Nutrition

[libertysnake]

There is already a ton of threads on gear, and even preserving foods already in this sub-forum. However, I don't see a good discussion on nutritional content of long shelf life foods. The thought occurred me while looking at the content of these MRE packs and prepacked "survival" foods. They'll keep you fed, but will they keep your nourished? That should be a close second thought when looking at meal selection -- not just calories, but content.

I think a key thing that a lot of these pre-packed meals lack, that I've seen on a few labels, is a lack of protein. You'll need a good amount of protein to maintain strength and build strength, and there is no way around it other than getting a good intake of it along with carbs and fats. Many of the meals I saw were merely carbs and lacked the other main macros you'd want.

A few I'll throw out as good selections with decent shelf life:

Nuts (High in potassium and healthy fats)
Freeze dried fruit (High potassium, fiber, and carbs)
Shredded wheat (High postassium, fiber, and carbs)
Whey Protein Powder (light, transportable, high protein content)
Canned pumpkin? (Long-ish shelf life, very high source of Vitamin A and Potassium)

I'll add foods as I find things that come to mind that seem like they'd last a while, but just a few that come to mind that are good selections.

 

[fnfalguy]

Have I mentioned I love my freeze dryer?

 

[Doc8404]

good stuff.
i find nuts go rancid easily in my pantry.

 

[libertysnake]

good stuff.
i find nuts go rancid easily in my pantry.

Are you keeping them in an air tight container in a dark area? You should get at least a year or two, maybe more of vacuum out all air in bags. It's heat and air that will speed up them going bad.

 

[Hochulsucks1234]

I find that the longer the shelf life, the higher the salt content. Salt is part of the preservation process and has been used for years. I have plenty of dehydrated and freeze dried foods that will last well over a decade. I plan around harvesting from the garden, hunting, and fishing to supplement the nutrition with the long term stuff.

 

[libertysnake]

I find that the longer the shelf life, the higher the salt content. Salt is part of the preservation process and has been used for years. I have plenty of dehydrated and freeze dried foods that will last well over a decade. I plan around harvesting from the garden, hunting, and fishing to supplement the nutrition with the long term stuff.

This is why potassium content is so important to offset the salt. You want a ratio of 3:1, potassium to sodium. Without that ratio your body is having a hard time getting rid of salt -- or harder time.

Drinking more water actually does not get rid of salt. If you intake more salt, you'll just retain more water. Only potassium gets rid of salt in your body

 

[libertysnake]

I started using Cronometer in combination with my normal go-to app of MacroFactor. I think these two work great in combo, as MacroFactor does a good job of giving high level transparency like more detailed macro and TDEE manipulation, while Cronometer is AMAZING for looking and stuff like your PRAL (Alkaline / Basic ratio) and shit like Oxalate to calcium even. @Dr. Evil I highly recommend Cronometer for tracking micros, it blows everything else out of the water the level of control it gives you -- but both in combo seem like a match made in heaven control wise.

For example my Calcium to Oxalate ratio is insane -- like 200+ to 1, so my body has no problems binding the oxalate from my food and preventing kidney stones. That's why I never had issues. And I eat vegetables and fruit all the time even.

 

[Podmonkey]

Jerky is a good long lasting protein source. Authentic Pemmican is an excellent long term survival/camp food.

 

[togmaster]

 

[libertysnake]

Jerky is a good long lasting protein source. Authentic Pemmican is an excellent long term survival/camp food.

Your best best combo wise is to take protein powder, a bag of mixed nuts, and dried fruit. Carbs, fats, protein. All last without preservation for long periods. That's the best I can come up with.

EDIT: That combo is also reasonable potassium to sodium ratio since both nuts and dried fruit are high in potassium to offset the protein powder.

 

[phatfarmerbob]

Have I mentioned I love my freeze dryer?

I have a few cases of ensure I’m gonna throw into the freeze dryer, figure it’ll be a good source of emergency protein.

 

[libertysnake]

I have a few cases of ensure I’m gonna throw into the freeze dryer, figure it’ll be a good source of emergency protein.

I think you’d be better off just getting a bag of casein powder or whey protein. Both would work and last a long while. I think Casein may have a slightly longer shelf life and be more shelf stable. Both are high in leucine.

However, casein has a worse taste on its own and digests slower, the slowness being good and bad.

 

[phatfarmerbob]

I think you’d be better off just getting a bag of casein powder or whey protein. Both would work and last a long while. I think Casein may have a slightly longer shelf life and be more shelf stable. Both are high in leucine.

However, casein has a worse taste on its own and digests slower, the slowness being good and bad.

I agree , but I have these cases of ensure already and they are slightly past best by date so that’s why I was gonna freeze dry them

 

[libertysnake]

I agree , but I have these cases of ensure already and they are slightly past best by date so that’s why I was gonna freeze dry them

Probably better than nothing. Just saying for the future is all.

 

[libertysnake]

So @Saltwater60 may be interested to know this as well, which surprised me too today:

Shredded wheat is now hands down my favorite survival food. I did a search on the NCCDB, and it lists that 60g of shredded wheat contains 50% of your daily value of selenium. That's insane.

So If I had to survive SHTF, I'm stocking up on two things for sure: Fortified bran flakes, and shredded wheat are hands down going to be staples to keep in your house.

@Dr. Evil What are your thoughts on NCCDB and their level of accuracy for generic info? My understanding is they are lab tested results, their generic entries at least, so they should be accurate because they're not relying on a specific manufacturer.

 

[Dr. Evil]

So @Saltwater60 may be interested to know this as well, which surprised me too today:

Shredded wheat is now hands down my favorite survival food. I did a search on the NCCDB, and it lists that 60g of shredded wheat contains 50% of your daily value of selenium. That's insane.

So If I had to survive SHTF, I'm stocking up on two things for sure: Fortified bran flakes, and shredded wheat are hands down going to be staples to keep in your house.

@Dr. Evil What are your thoughts on NCCDB and their level of accuracy for generic info? My understanding is they are lab tested results, their generic entries at least, so they should be accurate because they're not relying on a specific manufacturer.

https://support.cronometer.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018239472

 

[libertysnake]

https://support.cronometer.com/hc/en-us/articles/360018239472

I dug into it more after that point and basically NCCDB is the biggest, most complete database. So assumedly this is accurate and great news imo.