Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

I'm on a Frugal kick now. Been a week since I quit drinking coffee and the caffeine withdrawal headaches are long gone. I also stopped that glass of pre-dinner wine. $20 per week I don't spend now. Since I feel much better without them now I am starting to eliminate all the other crap that makes me feel unwell. I nuke a mug of filtered water in the microwave for 2 minutes instead of brew coffee. Other than orange juice I just drink filtered water now. I also stopped adding salt to my food. Basically I want to feel better by avoiding junk in the diet. I can't even pronounce some of the stuff that is in the common packaged foods I buy. Many people have food allergies and don't even know it.

We all read how people in third-world countries earn a dollar per day and have eight children. I want to see how inexpensive I could eat in America wtshtf. So, at Albertson's today I bought ten two-pound bags of brown rice for $1 each on sale. I bought ten one-pound bags of frozen peas/carrots for $1 each on sale. I bought five pounds of boneless chicken breasts for $2.50/lb and cut them up into cubes, Ziplock freezer bagged them into 4-ounce servings, then put them in the freezer. Three-ounce pouches of Wild-Caught Pink Salmon are 97-cents each at Wal-Mart. Hard-boiled eggs are a dime each.

Anybody have real-world experience eating really really cheap? Suggestions?

:yippee: I'm already well over a $1 per day! How do they do it?

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Some foods are probably cheaper in countries of $1 a day. They probably do not eat much if any meat. Most 3rd worlders who can grow part of their food.

The cheapest grain tends to be the bulk of the diet where poverty is extreme. That is why the big jump in tortilla cost is a real issue in Mexico. High corn prices may push a lot of borderline families into starvation.

Here too corn and beans might be among the cheapest staples you can survive on.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

About 6 weeks ago I quit drinking all soda pop, coffee, ice tea and beer. I drink ice water and the new V8 vfrusion juice. Although I'll still drink beer when I get invited next door. I sleep like a rock now and feel better when I get up.

I used to go to Walmart or Marc's and buy 6 - 8 cases of pepsi or Snapple ice tea. Now I look for the light V-Frusion drink and clear off the shelf.

I also started taking some very expensive liquid vitamins and minerals and an RX-Joint liquid. One thing I've noticed since taking it....I have a lot less pain now.

I still need to work on the junk food and loose some weight.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Many years ago I used to follow a macrobiotic diet. Best I ever felt in my life! It's based on whole grains, beans, fresh local produce, and stuff like miso. Do some Googling to find out more. Cheapest I ever ate, too. By the way, miso is a SERIOUS power food. There were some studies done in postwar Hiroshima and Nagasaki regarding the consumption of miso soup and radiation sickness. Don't remember the specifics, but I recall that those that consumed miso soup several times daily did not suffer the effects of the radiation, at least significantly less than those that didn't.

I often think of returning to a macrobiotic diet, but I'm not the young, single guy I once was! Plus, I already eat worlds better than most people I know. I have been thinking about giving up coffee and alcohol lately. Not that I really drink much alcohol--probably average 3 beers/week. It just makes me feel tired, though. Coffee would be much harder. Kudos to you for your success!

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Experiment/perfect a complete-meal soup.
Mine is "chicken" soup, actually it is a ton
of many different veggies and proportionally
just a little chicken, with lots of secret spices.
I nearly fill the pot with chopped veggies,
add the chicken and spices, then cover with
water.

Invest in a huge stock pot, and a
propane turkey-deep-fryer burner.
You need the turkey cooker because
4-5 gallons of soup is too heavy for
kitchen ranges. Freeze the soup in
appropriate portions.

Get an electric rice cooker. Keep leftover
rice around at all times. Add a little to
the above frozen soup after reheating.
There are many other ways to use leftover
rice in cheap/healthy meals.
___________________________________________

Use that big stock pot to simmer up a
ton of refried beans. I start with uncooked,
not canned beans. Add what you like, ...
cheese, salsa, peppers, beef bits etc.
Make a hundred little burritos, wrap in food
service pop-up sandwich wrap, then sandwich
size pop-up foil, and freeze. TIP: Don't slap
too much of the filling on the tortillas, use
less than you think at first think is right.

dtnwn

PS- When you are out buying the big stock pot,
get a VERY long stainless steel stirring spoon,
a shorter but large-bowled stainless ladle, and
maybe a big slotted spoon too.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

looking at the frugal part of your post....I was sitting in the post office parking lot today debating weather to stop at Subway or Quizos. Subway just recently raised prices on everything, so I decided to eat what I've got at home. And I've got a ton of food in the house....

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

All great responses guys. Keep 'em coming please!

:wavey:

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

No wine???? K, dude I feel for ya. :-) That's rough. I don't think I could do it.

