Tag: prepper

Fueling Your Survival: How Many Calories Should You Consume in an Emergency?

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn survival, Survival Prepper, SurvivalistLeave a comment

Fueling Your Survival: How Many Calories Should You Consume in an Emergency?

When it comes to surviving a crisis, one of the most overlooked yet essential factors is nutrition. Sure, you can stockpile cans of beans and bags of rice, but do you know how much food you and your family actually need to stay alive when the worst hits? How many calories do you need to keep your body functioning during an emergency, and how should you prepare for the long haul? Let’s break it down.

The Basics of Caloric Needs

First off, let’s address a fundamental question: How many calories does a person really need to survive?

It turns out that the average adult requires only about 1,200 to 1,500 calories per day for basic survival. This number might seem low, but it’s based on the bare minimum your body needs to perform essential physiological functions—like keeping your heart pumping, your lungs breathing, and your body temperature stable. Researchers have shown that the body can survive on this minimal caloric intake for a period, provided there’s no physical exertion involved.

But here’s the catch: Survival is not the same as thriving. When you’re in an emergency situation, especially when it’s long-term, your body is going to be put under serious stress. It’s not just about staying alive—it’s about staying sharp, staying strong, and keeping your mental focus intact. You’ll be moving, lifting, thinking, and possibly defending yourself. Your calorie needs will increase.

What’s Your Actual Caloric Need in a Crisis?

If you’re in a situation where you’re physically active—whether it’s from preparing your shelter, gathering water, scavenging, building a fire, or defending yourself from threats—your caloric intake needs will skyrocket. In an emergency or survival situation, your body will burn through calories much faster than when you’re just sitting around.

For an average, moderately active man, the caloric requirement could easily be around 2,500 calories per day, and for an average, moderately active woman, about 2,000 calories per day. But even that might not be enough if you’re really working hard. If you’re chopping wood for hours, hiking long distances to find supplies, or performing other strenuous tasks, your body could easily demand an extra 500 to 1,000 calories per day.

Now, keep in mind, that’s just to maintain your weight and health. If you want to thrive, if you want to keep your energy levels high and your mind sharp, you’ll need to be even more strategic with what you eat.

Fueling for Long-Term Survival

When you’re preparing for a survival situation, you’re not just stocking up on food. You need to think about the quality of food, not just the quantity. High-calorie, nutrient-dense foods are a must. Your body needs more than just empty calories. It needs protein for muscle repair, healthy fats for energy, and carbohydrates for sustained fuel. The trick is choosing foods that pack a punch without being too bulky or hard to store.

Here are a few suggestions for survival-friendly foods that should be at the top of your list:

  • Nuts and seeds: These are calorie-dense and packed with healthy fats, protein, and fiber. A small handful of almonds or sunflower seeds can provide a substantial amount of energy.
  • Dried fruits: High in natural sugars, dried fruits like apricots, raisins, and figs can give you an instant energy boost. Plus, they’re lightweight and easy to store.
  • Canned goods: Canned beans, vegetables, and meats are calorie-rich and don’t require refrigeration. Just be sure to rotate them regularly and consider the sodium content, as too much salt can be a problem in large quantities.
  • Protein bars: A great way to get protein, carbs, and fat all in one portable package. They’re lightweight and easy to carry with you, making them perfect for survival situations.
  • MREs (Meals Ready to Eat): MREs are designed to be lightweight, nutrient-dense, and easy to prepare in the field. While they can be expensive, they’re a great addition to any prepper’s pantry for emergencies.
  • Dehydrated meals: These are a bit more convenient than MREs, and they offer a variety of meal options. Just add water, and you’ve got a decent meal that’s loaded with the calories you need.

The Importance of Prepping for Nutrient-Rich Calories

While stockpiling enough food for your family is essential, you need to make sure your food stores are not just full of empty calories. A steady diet of nothing but high-carb foods like ramen noodles or white bread will give you the calories you need to survive for a short period, but it won’t provide the nutrients your body needs to function at its best.

In an emergency, you’ll need foods that keep you alert and give you the stamina to keep moving. If you’re relying on canned chili and potato chips, your energy levels will plummet, and your mind will become sluggish. That’s why it’s so important to prioritize high-calorie, nutrient-dense foods—things that offer a full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, not just calories.

