The rotating stocks idea doesn't really work in my case, as I'm not able to stockpile any significant quantities. Essentially my plan is to stash a few small packages, out of the way, and if there was a period of food insecurity, it would be a supplement not a replacement.jennyjj01 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 7:43 pmHi Trig Point. You invited comments, so I'll be frank....Trig.Point wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 2:15 pm My intention is to prepare for a situation where there is food but it's of poor quality and lacks key nutritional components. There are several examples of that happening in the last 100 years.
So what I've allowed myself is a single 12"x9"x6" box. It's cardboard so I'm waterproofing it inside and out. I was orginally going to get bottled oils, but they only have a two year shelf life so decided to take 'Vitamin C's' advice to get my fats inside the tin, and went with canned fish, 8 tins of sardines, but because I want to be able to portion carefully I also went with 6 tins of anchovies. All in Oil.
Then I fit in a 500g bag of caster sugar, billingtons because it was in a strong plastic bag and a bottle of multivitamins.
There's still space for a bit more, so I'll probably squeeze in more tins of fish (which incidentally I can't stand).
Currently the box has I'd estimate less than 5000 calories, but if I'm in an environment where it's turnips or some other root vegetable 3 times a day, with careful rationing it might ward of the effects of protein/fat deficiency for a few months.
Any thoughts?
....I think you started with good intentions but went adrift a bit.
If you are rotaing your stocks, then the short shelf life of oils should not matter. In my experience, sunflower cooking oil stays perdect for at least 3 years. If the self same oil is in tins of tuna, then it will last just as well or badly. Remember my analogy to the water situation? Storing water in a world where water is unlikely to be scarce is pointless. Similarly storing carbs when carbs will continue to be plentiful is also pointless. So your idea of concentrating on protein was sound. But in times of crisis, we need the psychological boost of nice scoff. E.g. stash some dark chocolate. Certainly don't stash something you actively dislike.
Your mention of 5000cals has to assume you expect simple white carbs to still be around.
I'm not saying you are wrong. Who knows the conditions we face.
For your objective of stashing protein, consider dried pulses and dried mushrooms, spam or similar and tinned luncheon meat. Fish is oft recommended for it's lower price.
When I make my buying decisions I look at the following metrics...
White carbs, such as rice and pasta £ per 1000kCalories. Since 1000kCal is a scant days worth, If I can pay less that £1, I leap in. Rice, cheap pasta and dried mash, fit that. Sugar and flour are also super flexible calorie sources.
Proteins such as tinned meat: Price per Kilogram. Anything under £5/Kilo, I view as good value. Over £10 I balk.
Sources of Flavour get purchased proportional to the carbs. So a tin of tomatoes to three portions of white carbs.
Rotate your stocks into your regular diet and your stockpiles are pretty much free.
Check out 'therationchallenge' for what you NEED to survive a week. It really isn't much.
The logistics of food distribution is fascinating, and the more I read about it the more I think it's a very fragile system, built on the foundations of Just-in-Time, and not having large reserves.
Anyway I plan with the resources I have available now.
I didn't go with the tinned meats, because of portion problems. I'm intending the box to be a diet supplement for an extended period so a single tin of meat, takes up space and would be difficult to ration once opened. Also I suspect after a time my body would be adjusting to the diet available and a one time slab of meat might cause more problems than it would solve.
I was considering drinking chocolate, instead of sugar, however the foil sealed cans it comes in are half empty so a bit of a waste. I will also consider replacing the sugar with oil, as I do expect carbs to be available (if not we're all stuffed).