Sea salt is OK. I love to P.O. my sister-in-law by putting salt (sea salt) on my dinner she thinks all salt is bad for you. Not so, only the processed kind.

Dude your torturing yourself!! ;-)

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

I pretty much stopped eating at restaurants. Seems like a waste of money. But I will get something 'to go'. But i refuse to pay full price.

I've got this PO Box and notice that almost everyone throws those coupon magazines in the trash barrel. So I pick up my mail after hours and usually get an opportunity to go through the barrel for coupons. The subway coupons are good for a buck off. And Pizza Pan keeps rolling out $5 coupons.

Sign up at Quiznos website, they'll send the coupon to your email address. You can print out as many as you want. They're usually a buck or two off:

http://www.quiznos.com/offers/

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

I think people shouldn`t eat out but otherwise never try to save on food.I try to eat organic,zero junk food/coffee/alcohol/,lots of quality protein,fat such as organic butter/cream,bacon.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Stews and Chicken Noodle soup were the cheapest during my lean times. Graduated to stir fry vegies little meat and rice.

E-A

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Sauces are Golden. You can make some pretty average thing tasty with the right sauce.

E-A

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

The 1 lb. bags are good for a trial or a trip, but 10 and 20 lb bags will be cheaper still. I have to agree on the Miso--if I'm sick or run down, the stuff helps.

Preparation is a big factor. Lately I've been doing a big batch of stir fry every week. Onions, garlic, mushrooms, greens, and whatever is in season at the Farmers Market (which is cheaper and fresher than the grocery store, BTW), a little olive oil, meat if you want it. A pot of rice, and you're good to go. I have lunch all week at work.

A little tip: I'll take a little wine--Two Buck Chuck :wink: ), mix in a little miso paste, and microwave it. Add it to the stir fry--it lends a rich meaty taste.

And Kahlil, if you aren't doing so already, start sprouting.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

learn to make your own soup from bones.

Combined with some cheaper organic veggies and you can have some awesome stews for quite cheap.

When I did the dollar a day thing, I ate:

stew/broths made from soup bones, pork hocks and chicken carcasses
potatoes and carrots
brown rice
some milk
olives
home made whole grain bread
curry (often made from the broths)
some fresh fruit
some fresh veggies (mostly dark greens)
oatmeal and barley
pickles some times

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Sea salt is great,the gray celtic kind.I follow the bodybuilding diet,tons of protein,low-glycemic carbs,fruits/veggies and quality unheated animal fat.Cholesterol is very important,it`s a precursor to every steroid hormone in the body and is needed for nerve function.Low-cholesterol diet is one of the way TPTB are killing us with.Buy a 50lbs bag of flavorless whey protein on ebay for 150.00,lasts me a year.

Hav-a-hart traps
 

Having moved to the south, I noticed quite a few people trap possum, turtles and coon. Hunting and fishing big down here.:coolbeer:

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

If you're not worried about nutrition, say strictly cheap survival. I think it's hard to beat simple spaghetti. You can get this stuff on the big sales, or Costco etc for dirt cheap. Big jug o cheap tomato sauce- Dunno , but maybe with a coupon here and there, I bet you could come close to feeding a family of 5 for about a buck a day just eating that. Two big sit down carb-loading pasta binges a day.
I don't eat the stuff much any more , but if I remember correctly , you get a lot more cooked pasta from the thinner varieities- ie capellini or angel hair will produce more weight cooked food per dry pound measure, than say regular spaghetti. iow , a 16 oz box prob has the same total calories , but the angel hair will seem like a lot more food- if that makes sense to anyone. Water and all.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Use coupons! I am lucky because I get triple coupons each week that can be used at two local supermarkets. If you dont have triples, then find a store that does. Since you shop at Albertsons, you might want to check out this http://www.mycoupons.com/boards/albertsons/. They discuss current deals and match sales with coupons. This is where you can get coupons http://www.mycoupons.com/boards/coupon-rebate-swap-crs/. Most coupon sellers require you pay with paypal. This is the best way to go since it will get the coupons out faster.

Here are some of the deals I have gotten with coupons

Dole pineapple on sale $1 each. Coupon for .50 off 2 cans. With triples, it ends up $2-$1.50=.50 for 2 cans.

Rice a Roni/Pasta Roni on sale $1 each. Coupon for .50 off 2 boxes. With triples, it ends up $2-$1.50=.50 for 2 boxes.

Good life cat food $4.99. Coupon for free Good Life Cat Food up to 5lbs. At the store it is $4.99 so free cat food.

Rice Crispies on sale $2.50. With .70 off 1 box. With triples, it ends up $2.50-$2.10= .40/box.