Survival Prepper Tips for Managing Caloric Intake

Here are 10 survival prepper tips to make sure you have the calories you need when the worst happens:

  1. Know Your Caloric Needs: Understanding how many calories you need is the first step. Factor in your level of activity, your age, and your weight to determine the calories necessary to keep you going during a crisis.
  2. Prioritize High-Calorie, Nutrient-Dense Foods: Focus on calorie-dense foods that are rich in protein, healthy fats, and fiber. These will give you sustained energy without weighing you down.
  3. Stockpile Diverse Foods: Don’t just store one type of food. A variety of proteins, carbs, fats, and vitamins will keep your body functioning properly.
  4. Consider Freeze-Dried Meals: Freeze-dried foods have a long shelf life, are lightweight, and are packed with calories. Just add water, and you’ve got a hearty meal.
  5. Rotate Your Stock: Regularly rotate your food supply to ensure everything remains fresh and doesn’t go to waste. Set a schedule for checking expiration dates and using up older food.
  6. Carry Compact, High-Energy Snacks: Have portable, high-calorie snacks like protein bars, trail mix, or beef jerky on hand for when you need a quick energy boost on the go.
  7. Focus on Food Preservation: Learn how to preserve food in various ways—canning, drying, fermenting, and smoking. This will give you access to a variety of nutrient-dense foods for long-term storage.
  8. Hydrate Properly: Water is essential for survival, but so is the electrolyte balance. Keep a stash of electrolyte powders or sports drinks to replenish lost minerals during physical exertion.
  9. Think About Sustainable Sources: If you’re relying on wild foraging or hunting, know what’s edible and calorie-dense. Learn about local plants, nuts, and berries, and how to trap or fish.
  10. Avoid Junk Food: It’s tempting to buy cheap junk food that’s calorie-dense, but it’s often full of empty calories and won’t keep you feeling energized or healthy. Avoid overly processed, sugary, or high-sodium options.

Conclusion: Fueling the Fight for Survival

When SHTF, survival is a marathon, not a sprint. Keeping your body in peak condition is critical to navigating the challenges that lie ahead. Whether you’re holed up in a shelter or out scavenging for supplies, your body will need proper fuel to perform at its best.

By calculating your caloric needs and prioritizing high-energy, nutrient-rich foods, you can ensure that you and your loved ones will have the stamina to thrive, not just survive. Make sure your food stores are stocked with the right items, and plan for a long-term emergency. When the worst happens, you’ll be ready to keep moving, thinking clearly, and ultimately, surviving.

DAY 10 AFTER THE SHTF — SURVIVAL ISN’T JUST ABOUT FINDING FOOD

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn self-sufficient, SHTF, Survival Prepper, SurvivalistLeave a comment

It’s Day 10 since everything went sideways. The grid’s down. The streets are lawless. You’re living off what’s left of your preps and what you can scavenge in the ruins. Your family comes first—your kids eat before you do—because that’s what a real protector does.

Your gut’s been gnawing at itself for days now, that deep hunger turning into something primal. You’ve grown used to the emptiness. It becomes part of you. A constant reminder: you’re still alive.


Watch What The Off Grid Survivalist of the Year Has to Say About Survival Prepper!

Then it happens. You strike gold—a hidden stash of food. Maybe it was buried, maybe left behind in a rush, maybe a forgotten emergency cache. Either way, it’s yours now.

You dig in like a starving wolf. Your family devours every bite. For a moment, you taste victory.

And then—bam. Nausea. Dizziness. Weakness. Your body betrays you. What you thought was salvation turns into a full-blown emergency.

You’ve just met the silent killer called refeeding syndrome.

WHAT IS REFEEDING SYNDROME?

When you go without food for an extended time—say 10 days or more—your body hits the brakes. It slows your metabolism, conserves every last ounce of energy. You’re running on fumes, and your electrolytes (magnesium, potassium, phosphorus) get drained.

Then, you eat like it’s Thanksgiving. Your system gets shocked. That sudden spike in nutrients flips the metabolic switch, demanding electrolytes you no longer have. The result? Cardiac failure, seizures, coma—or worse.

