“Uh Oh… I Haven’t Started to Prep, and I Don’t Know Where to Start.”
Time is running out. If you haven’t begun to put food and supplies aside, you need to act NOW. This is a quick primer of things to start with.
MRE’s – Ready to Eat Meals are nutritionally sound, last for a long time, and come with built in heating, so you can enjoy hot food while you hide in your improvised bunker. They’re also expensive, and increasingly hard to find.
Basics.
If you’re on a tight budget, focus on buying foods that will last, that are versatile, and that are (still) inexpensive. If you have a Costco membership, that’s great.
If you’re on foot with a bundle buggy, try to buy something every few days. Try not to arouse suspicion that you’re prepping. You don’t want neighbours to take note of your stash.
Top Ten Suggestions
Cereals:
- Rice – preferably white. Brown rice is healthier, but it doesn’t stay fresh for as long. Get a couple of 10 or 20 pound bags and, if you can, store them in food-grade buckets. Then, get a couple more. Then, get a couple more.
- Oats. The plain stuff. Jazz it up with fruit and sugar. Whole oats have a lower glycemic index, and they’ll keep you full longer. If you can get a no-name supermarket brand, all the better.
- Pasta – Ramen or plain. Don’t bother with the Knorr stuff for the time being… go for the basics. Look for sales and stock up.
Proteins
- Canned Beans – Fast, simple, and you can eat them cold, if need be. They’re also more versatile than you might think. I’ve made amazing black bean brownies, and baked fritters with chickpeas. Get the Heinz beans that are meals in themselves, but don’t forget to to get a variety of beans that you can use in other dishes.
- Canned tuna/sardines/meats
- Dried Beans, Peas and Lentils – These are super cheap, although prices are rising. The smaller split peas and lentils also don’t require soaking overnight and cook quickly… useful when you have intermittent or no electricity.
- Peanut butter – Not the best for long term storage. (Rancid peanut butter is a dreadful thing.) But in the short term, a tasty favourite.
Fruits and Vegetables
- Dried Fruits – Raisins, Prunes, Goji Berries, Apricots… whatever you can get to stave off scurvy. If you’re in a southern region, you’ll have access to fruit year round. If you’re further north, fruit season is short. There’s a reason fruitcake is a winter specialty.
- Canned fruit is great as well, but it takes up more space, and it’s pricier. Focus on the dry stuff first, with some canned fruit on the side.
- Vegetables – Dried and Canned.
I don’t really trust being too dependent on freezers. If you can afford it, buying green powders can be helpful as well. Spirulina is a green superfood.
Miscellaneous
Canned milk and/or milk powder. If you’re a vegan, consider getting coconut milk cans and powder.
Cooking oil – Olive and otherwise. Olive oil s great over pasta, with a bit of salt, garlic powder and herbs. Ghee (Indian clarified butter) adds a lovely flavour to whatever you cook
Coffee and/or Tea
I’m already over ten, and there are so many others to recommend. This list is just a starter. I’ll add other lists for you to consider, but if you don’t have these basics, this is a good time to get cracking.
If you have pets, don’t forget to get food for them as well!
Bonus Items: Flavourings
Spices – On the one hand, you don’t want people to smell what you’re cooking. On the other hand, bland food will make you terribly unhappy.
Some Suggestions:
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder (I prefer this to garlic salt… I like to overdose on garlic while going easy on the salt, but to each their own)
Onion powder
Hot sauce, soy sauce, Maggi, or other flavouring agents
Cinnamon
Oregano, Basil, Cumin, or whatever spices you use
Don’t buy the expensive glass jars in the supermarket. Get the large sizes, then fill them into smaller, airtight containers, ideally with air packets to keep them fresh. If they’re seeds, get them whole and grind them yourself in order to maintain freshness.
Alternately, bulk stores are a great source of affordable spices.
Sugar – Because life is sweeter with it, and you can also trade it.
Bouillon Cubes – useful for soothing soups and spicing up rice or foods. I recommend getting a variety of flavours. Store this in a dry, airtight container.
Pasta Source/Pesto – if you’re tight for space, pesto takes up less space than pasta sauce proper. The stuff with tomato and parmesan is a great substitute, plus you can use it on other foods (sandwiches, vegetables, etc).