Jet Puff Marshmellos on on sale $1 each. Coupon for .50 off 2 bags. With triples, it ends up $2-$1.50=.50 for 2 bags. (can now make rice cripes treats)

Progesso Soup Coupon on sale for $1 each. Coupon for .50 off 2 boxes. With triples, it ends up $2-$1.50=.50 for 2 cans.

If I am lucky, I can get free food or on rare occasions make money.

One local store has reduce produce. I get a 5lbs of potatoes or apples for around $1.20 a bag. They also have reduce bakery items. I get a loaf of bread for .39 each. I stock up and put them in the freezer.

If you have a Rite Aid/CVS, you might want to check them out. They have sales where you can get things like shampoo and toothbrushes for free.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

In an attempt to cut back on desserts such as cake, pie, cookies etc., I now eat mainly chocolate rice cakes. Not perfect but the first ingreedient listed is brown rice. I'm hitting the diet angle with some of my posts but the idea is to toughen up before tshtf. Then it won't be such a shock.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Once we figured out that steel cut oats (much yummier, IMO, but the traditional method requires 30 minutes of stirring) could cook up beautifully unattended in the slow cooker, they have become a favorite with some dried fruit thrown in to cook with them. (Raisins are inexpensive.) By the 50 lb bag steel cut oats, or Irish porrige, are very inexpensive, though high by the little tin.

Every bean has its value though our favorites are the pinto, navy and lima. Pink beans are a delicate, delicious relative of the pinto. Lentils are fast cooking and good. And in the pea clan black-eyes are faster cooking than many beans and good with a few carrots and an onion added to the pot.

Beans need the protein balanced. Corn does that well, which is why they are eaten together in Native cultures. Cornbread, fried corn mush, corn skillet bread (kind of cornmeal pancakes with many regional names like corn fritters) or dry corn tossed in to cook with the pintos all fill that protein out. My pioneer forebears passed down those kinds of corn on the side recipes. Corn tortillas fill that nutritional slot in Mexico. Using (wheat) flour tortillas for your bean sandwiches makes the protein less useable.

Pots of broth are a great way to use leftovers and anything getting elderly in the veggie bin to make something that can be the base of yummy soups and sauces. I only have one going when it is cold though.

Eggs are another protein bargain and as mentioned above, sprouts are a good staple green. Very high nutritional quality, not hard to make, and inexpensive. A tiny amount of alfalfa seed (be sure to get the sprouting kind, untreated, much cheaper in quantity) makes a quart jar of sprouts fast. And all you have to do is rinse them morning and evening. Piece of cake!

We still drink coffee, though in moderation. Generally 1 cup in the morning and that's it. Our use is low enough I do not notice mornings I skip the coffee, which is my rough demarcation line for addictions of all kinds. Does it jump into my mind if I skip it? If so, time to back off. Same for booze, though moderate wine or beer drinking seems to be more a health plus than minus in some studies. 1 glass with dinner does fall in the moderate category. A six pack after work does not.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

This one sentence from Ghost Recon helped me just now identify my subconscious motive for starting this thread: toughen up before tshtf.

All us GIMers witness planet Earth heading for disaster and post about Iran soon being bombed and starting WWIII. Peak Oil. Global Warming. Dollar crash. Police State. North American Union and the NWO. Gloom and doom. It's not itshtf but wtshtf. Many of us believe it is happening now.

Ghost Recon's "toughen up before tshtf" makes sense. In this GIM Survival Prep Section we read about expensive investments in preparations but consider this: Mexican men, women, and their children literally walk across the desert to get here. They don't have fancy Bug-Out Bags and SUVs. They walk carrying maybe a plastic jug of water and a sack of food. When they get here as refugees they out-work us while eating on poverty wages. They are thriving while Americans are not. Americans are fat, unhappy, and addicted to many unhealthy things.

I would like this thread to branch-out within the GIM Survival Section into a few more specialized sticky reference threads:

Cheap Nutritious Food: http://www.whfoods.com/

Frugal Living: http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/index.htm

This present thread already contains a vast amount of GIMer personal knowledge and now more than ever is the time for the GIM Survival Prep Section to be important. Anybody have an opinion about how this can happen in an organized way? Is there much interest?



:wavey: Thanks to everyone who posted in this thread. I'm learning a lot!

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

I've made a few friends down in Costa Rica. The staple of their diet seems to be red or black beans and rice. THey literally have it every meal, usually with some sort of meat. Beans and rice are of course quite affordable. I think a 13 serving bag of red beans is only like $0.80. $2.00 will also buy a large bag of rice here. Both are easy to prepare and easy to store. I've also been stocking up on lentils as of late. Like beans, they are cheap, easy to store and even easier to prepare. They also have more protein per serving....