SURVIVAL PREPPER TIPS: AVOIDING THE REFEEDING TRAP

  1. Reintroduce food SLOWLY after extended starvation.
    Start with fluids or broths. Give your system time to adjust.
  2. Focus on electrolyte-rich foods first.
    Bananas, bone broth, leafy greens, nuts—these can restock your depleted reserves.
  3. Avoid carbs in the first refeeding stage.
    Carbs spike insulin and demand phosphorus. Go with fats and proteins first.
  4. Keep oral rehydration salts (ORS) in your bug-out bag.
    They’re lightweight and can save your life during refeeding.
  5. Know the symptoms: weakness, confusion, shortness of breath.
    Don’t mistake these signs for just being “tired.” It could be fatal.
  6. Keep a stash of electrolyte tablets or powders.
    A little prep now can prevent a deadly crash later.
  7. Always rotate your food preps to avoid long fasts.
    Prevent running out altogether by tracking expiry dates and cycling through supplies.
  8. Train your body to adapt with occasional fasts before disaster strikes.
    This builds metabolic resilience and makes you more adaptable.
  9. Teach your family about phased eating.
    Survival isn’t just about feeding them—it’s about feeding them smart.
  10. Don’t let relief override discipline.
    Finding food isn’t the finish line—it’s just another checkpoint. Stay sharp.

Remember: In survival, it’s not always the obvious threats that take you down. Sometimes it’s the first meal after the storm that does it.

Stay vigilant. Stay smart. And for the love of all that’s sacred, don’t let your guard down just because you’ve found food. Survival is a marathon, not a sprint.

Prep hard. Stay ready. Live to tell the tale.

5 Crucial Items Everyone Forgets To Include In Their Bug-Out Bags

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn survival, survival gearLeave a comment

If you are ever forced to evacuate your house and bug out with your family, what you take with you is very important.

Most people pack the essentials. A first aid kit, food, water, and perhaps a sturdy tactical knife.

But there are some items you don’t usually realize you need until you actually need them.

I will share them with you in this newsletter, to make sure you are not missing anything.

Duct Tape

This might seem like an odd choice, but the versatility of duct tape in a survival situation is unmatched.

Whether it’s for makeshift repairs, sealing a shelter, or even first aid uses like securing bandages, a roll of duct tape can be a real lifesaver.

Sewing Kit

While most people don’t consider a sewing kit as a priority, in a prolonged survival situation, it can be invaluable.

The ability to mend clothing, backpacks, or even stitch up a deep cut can make a world of difference.

Physical Currency

Remember, in a grid-down situation, electronic payment methods might be unavailable.

It’s wise to have a stash of physical currency, including a good amount of smaller bills and coins, for times when digital means of payment aren’t an option.

Hard Copies of Important Documents

When we think of survival, paperwork usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.

But consider this, if your house becomes inaccessible, would you have copies of crucial documents like your birth certificate, passport, or essential policy plans?

Also, consider including a written list of important contact numbers in case your cellphone becomes inoperable.

Hygiene Items

In the rush of packing survival gear, personal hygiene items can often be overlooked.

However, maintaining cleanliness can help prevent infections and diseases.

Pack travel-sized items like toothpaste, soap, hand sanitizer, and wet wipes. Ladies, don’t forget about your specific needs too.

These items might seem trivial when things are good, but in the middle of a crisis, they could be the difference between struggle and survival.

So, take a moment to review your bug-out bag and see if you can make room for these underrated yet vital survival tools.

Your Bug-Out Location Checklist

If you’ve been keeping up with current events lately, you probably feel as uneasy as I do.

The world around us is becoming more unpredictable and uncertain.

And we may find ourselves in the unfortunate situation of bugging out in the near future.

You may already have a bug-out location in mind.

Or you may be looking for one.

Either way, I’ve gathered the most important factors to consider when deciding on where you will take your family to in case your house is unsafe.

Proximity

When choosing a bug-out location, it’s essential to consider its proximity to your current place. 

Ideally, it should be far enough away to be safe from any potential threats but close enough to reach quickly in an emergency.

Accessibility

Your bug-out location should be easily accessible by car, foot, or other means of transportation. 

Look for a place you can reach with your car or one that can be reached by foot, bike, or horseback.

Keep in mind that you may need to travel with a lot of gear, so make sure the route is safe and easy to navigate.

Water

Water is essential for survival. 

Look for a location near a clean, reliable source of water such as a river, lake, or well. 

Consider the quality of the water and how easily it can be purified if necessary.

Security

Some places naturally provide more security than others.

Look for a place that is concealed with natural barriers such as mountains or forests. 

It should also be well away from major roads or other potential targets for looters or attackers.

Resources

The essential items you have with you might run out.

Try to find an area with ample hunting or fishing possibilities and a good supply of firewood for heating and cooking.

