare. Chunk tuna, chicken, sardines. Avoid SPAM, if possible, it's really high in sodium and will require more liquid intake.

Tinned Veggies - Long self life. Easy to prepare.

Crackers - Again, long shelf life. Goot for putting either of the above on.

Bulk dried rice - Seeing a pattern here? Long shelf life. Relatively easy to prepare.

Powdered Milk or UHT milk - Good source of calcium and vit D.

Lifestraw - Drinkable water is a must, and storing water in bulk takes up a ton of space. A lifestraw will make just about any water biologicly safe, as long as you don't have to worry about chemical impurities, it woun't remove - for example - benzene or other petrochemical pollutants.

And finally remember, you're not going for a balanced diet here. You want things that are shelf-stable, easy to prepare, and easy to store in bullk.

Don't forget a propane camp stove, plenty of paper plates, cups and utinsels. Garbage bags and toilet paper.

Also: If you're a hunter/fisher you might be thinking "Oh, I'm just going to grab my sack and go innawoods and live off the land." Sorry to burst your bubble but you and every other "outdoorsman" is thinking the same thing. Nobody is going to care about catch limits or tagging your deer. The woods and streams will be cleared of anything edible within a month in a real SHTF situation.

Not sure if it was already mentioned.. but powdered peanut butter, powder protein powder, bouillon cubes to make stock. Lots of us folks live in the "Great White North" and we will not be able to start growing anything until end of May beginning of June.. Need to ensure you have enough to stretch out until then. Some dehydrated meats and veggies would be great. Learning what wild spring edibles are available that are safe to eat until fresh produce can be grown.

Cattails
Arrow Root
Trout Lily
Wild Leeks/Ramps
Spruce Tips
Maple Syrup
Spring Beauties
Hostas
Day Lilies
Wild Violets
Certain Water Lilies

Spring Mushrooms - Dryad's Saddle (easy to identify)
Morels

So much to learn to help empower yourself and family during any time, including the time at hand.

Water = Most Important.

First, you will need water. Simple solutions are to have a gallon or two of bleach, and a reliable means of starting fire. For starting fire, you could rub sticks together, you could have a bunch of wax coated matches, a flint and steel or similar spark generator. I always also keep a bunch of disposable lighters on hand.

Here is a good guide for use of bleach and boiling water - [link to www.epa.gov (secure)]

Quick math - You measure perfectly and lose not a single drop

One gallon of bleach would purify 12,288 gallons of water.

Assuming you have to space this is a great idea. Especially if you're out in the middle of nowhere. I live in an urban area and the last time I tried to start a garden if the stray dogs weren't tearing shit up neighbors would steal every tomato I had. In a real SHTF scenario you'd need to guard your plants 24-7 with a shot gun :(

The first significant wild edible of spring are samaras from maple trees.

There are lots of goofy people who will tell you pure nonsense as yeah, you can eat wild edibles, but they have scant calories. Thus you would use more energy looking for them, and processing them, then you would gain in digested them.

You need to be an opportunist hunter-gatherer and NOT waste energy when you lack proper food in your pantry. Otherwise, that is how new inexperienced people starve to death.

Buy eggs. In the carton as you buy them from the market, they'll stay edible for as long as 6 months.

They are light if you have to hike somewhere. Also take some multi-vitamins.

Not sure if anyone has ever ventured on this site, but I believe it is good for all North America. It basically will show you where there are free tapped springs located in different jurisdictions in Canada and United States as well as some other locations on the Globe... posted by regular Joe's. I thought it may be of interest if anyone here is looking for something that may be posted near your residence.

Namaste

[link to findaspring.com (secure)]

Propane cannot be used indoors.
Butane can be used indoors with a little ventilation. So go for a camp stove that uses butane. Cooking outdoors would be a last resort for me as it will draw attention.

Here's what you need, and the reasons for each one.

Peanut Butter - Long shelf life, High energy density. Contains fats, protiens and carbohydrates.

Tinned Meats - Dense source of protiens. Easy to prepare. Chunk tuna, chicken, sardines. Avoid SPAM, if possible, it's really high in sodium and will require more liquid intake.

Tinned Veggies - Long self life. Easy to prepare.

Crackers - Again, long shelf life. Goot for putting either of the above on.

Bulk dried rice - Seeing a pattern here? Long shelf life. Relatively easy to prepare.

Powdered Milk or UHT milk - Good source of calcium and vit D.

Lifestraw - Drinkable water is a must, and storing water in bulk takes up a ton of space. A lifestraw will make just about any water biologicly safe, as long as you don't have to worry about chemical impurities, it woun't remove - for example - benzene or other petrochemical pollutants.

And finally remember, you're not going for a balanced diet here. You want things that are shelf-stable, easy to prepare, and easy to store in bullk.

Don't forget a propane camp stove, plenty of paper plates, cups and utinsels. Garbage bags and toilet paper.

Also: If you're a hunter/fisher you might be thinking "Oh, I'm just going to grab my sack and go innawoods and live off the land." Sorry to burst your bubble but you and every other "outdoorsman" is thinking the same thing. Nobody is going to care about catch limits or tagging your deer. The woods and streams will be cleared of anything edible within a month in a real SHTF situation.