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

When raisins from a big bag are too dry,
try tossing them in the boiling water
before the oatmeal. Just before the
oatmeal is done stir in some flax meal.

dtnwn

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

And they save and recycle everything. The very poor treasure everything. Those sandals made out of worn out tires are an example as is the reuse of any glass or plastic packaging. Cardboard gets reused as insulation... whatever it is they try to use it.

We are accustomed to having so much it is normal to become as careless as we have, and how well off we have been will leave us with a lot of residual wealth we may not think of as wealth now. Maybe we have a couple of bicycles we ride occasionally that could prove very useful in a fuel crisis. Most of us have enough clothing to last a lifetime. And tools, blankets, cook pots... things we do not even think of as wealth so great has our wealth been since WW2.

So we have forgotten things like that worn out clothes can be made into quilts.. the lore of the poor not that far behind us in time but like another world in a way.

For really hard times remembering how to be frugal is a great concept.

In my great grandmother's time a new family was gifted by their relatives with a feather bed, a mule, some quilts and some tool heads. It is amazingly different today.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

20+% of all American adults are smokers. 20+%. They probably also drink coffee/pepsi and maybe a couple of drinks after work. That costs them on average maybe $200 per month. WTSHTF all of them will be in a world of hurt going through headaches and other withdrawal symptoms. And that does not include the millions using illegal drugs. I think that eliminating any and all true addictions is Job One in toughening up for wtshtf.

:bawling: i need a cigarette

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

We try to go our local pick-your-own-produce
farm on first picking day for Roma tomatoes.
(Added a comment about picking day later.)
We take our own baskets and wagon,
and pick about 70 lbs for 20 cents/lb.

We use Marcella Hazan's basic tomato sauce
recipe. If you do this you'll need that big stock pot
and turkey cooker again. Before you start cooking
the sauce, get some big bags of ice and a tub that
your stock pot will easily fit in. Start early in the
day because cutting the tomatoes is time
consuming, plus you will be cooking several batches,
and each batch takes a while to simmer down.
We started out using Seal-A-Meal for storing/freezing,
but these days we use ZipLock bags. Get the
finished sauce quite cold before putting large
amounts in the freezer.

I must remember to go out there before Roma day,
and pick a bunch of bell peppers for freezing. Very
easy, just slice so they require less room, and freeze.

(Honey just told me that these days the farm allows
Roma picking on one day only. There aren't many
tomatoes left after first day anyway, maybe they
want to get the next crop of whatever planted ASAP.)

We have a great plum tree. What to do in a banner
plum year? I dunno. Honey made a ton of asian
style plum sauce one year and froze it. We rarely
used it. Anybody a prune making expert?

dtnwn

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

I buy organic in 50 pound bag. Its cheap but can't remember the price. I would guess a person could live on it for a long time. When it gets old I just feed it to the dogs or chickens and buy a new bag. I normally get the bag in the fall.

I like mine with raisins.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

wont do as much good as if you did the 'cleanup the diet thing' after a nice organic/herbal intestinal cleanse, That is where all the poison is.

I use DR shulz;http://www.dr-schulze.com/home_1024x768.asp high end organic herbs, youll shyte like a duck for 5 days but feel 30lbs lighter.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Hey Gasilat:

The peas, corn, grean beans , that the supermarkets sell on sale for 3 for a dollar - even a delMonte brand or such , are they even worth eating? besides for the filler element?

There are traces of Vitamin A and C, and a bit of Fiber....


Whats the point of eating these? They seem to be a waste of time !!!

Is there phyto-anti-oxident benefits I dont know of?

I could research it myself even more , whats your take?

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

KG,

Everybody's making good suggestions on food but one method of saving money on preparing that food is to cook in a thermos. Someone wrote a book on it about 30 years ago, living very cheap on rice and beans and soup... but most people slow cook these items in lots of water for a long time, wasting gas/electricity.

Get a good thermos. Add the grains, beans, etc. Add boiling water. Close the thermos, and it stays above 180 degrees for hours, slow cooking long enough to soften dried beans, but without keeping the stove on.

Davehorus

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

That is a good point, Dave. We find beans cook great being brought to a boil, the turned off till cool, then boiled again. We started that by accident when just turning them off if we did not want to worry about scorching. But the cooling then heating seems to get them soft and a nice thick bean soup as well as steady cooking if you use 2 days to get them ready to eat. And it uses a lot less fuel.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Dave, Dr. Steven Jones[of the 911 resistance movement] invented a cheap effective solar cooker a few years ago for third world countrys that in effect incorporated your vacum bottle technology. He also invented a refrigerator that used a parabolic dish pointed at empty space that would produce a "free" 20 degree drop in temperature overnight in any material placed in the focal point. He could make ice cubes on a 45 degree night!