Finding the right bug-out location is a critical part of survival preparation. 

It requires careful consideration of many factors, each one more critical than the other.

Gather ample info beforehand and try to find more than one viable location.

This Is The First Sign Society Is About To Collapse

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn america, Food stockpiling, Homesteads, Preparedness, PreppersLeave a comment

When most people think about the start of the apocalypse…

They usually picture something out of a dystopian movie. A sudden, widespread terror, or perhaps a catastrophic event.

But in reality, societal breakdowns don’t happen overnight.

The first sign is far subtler than that

It’s a shift in trust.

That’s right, folks.

Trust is the glue that holds our society together.

The belief that your neighbor will respect your property.

That the grocery store will have food..

That your funds are safe.

But when that trust begins to erode, we’re on a slippery slope.

When people start losing confidence in the institutions that uphold society

When faith in the authorities dwindles…

We start edging closer to a societal breakdown.

Imagine going to work one day, and noticing a huge crowd of worried individuals outside of the biggest local banks.

Everyone is suddenly trying to withdraw their funds

Why?

Are banks not to be trusted anymore?

Do you have to withdraw your savings too?

Or imagine if trust in law enforcement begins to falter, and individuals may take matters into their own hands

Leading to an increase in vigilante justice and public unrest.

I am not sharing this to scare you. Quite the opposite. Awareness is the first step towards preparation.

If we can spot the signs early enough, we can prepare, adapt, and survive.

So, what can we do?

We can keep a close eye on societal sentiment.

Pay close attention to current events, the rumblings on social media, and the worries and concerns of your neighbors and friends.

These can provide valuable insights into the state of societal trust.

Then, you can ensure you are prepared for self-sufficiency.

This means having a reliable stockpile, honing our survival skills, and fostering a close-knit community of like-minded individuals.

Societal collapse is a gradual process.

If we spot it early enough, it can give us the upper hand.

So let us stay vigilant and aware.

This Is Why Most People Will Not Make It When SHTF

Imagine you’re planning a road trip that will last a week.

You figure out where you’ll stay, what you’ll eat, and which sights you’ll see.

But what if this trip wouldn’t last a week, but an entire year

Would you be able to remain safe?

This is a real possibility, folks.

Emergencies can force us to transform our way of living for good.

Most people think about what they’ll do for an emergency that might last a couple of days or weeks.

But that’s just not enough.

To really thrive when SHTF, we need to think months, years, and even decades ahead.

The long-term, day-to-day living in a different world.

Canned food and bottled water will keep you safe for some time. Months even.

But what happens when those run out?

In the long run, skills like hunting, fishing, farming, preserving food, and sourcing clean water are essential.

This is why what we do is so important.

We constantly improve our prepping abilities and add to our skill set.

Just like our ancestors did.

They knew the land, the seasons, the plants, and the animals. They understood that prepping wasn’t a sprint, but a marathon.

We have to adopt this kind of mindset as well.

We need to think beyond the initial emergency, beyond the canned goods, and towards a future where we don’t just think about what we have, but about what we know and what we can do.

Prepping is a lifestyle.

For most people, this shift in thinking is not easy. For others, it isn’t even possible.

But you and I both know the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re ready for anything.

So, let’s not be like most people. Let’s think ahead. Let’s stay prepared. And let’s keep improving.

“Preppers Don’t Have Fun”

Someone once accused me of taking things too seriously.

She said that since I’m always trying to prepare for the worst, I don’t ever enjoy the present moment.

When I heard about this, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Yes, I’m focused on prepping.

Yes, I’m keen on making sure my family and I can weather any storm that comes our way.

But who’s to say that I don’t have fun doing it?

You see, there is a certain joy that comes with being prepared for anything that most people can’t ever understand

A joy that most people will not ever understand.

When you are constantly acquiring different skills that can help survive potential threats, it’s like solving an exciting puzzle.

Remember the excitement as a child, that spark of curiosity when you first learned to ride a bike or tie your shoelaces? 

This is how I feel every time I learn about a different way to purify water, start a fire, or build a survival shelter.

And the reason I created this newsletter is because I wanted to share my excitement with people like you.

People who appreciate the value of emergency preparedness.

But the fun of prepping doesn’t end with the thrill of learning different skills. 

It’s also about putting these skills to the test, challenging yourself, and celebrating those moments of achievement.

Imagine successfully building a survival shelter from scratch for the first time.

