I'm new

[jennyjj01]

I just think things look like they are going to turn bad. I think theres a good chance of war breaking out somewhere. This could disrupt the supply lines and lead to a shortage of food? If this doesn't happen, then ive saved some money on food. I could lose my job, I don't know. Then there is the pandemic, I'm not sure what will happen there.
I do have bottles of water stored. This is my problem. If I'm cooking rice and pasta, what do you have with it if you don't eat tinned food? About the only tinned food I buy is coconut milk for curries, tinned tomatoes, and the odd tin of beans.
I try to stay away from processed foods as much as possible

Hi Forager,

Not wanting to take this thread off topic.....
In general terms of food stockpiling....

White Calories first:
Dry rice, Dry pasta, Dry instant mash, Sugar, honey.

Then something to convert them to a meal...
Tinned tomatoes, Pasta sauces, Pesto, Tom puree..... Tomatoes feature high in my reserves
Flour and Oil.... You can do a lot with flour and oil.

Then flavour enhancers.
Assorted herbs and spices, stock cubes, sachets of flavour, curry powder, sriracha.

Add some protein
Tinned fish, chicken, corned beef, pek pork ( Pigs Arse ) Chickpeas, Kidney beans

Some vitamins.
Tablets or tinned or dried fruit

Augment with nice to have
Tea, Coffee, Tinned and dried fruit, powdered milk. Crackers, cereals, candy.

Fast turnover meals in one: Oats, Weetabix,

I understand the reticence to store over processed food, but emergency food involves some compromises.
Also, unless you accept waste, rotate your stores into everyday diet.

Water is a topic all its own.


Foraging..... In truth, it's very seasonal and in a SHTF situation, resources will get competed for. I doubt anyone could forage 2000 calories per day. You can't live on nettle tea and blackberries.

[jennyjj01]

You might find some meal ideas in this thread.
https://www.uk-preppers.co.uk/forum/vie ... hp?t=15975
Also check out 'therationchallenge' https://www.rationchallenge.org/

[jansman]

I just think things look like they are going to turn bad. I think theres a good chance of war breaking out somewhere. This could disrupt the supply lines and lead to a shortage of food? If this doesn't happen, then ive saved some money on food. I could lose my job, I don't know. Then there is the pandemic, I'm not sure what will happen there.
I do have bottles of water stored. This is my problem. If I'm cooking rice and pasta, what do you have with it if you don't eat tinned food? About the only tinned food I buy is coconut milk for curries, tinned tomatoes, and the odd tin of beans.
I try to stay away from processed foods as much as possible

Welcome to UK Preppers. It’s not a bad hobby!

War? Bad times? They are always available! Always knocking about.

Food? Yes you are right. Shortage, job loss and the pandemic definitely caused panic buying. Along with a reduced selection of course , due to lockdowns.

You don’t like tinned food. Fair enough. You have rice and pasta though. So what do you eat normally ?

[Forager]

I eat generally fresh meat from my local butcher, mixed with what I catch, whether thats rabbit, pheasant, or pigeons. Most of my vegetables come from my allotment or my local farm shop. I hardly go in a supermarket, my eggs come from my own chickens and I use the milkman, bread and butter comes from him.

[Forager]

Does everything I post need to be approved by a moderator? This is getting rather annoying

[Frnc]

Fast turnover meals in one: Oats, Weetabix,

Don't you need milk with those? Well, you can make porridge with just water, but I like a bit of milk on top. Of course you can keep dried milk. Sains do Nido 400g £5.15 now.

[Forager]

Apparently ifs not worth answering,no one can see my posts until it gets approved

[GillyBee]

There are a number of minimally processed foods that can fit into a storage plan. Our health issues exclude most processed food but we have found there are options.
You mentioned curry. Dried tomato powder, dried onions, dried garlic and spices make a good curry sauce base as approved by my curryhead significant other. You would need to add a protein source. Red lentils will keep well, cook in 20 mins and will turn the curry sauce into a dahl.
You could also look into learning to can, dehydrate, pickle or otherwise preserve your allotment produce. That way you know exactly what is in the jars. The ony headache is storing a year's supply of jam, chutney etc in a small kitchen.
We do keep some tinned food. Tinned peaches in juice make for a treat with evaporated milk.
Dried mushrooms are excellent to make soup of boost umami favours in stews and soups. Dried onion flakes are OK. Dried veg mix "stock mix" will boost an otherwise plain meal. Nuts, seeds and dried fruit will keep for months but not for years and will provide variety and nutrition.

[Frnc]

I just think things look like they are going to turn bad. I think theres a good chance of war breaking out somewhere. This could disrupt the supply lines and lead to a shortage of food? If this doesn't happen, then ive saved some money on food. I could lose my job, I don't know. Then there is the pandemic, I'm not sure what will happen there.
I do have bottles of water stored. This is my problem. If I'm cooking rice and pasta, what do you have with it if you don't eat tinned food? About the only tinned food I buy is coconut milk for curries, tinned tomatoes, and the odd tin of beans.
I try to stay away from processed foods as much as possible

With pasta I have sauce, which I make using tomato puree, tinned tomatoes, herbs, onion powder, garlic powder, pepper. I usually have it with cheese but sometimes tuna. Obviously cheese isn't really a long term prep item but tuna is. I have some peas with it. That's the one thing I managed to grow last year. I make my own sauce as the shop bought is salty.

[HomeHardener]

I just think things look like they are going to turn bad. I think theres a good chance of war breaking out somewhere. This could disrupt the supply lines and lead to a shortage of food? If this doesn't happen, then ive saved some money on food. I could lose my job, I don't know. Then there is the pandemic, I'm not sure what will happen there.
I do have bottles of water stored. This is my problem. If I'm cooking rice and pasta, what do you have with it if you don't eat tinned food? About the only tinned food I buy is coconut milk for curries, tinned tomatoes, and the odd tin of beans.
I try to stay away from processed foods as much as possible

Yes I’m totally with you, as exciting as the zombie films are to watch… war resulting in supply chain issues or a global pandemic… as examples. Are far more likely to be where our preps come in.

Well, that’s exactly why I’ve been practicing once a week preparing meals with minimal fresh ingredients.
I do have a small selection of herbs and veggies in my flowerbeds so I try to involve them in my cooking when I can.

Off the top of my head…
you could make a curry using the coconut milk, some dried lentils and/or tinned chickpeas, adding in any available veg you have growing. Some dried curry powder/curry leaves/turmeric etc.

Pasta wise, fry onion (assuming you have it or are growing it) minced garlic (can be found in the same tubes that tomato paste comes in) tinned anchovies and a jar of olives combined with tinned tomatoes, salt and pepper.

I could write essays on food lol!!
I’d say I’ve invested most of my ‘prepping time’ in finding or developing meals I can make from ingredients that ‘most’ preppers keep in their stores.

I don’t grow nearly enough of my own food (though I have the space to grow 10x what I do now, nor do I buy as many prepping supplies as I could, I do however invest time into research.