Am smoking some of my homegrown Michigan tobacco right now; so it shows I have given this some thought for some time. Have about 50 pounds each of beans, rice, oats, and flour on the shelves, lots of pasta and sugar, with quite a few cases of canned veggies, corned beef, canned salmon, tuna, etc. haven't done the tomato sauce yet, but do have a few dozen quarts of homecanned and grown tomatoes and homecanned blueberrys that I can pick for free. Have also a few dozen jars of canned chicken leg quarters that I have put up for my dog and cat, buying them in 40 pound boxes for 19-29 cents a pound. Want to make some canned apple sauce this year.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Just planning on packing a lunch for tommorrow, my brother gave me a new thermos for Christmas. Save on the calorie intake, increase the PM intake!:ARMS1:

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

:wavey: Thanks Dave on the Thermos Cooking reminder: http://www.kurtsaxon.com/foods005.htm

I think we can all agree on the following basic wisdom:

1) Buy in bulk if possible
2) Buy/grow fresh locally if possible
3) Frozen is better than canned nutritionally
4) Sales and coupons can save a lot of money if you have the time.

I cooked my first brown rice/peas/carrot/chicken dinner tonight and it cost around $1.20 - much healthier and cheaper than any fast-food or packaged meal. I don't think the time spent cooking is a "cost factor" since it really can be a simple pleasure in and of itself.

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Big Brother will catch AM for PM because off all those beans.

Inferred will bust you AM, better get some Beano:rofl: :rofl:

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Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Looking for great deals is fine but remember that saving on nutrition is the most expensive habit one can have in the long run(doctors are expensive and don`t cure anything).There will be plenty of times when we`ll be forced to save on food when SHTF but now try to eat well.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Think they'll make neighborhood sweeps with fart detectors? :haha:

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

And the worst addictions are sugar and salt. Have you ever looked at a box of 40% of the DR intake of SODIUM?! Salt is a necessary nutrient and a flavor enhancer, but it should not be a flavor itself!

I love a good cup of coffee, I admit it. But I'll sooner quit the stuff than drink crap, unless staying awake is paramount. But just try to get off refined sugar--you'll have cravings and fantasies and pain like you've never imagined. I went through it once, involuntarily and cold turkey, after a car accident. I cannot imagine that heroin withdrawal is worse. And as quickly as possible I got back on the stuff.

I do avoid anything with corn syrup, or High-Fructose Corn Syrup. If you think sucrose is addictive, this stuff is worse. And it's in EVERYTHING.

The one truly great thing about living in California is the sheer abundance of fresh food. Especially at the farmers market--so cheap!

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

cool thread man. say Kurt Saxon had a few web pages that were totally devoted to this topic. hard red winter wheat, was his suggestion, and you sprout it for greens, and the rest of the time you're cooking it in a thermos like oatmeal or something. don't know if that's still up on the web.

Mayheecanos eat cheap ev'ry day by eating corn tortillas, beans and rice. your protein comes from the beans. The beans are easy to make, just get a bag at the store and perfect your recipe for frijoles first before you buy a big lot. here's what a Mex taught me: you sort through em the night before, get rid of the little stones that often come in the bags, or any beans that look funny. then soak em over night. pour off the water to avoid "petos." Then boil em low and slow with whatever seasonings you like but in any case plenty of salt and bacon. They call the boiled beans ranchero and then when they squish-n-fry em up those are refritos, obviously.

I would not give up coffee unless under extreme duress.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

OK here's the Saxon thing:

http://www.kurtsaxon.com/foods005.htm

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

I have one of those Berkey water filters. It seems like it would be very easy to make a cheap replica with a higher storage capacity (just use the filter elements they sell, everything else can be home made).

The one thing that concerns me about the filter, though, is that my cats won't drink the water from it. They'll drink tap water, bottled water, rain water, and lick condensation from the windows, but they won't touch the filtered water. Do they know something I don't?

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Plant:

One (1) apple.

One (1) grape.

They will produce enough to take a month's food out of your bill.

TS

Repeat as necessary.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Thanks for the post Kahlil. I finally got that idea that things were going downhill fast, and finally got off soda and tobacco. I feel a lot better, but still miss the relaxing I got from a cigarette. At least the extra money helps to afford more PM purchases.
Turtleguy9

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Cats are finicky that is for sure. I have heard that when you move to a new location with a different water district you should bring some bottles of your old tap water with you to use at first and then slowly mix in the new tap water. Crazy but I think they don't recognize the smell of the water. My cats don't seem to care. They love cold filtered out of the fridge and I am not talking beer :rofl: I think my fat tabby might drink beer cuz he eats and drinks everything in sight.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Don't forget black walnuts. They are extremely nutritious, and often can be scavenged for free, as many people find them a nuisance on their lawns. They are messy to handle with the persistent staining and all, but the valuable nutrition makes it all worthwhile, IMO.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

EEK! I forgot to mention a very important cheap part of my survival food stash. I have cases of canned tomato paste. Get it on sale for 4 for a dollar. I also have bags of dried food service pizza and sausa sauce spice mixes. Think spanish rice, pizza, golosh, spaghetti, south of the border bean dishes, etc.etc. Long shelf life and it will make your stored rice beans and pasta more interesting!