It’s not just a place with a roof. It’s a testament to your resilience and resourcefulness.

Or think about the feeling of triumph when you manage to start a fire using just flint and steel.

There’s an indescribable sense of fulfillment in these moments.

I know “fun” is not something we think about when we talk about survival situations.

But it’s an important topic.

It’s what makes prepping sustainable in the long run.

So if someone says you’re a “doomsayer” or accuses you of being too focused on bad situations, just ignore them.

Keep prepping, and enjoy the process.

The Underrated Chess Skill That Will Make You A Better Prepper

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Christians, Preppers, Survival Prepper, SurvivalistLeave a comment

Did you know getting good at chess would improve your prepping abilities?

Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to learn how to play chess.

In fact, I don’t even know the rules of that game!

But I do know that it requires a lot of strategic thinking.

And that professional chess players can quickly think of 15 or 20 moves ahead in each move.

This is exactly what is needed for prepping.

Being prepared means more than just stocking up on food and weapons.

It means having a comprehensive plan in place that covers a wide range of scenarios and contingencies. 

Without a plan, we risk being caught unaware and unable to respond effectively to emergencies. 

But planning for emergencies is not easy.

There is always something different to prepare for.

Earthquakes…

Tornados…

Power Outages…

One can’t ever account for everything.

Sometimes we don’t even know what we are preparing for.

Take the chemical spill in Ohio, for example.

How could the residents see this coming?

And how could they even prepare for it?

Well, the truth is, with a proper planning system, you can prepare for anything.

You’ll see how in a minute.

First, you need to know:

Why Planning Is So Important.

Imagine you lived in an area that is prone to hurricanes.

You’ve stocked up on food and water…

You have a generator…

…and you’ve secured your house as best you can. 

You feel confident that you are prepared for the next big storm.

But suddenly, a huge storm hits.

One that is bigger than any other storm your area has seen.

It completely destroys your preparations and your house is not safe anymore.

You have to bug out.

But the issue is, it happened on a school day. And your children still haven’t gotten back from school.

How will you let them know where to meet? 

Your smartphone is not working because the power grid stopped working.

It’s a disaster!

Well, this is where foresight comes in handy.

If you had agreed on a meeting place in case your preparations didn’t work, then this would have been solved.

Getting good at planning means preparing for things that most people would not even think about.

Of course, this was a far-fetched scenario…

But it goes to show…

A proper plan can help you and your family overcome even the craziest catastrophe.

That’s why I’ll show you simple ways to become good at this skill.

And give you ideas on how to practice your planning abilities so that you are always ready.

Find Your Commitment Level

Before you start working on your planning skills, there is something that you have to figure out first…

You need to assess your level of commitment. 

The reason this is so important is that developing this skill is not something easy.

You will not become good at it overnight.

Just like professional chess players work very hard to improve their skills, you will have to go over some roadblocks.

If you are aware of your commitment level before you even start, however, you will be in a much better position to work through these roadblocks.

Before you read the rest of the article, ask yourself these questions:

  • How much time and effort are you willing to invest in planning for emergencies?
  • If improving your planning skills gets too hard, would you continue working on them?
  • What challenges are you willing to face?

Take your time and honestly answer these questions.

This way, you can set realistic goals for yourself and ensure that you don’t overcommit or burn out.

How To Improve Your Planning Skills

Once you’ve figured out your commitment level, it is finally time to improve your planning abilities.

When it comes to planning for emergencies, there are some key elements that every prepping plan should include. 

These elements include risk assessment, threat analysis, resource inventory, and contingency planning. 

Let’s explore each of these elements in more detail:

Risk assessment.

This is the process of identifying potential risks and hazards that could affect you and your loved ones. 

This includes natural disasters, economic collapse, civil unrest, and other potential emergencies.

You can even include risks that are not your plan.

Neglecting to prepare for something is also a risk.

Consider everything that could go wrong.

Threat analysis. 

This is where you evaluate the risks.

Conduct a threat analysis to evaluate:

  1. The likelihood of each threat.
  2. The potential impact of each threat.

This will help you prioritize your planning efforts and allocate resources.

Resource inventory.

A resource inventory involves taking stock of the resources you have on hand and identifying any gaps in your preparedness. 

This includes:

  • Food, 
  • Water, 
  • Medication
  • Weapons and ammunition
  • Other essential items.

Contingency planning.

Contingency planning involves developing a plan B in case your primary plan fails (Remember the storm example?).

This can include backup evacuation routes, secondary locations for shelter, or contingency supply sources.

By including these key elements in your prepping plan, you can be better prepared for a wide range of emergencies and increase your probability of survival.

Tips That Will Make This Easier

If you’ve read this far, you have probably realized that this will take some work.

But, remember, you are committed.

Which means that you are willing to do whatever it takes to become better at planning.

However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t use simple advice that will make this journey easier.

  1. Start small.

If you are not an experienced prepper, it is easy to become overwhelmed.

Start with a simple plan for a specific scenario, such as a short power outage.

This will help you build confidence and develop your planning skills.

Once you feel ready, move on to harder challenges, such as natural disasters.

  1. Set goals.

Determine what you want to achieve with your prepping plan.

And set realistic, measurable goals to help you stay motivated and on track.

  1. Involve your family.

Doing everything alone is tough. And definitely not fun.

If you involve your whole family in the prepping process, everything will proceed much smoother.

Plus, everyone is going to be on the same page so they will know what to do in emergencies.

  1. Stay organized.

Keep your prepping plan and items organized and easily accessible so you can quickly respond to emergencies.

You can use checklists, journal entries, or your preferred way of taking notes.

  1. Continuously review and update your plan.

The risks we face are constantly changing.

So it’s important to regularly review and update your prepping plan to ensure that it remains effective and relevant.

Planning is a crucial part of prepping.

And can make a huge difference in ensuring your family’s safety.

By developing this skill, you will be in a much better position to survive any emergency.

Survival Prepper: Canned Foods Vs. Freeze-Dried

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Christians, Preppers, Survival Prepper, Survivalist1 Comment

As a Prepper, you will store many things in case of an emergency – first aid, power, gas, tools, and water. However, shelf-stable food storage is by far one of the most important pieces of the puzzle. For reasons that we will outline below, Freeze Dried food is the Best Survival Food choice for Preppers and others thinking of long-term storage.

The types of Prepper food that you have stored can make all the difference in a survival scenario. There are a number of different benefits that come from storing the right foods. Aside from not having to leave your home and face the disaster to eat, the right foods can provide your family with a level of comfort and security for many years.

When analyzing the best food storage options for Preppers consider the following shelf life for various long-term food storage:

  • Canned food (low acid) – 2 to 5-year shelf life (per USDA)
  • Canned food (high acid) – 1.5 to 2-year shelf life (per USDA)
  • Dehydrated food – up to 15-year shelf life
  • Freeze-dried food – up to 30-year shelf life

While canned goods are easy to pick up at the grocery store and stock in your cabinet, for true Prepping needs, canned goods are not good enough.

Yes, canned goods can last way longer than the recommended date, but I would much rather invest in high-quality food that will last for up to 30 years myself! Check out why Freeze Fried food is superior to Canned Food below!

The canning process takes foods in a fresh state and preserves them in an, often, salty brine and a vacuum-sealed environment that is void of oxygen. It is in this state that bacteria are starved of oxygen and cannot grow rapidly. This makes the food last longer.

Most canned foods can last for a few years. There are even lengths behind the best by the date that canned goods can last. This makes them a great option for long-term food storage. Canned foods can also be found at deep discounts and you can often buy 10 canned food items for less than $10.

You can find most anything canned! Some of the best options for prepping and long-term food storage are things like canned meats, beans, vegetables, fruits, soups, and sauces.

The basic process of freeze-drying starts with taking fresh or cooked foods and cooling them to a temperature of -40 degrees Fahrenheit. These foods are then subjected to a powerful vacuum that surrounds the food. Then, as the food is slowly and carefully warmed the ice turns to vapor and is removed.

This process is more thorough than canning and creates a product that can be packed with a desiccate to last for as much as 30 years.

The types of foods that freeze-dry well are a combination of fresh and cooked foods. Freeze-dried meats do well, as do fresh foods. They retain much of their texture and flavor, which is an added bonus.

While many people will echo the fact that freeze-dried food comes with that incredible shelf life, there are a tremendous amount of benefits outside of just being able to store freeze-dried foods for a couple of decades, in most cases. Let’s have a look at some of those overwhelming benefits.

TEXTURE AND TASTE OF FREEZE-DRIED FOODS

Canned goods were responsible for stocking peoples’ pantries all over the world! They made it so that everyone could have carrots, asparagus, cream of mushroom soup, and beef stew whenever they wanted. However, because of the deterioration and cooking of vegetables required, they also turned a whole generation off to vegetables. The idea was that these foods were mushy and flavorless.