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Wow! Cats won't drink the water. I noticed with my AquaRain 200, there is a slight metalic taste. I'll bet a lot of people wouldn't even notice it. But your cats did.

The AquaRain sits on the shelf waiting for an emergency. I also have a MSR filter in my pack that I bought back in 1999. Haven't needed it....yet.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

If the SHTF hard enough those pets will be your part of your survival stash too. You'll be thankful if you're not resorting to "long pig" meat too, lol

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Those filters all use silver as the killing agent for pathogens. Must be what the pets don't like.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Just a little update:

Another week without coffee and that pre-dinner glass of wine and I feel even better. I eliminated the chocolate too and don't buy Chips Ahoy cookies. I stopped adding salt to my food and now avoid it in what I buy. For some reason my sense of taste/smell has improved too.

The majority of aisles in the supermarket now contain little nutrition. I'm off to the local Food Co-op today to see what the health nuts are buying.

:wavey:

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Lots of good ideas on this thread.

I am a big fan of sprouting also. The one problem I have is the number of jars I have to keep going to stay in a constant supply of sprouts. Anyone know of a easier way to make large batches of sprouts?

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Google is your friend: http://www.sprouthouse.com/Easy_Gree...router_s/5.htm

Re: Hav-a-hart traps
 

Didn't they outlaw the trapping of coons after the Civil War?

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

I just took a day trip across the border into Mexico (Nogales) this past week. Looking around, most of the people who live down there are not slim, happy and healthy. They were mostly overweight, unhappy, and seemingly unhealthy. When they do attempt to accross the border, they often are very unprepared for their trip. Many of them drop dead in the desert from dehydration. The ones who do make it through the desert wind up in hospitals, getting "free" health care and draining our economy.

KG you are right in that Americans do need to "toughen up" for wshtf. However, I would not consider the way in which Mexicans come across as a good example of how Americans should prepare. Their situation is the same, if not more, dire than our own.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Thanks Veritas. I stand corrected.

:beer:

Re: Hav-a-hart traps
 

I believe Lincoln did that after stating that his preference would have been to stop the civil war without freeing any slaves.


http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...55/ai_59110854

The president-elect's eyes twinkled and he said he was reminded of a story. According to eyewitness Henry Villard, President-elect Abraham Lincoln "told the story of the Kentucky Justice of the Peace whose first case was a criminal prosecution for the abuse of slaves. Unable to find any precedent, he exclaimed angrily: `I will be damned if I don't feel almost sorry for being elected when the niggers is the first thing I have to attend to.'"
This story, shocking as it may sound to Lincoln admirers, was in character. For the president-elect had never shown any sincere sympathy for Blacks, and none of his cronies was surprised to hear him suggest that he shared the viewpoint of the reluctant and biased justice of the peace. As for the N-word, everybody knew that old Abe used it all the time, both in public and in private. (Since Lincoln supporters are in a state of constant denial, I have not used elision in reporting his use of the offensive word n--r.)

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

So Gunner, are you saying that the Civil War was not a war fought to free the nig... 'er, uh...slaves?

Hmmm...

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Well...what's good enough for ole abe is good enough for me! :emotions16:

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Has anyone rigged up their refridgerator and freezer and/or AC with solar? Seems that would be a good idea.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

I eat much like you are doing now, KG. I also load up on fresh raw GARLIC everyday. It is my opinion that garlic is one of the most important things you can eat. You will smell like shit but it is well worth it, it is powerful medicine when eaten raw and fresh.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Agree. Kept the colds away last year. Maybe because nobody wants to get too close.

:wavey:

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Do not cut out your salt, just change to the right kind. Unprocessed sea or mountain salt is the only kind to eat. If it's not pink or gray, it's been processed. True salt has about 70-90 minerals. Common Morton's salt has only sodium cloride and one or two other minerals. Salt is CRITICAL to good health. Drink lots of water and eat lots of real salt.

You can get a hydrometer at the pet store to test your levels. Just analyze your urine and determine whether you need more salt or more water.

:beer:

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Iodized or Non-iodized?