Fresh fruits and vegetables that are freeze-dried maintain much of their taste and keep a crunchy texture in the dried state. This makes the fruits and vegetables great little snacks. When rehydrated they still look like vegetables and taste like them as well.

NUTRITION

The freeze-drying process assures that these foods maintain much more of their nutrient profile than foods that are canned and stored in a brine. These vitamins and minerals will make an enormous difference in a survival situation.

LESS ROTATION COMPARED TO CANNED GOODS

While less acidic canned goods can last up to 5 years past the best by date, freeze-dried foods can last up to 30 years if stored in the right conditions. This means you do not have to concern yourself with rotation as much as you do with canned goods. Maybe 1-2 rotations in your lifetime – How crazy is that?!

SPACE AND WEIGHT

One of the biggest benefits of freeze-dried foods is that they take up so little space and weigh next to nothing because all the moisture has been removed from them. This means you can get really creative about storage and the places you can shove a little extra.

BUILDING MEALS USING FREEZE DRIED FOOD

You can combine freeze-dried foods to create meals and store these foods for quick solutions that just require hot water. Think of it as making your own backpacking meals. These mixes of ingredients can be stored in ball jars and used to make quick meals in a hurry or in a disaster.

You will be able to fill your pantry quickly, easily, and affordably with canned foods. That being said, freeze-dried foods are the superior product for Preppers and long-term storage, and you should consider incorporating them as the foundation of your emergency food storage plan!

Survival Prepper: Electronics

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Preppers, Survival Prepper, SurvivalistLeave a comment

I myself am an advocate of using technology, especially for homestead defense purposes. I prefer an induction kitchen over an open fire, without any doubt. And I know that given the fantasy of the need for an endless-expanding market, things are designed, engineered, and manufactured for failure. This is because of the need of being sold at an affordable price and keep the money flowing. YOUR money, flowing from your pocket to theirs. No matter if you decided to use some “excess” money you may have, in buying a new microwave, or some other stuff. Keep reading, please.

Simplicity is reliability.


But what I do feel the need to mention, is how important is to keep our devices and appliances as simple as possible. Simplicity is reliability. Sophistication, in my opinion, has been used for decades now to absorb the excess money generated by the boost of the companies’ profits, produced by an incredible increase in the use of automation and information technology, outsourcing, and other similar phenomena that allowed to decrease the production costs.

This sophistication has brought us extremely beneficial devices at affordable prices: heat/thermal vision for our cellphones, high-powered crossbows (carbon fiber, anyone?), and tons of other gadgets. Tablets, GPS, tasers, drones, and a good variety of these survival gadgets are going to be very useful and widely used in the sustainability or defense of our homestead. Air rifles technology and some interesting toys like 3D printers and all types and flavors of machines for making other machines in the skilled hands of the mechanically savvy are all over the place.

If you don’t really need fancy electronics, then keep it simple for your basic day-to-day needs. In the present conditions, someone who needs to fix their luxury refrigerator with a Bluetooth connection and with more computing power than my laptop is going to have a heart attack. That is if they are lucky enough to find someone able to fix that kind of thing that has not left the country yet.

You need a simple repair set-up

There are plenty of tutorials about lots of maintenance so you can do without thinking it twice, always of course with the assistance of someone with the needed technical knowledge. This is important because you will be able to diagnose problems at an early stage.

You do need, as a prepper, a bio-digester that will provide the gas generated by the waste of the chicken coop, to boil the rainwater that you have filtered previously with your entirely gravity-fed, high capacity, custom homemade, filtering equipment, and prepare your coffee. Only then, you can turn on your large TV, naturally powered by your solar/wind/hydro generator/batteries setup, to admire Scarlett in all of her beauty.

Complicated electronics are great…in good times.


Electronics have come to improve lots of things, and I am pretty aware of that.

Having equipment and devices that are made to last, perhaps with analog systems, instead of lots of electronics, is something that in the long term will be rewarded.

Yes, I have some digital measurement tools, of course. A digital vernier calibrator (sort of a very precise rule used by technicians to measure dimensions of small pieces, like in machining or repairing), for example. But I do have a mechanical one J as a backup that I could buy for a few bucks (and know how to use it).

I hope you have enjoyed the reading, by Jose from Venezuela.

God bless us, fellows!