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

that's right. luckily my wife and I are both big fans of garlic and onions.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

http://www.kellykettle.com/works.html

Nice thread, liked the posts about the thermos cooking, I came across this interesting kettle and have heard good reports about it

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

I think someone else on this thread mentioned lentils. I have been doing a bit of experimenting with split red lentils. They are really cheap. 2kg bag (4.4lbs) is about $3 cdn. Don't taste too bad and you don't have to soak them like beans. They cook in about 15min on the stove and would probably cook ok in the thermos too. I think I prefer them to beans just because of how easy they are too cook. They are very high in protein and fiber and I think like beans they combine with grains to make complete protein. Here is a nutritional chart.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 bgColor=#fff1bd border=1><TBODY><TR bgColor=#ffdc82><TD align=middle colSpan=3>Lentils, cooked
(Note: "--" indicates data is unavailable)
</TD></TR><TR><TD>amount</TD><TD align=right>1.00 cup</TD></TR><TR><TD>total weight</TD><TD align=right>198.00 g</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH align=left colSpan=3>Basic Components</TH></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH>nutrient</TH><TH>amount</TH><TH>%DV</TH></TR><TR><TD>calories</TD><TD align=right>229.68</TD></TR><TR><TD>calories from fat</TD><TD align=right>6.77</TD></TR><TR><TD>calories from saturated fat</TD><TD align=right>0.94</TD></TR><TR><TD>protein</TD><TD align=right>17.86 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>carbohydrates</TD><TD align=right>39.88 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>dietary fiber</TD><TD align=right>15.64 g</TD><TD align=right>62.56</TD></TR><TR><TD>soluble fiber</TD><TD align=right>2.57 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>insoluble fiber</TD><TD align=right>13.07 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>sugar - total</TD><TD align=right>3.56 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>monosaccharides</TD><TD align=right>0.20 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>disaccharides</TD><TD align=right>0.99 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>other carbs</TD><TD align=right>20.67 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>fat - total</TD><TD align=right>0.75 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>saturated fat</TD><TD align=right>0.10 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>mono fat</TD><TD align=right>0.13 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>poly fat</TD><TD align=right>0.35 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>trans fatty acids</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>cholesterol</TD><TD align=right>0.00 mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>water</TD><TD align=right>137.89 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>ash</TD><TD align=right>1.64 g</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH align=left colSpan=3>Vitamins</TH></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH>nutrient</TH><TH>amount</TH><TH>%DV</TH></TR><TR><TD>vitamin A IU</TD><TD align=right>15.84 IU</TD><TD align=right>0.32</TD></TR><TR><TD>vitamin A RE</TD><TD align=right>1.98 RE</TD></TR><TR><TD>A - carotenoid</TD><TD align=right>1.98 RE</TD><TD align=right>0.03</TD></TR><TR><TD>A - retinol</TD><TD align=right>0.00 RE</TD></TR><TR><TD>A - beta carotene</TD><TD align=right>11.48 mcg</TD></TR><TR><TD>thiamin - B1</TD><TD align=right>0.33 mg</TD><TD align=right>22.00</TD></TR><TR><TD>riboflavin - B2</TD><TD align=right>0.14 mg</TD><TD align=right>8.24</TD></TR><TR><TD>niacin - B3</TD><TD align=right>2.10 mg</TD><TD align=right>10.50</TD></TR><TR><TD>niacin equiv</TD><TD align=right>4.77 mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>vitamin B6</TD><TD align=right>0.35 mg</TD><TD align=right>17.50</TD></TR><TR><TD>vitamin B12</TD><TD align=right>0.00 mcg</TD><TD align=right>0.00</TD></TR><TR><TD>biotin</TD><TD align=right>-- mcg</TD><TD align=right>--</TD></TR><TR><TD>vitamin C</TD><TD align=right>2.97 mg</TD><TD align=right>4.95</TD></TR><TR><TD>vitamin D IU</TD><TD align=right>0.00 IU</TD><TD align=right>0.00</TD></TR><TR><TD>vitamin D mcg</TD><TD align=right>0.00 mcg</TD></TR><TR><TD>vitamin E alpha equiv</TD><TD align=right>0.22 mg</TD><TD align=right>1.10</TD></TR><TR><TD>vitamin E IU</TD><TD align=right>0.32 IU</TD></TR><TR><TD>vitamin E mg</TD><TD align=right>1.16 mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>folate</TD><TD align=right>357.98 mcg</TD><TD align=right>89.50</TD></TR><TR><TD>vitamin K</TD><TD align=right>3.37 mcg</TD><TD align=right>4.21</TD></TR><TR><TD>pantothenic acid</TD><TD align=right>1.26 mg</TD><TD align=right>12.60</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH align=left colSpan=3>Minerals</TH></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH>nutrient</TH><TH>amount</TH><TH>%DV</TH></TR><TR><TD>boron</TD><TD align=right>-- mcg</TD></TR><TR><TD>calcium</TD><TD align=right>37.62 mg</TD><TD align=right>3.76</TD></TR><TR><TD>chloride</TD><TD align=right>-- mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>chromium</TD><TD align=right>-- mcg</TD><TD align=right>--</TD></TR><TR><TD>copper</TD><TD align=right>0.50 mg</TD><TD align=right>25.00</TD></TR><TR><TD>fluoride</TD><TD align=right>-- mg</TD><TD align=right>--</TD></TR><TR><TD>iodine</TD><TD align=right>-- mcg</TD><TD align=right>--</TD></TR><TR><TD>iron</TD><TD align=right>6.59 mg</TD><TD align=right>36.61</TD></TR><TR><TD>magnesium</TD><TD align=right>71.28 mg</TD><TD align=right>17.82</TD></TR><TR><TD>manganese</TD><TD align=right>0.98 mg</TD><TD align=right>49.00</TD></TR><TR><TD>molybdenum</TD><TD align=right>148.50 mcg</TD><TD align=right>198.00</TD></TR><TR><TD>phosphorus</TD><TD align=right>356.40 mg</TD><TD align=right>35.64</TD></TR><TR><TD>potassium</TD><TD align=right>730.62 mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>selenium</TD><TD align=right>5.54 mcg</TD><TD align=right>7.91</TD></TR><TR><TD>sodium</TD><TD align=right>3.96 mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>zinc</TD><TD align=right>2.51 mg</TD><TD align=right>16.73</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH align=left colSpan=3>Saturated Fats</TH></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH>nutrient</TH><TH>amount</TH><TH>%DV</TH></TR><TR><TD>4:0 butyric</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>6:0 caproic</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>8:0 caprylic</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>10:0 capric</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>12:0 lauric</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>14:0 myristic</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>15:0 pentadecanoic</TD><TD align=right>-- g</TD></TR><TR><TD>16:0 palmitic</TD><TD align=right>0.09 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>17:0 margaric</TD><TD align=right>-- g</TD></TR><TR><TD>18:0 stearic</TD><TD align=right>0.01 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>20:0 arachidic</TD><TD align=right>-- g</TD></TR><TR><TD>22:0 behenate</TD><TD align=right>-- g</TD></TR><TR><TD>24:0 lignoceric</TD><TD align=right>-- g</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH align=left colSpan=3>Mono Fats</TH></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH>nutrient</TH><TH>amount</TH><TH>%DV</TH></TR><TR><TD>14:1 myristol</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>15:1 pentadecenoic</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>16:1 palmitol</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>17:1 heptadecenoic</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>18:1 oleic</TD><TD align=right>0.12 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>20:1 eicosen</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>22:1 erucic</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>24:1 nervonic</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH align=left colSpan=3>Poly Fats</TH></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH>nutrient</TH><TH>amount</TH><TH>%DV</TH></TR><TR><TD>18:2 linoleic</TD><TD align=right>0.27 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>18:3 linolenic</TD><TD align=right>0.07 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>18:4 stearidon</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>20:3 eicosatrienoic</TD><TD align=right>-- g</TD></TR><TR><TD>20:4 arachidon</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>20:5 EPA</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>22:5 DPA</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>22:6 DHA</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH align=left colSpan=3>Other Fats</TH></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH>nutrient</TH><TH>amount</TH><TH>%DV</TH></TR><TR><TD>omega 3 fatty acids</TD><TD align=right>0.07 g</TD><TD align=right>2.80</TD></TR><TR><TD>omega 6 fatty acids</TD><TD align=right>0.27 g</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH align=left colSpan=3>Amino Acids</TH></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH>nutrient</TH><TH>amount</TH><TH>%DV</TH></TR><TR><TD>alanine</TD><TD align=right>0.75 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>arginine</TD><TD align=right>1.38 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>aspartate</TD><TD align=right>1.98 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>cystine</TD><TD align=right>0.23 g</TD><TD align=right>56.10</TD></TR><TR><TD>glutamate</TD><TD align=right>2.77 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>glycine</TD><TD align=right>0.73 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>histidine</TD><TD align=right>0.50 g</TD><TD align=right>38.76</TD></TR><TR><TD>isoleucine</TD><TD align=right>0.77 g</TD><TD align=right>66.96</TD></TR><TR><TD>leucine</TD><TD align=right>1.29 g</TD><TD align=right>50.99</TD></TR><TR><TD>lysine</TD><TD align=right>1.25 g</TD><TD align=right>53.19</TD></TR><TR><TD>methionine</TD><TD align=right>0.15 g</TD><TD align=right>20.27</TD></TR><TR><TD>phenylalanine</TD><TD align=right>0.88 g</TD><TD align=right>73.95</TD></TR><TR><TD>proline</TD><TD align=right>0.75 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>serine</TD><TD align=right>0.82 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>threonine</TD><TD align=right>0.64 g</TD><TD align=right>51.61</TD></TR><TR><TD>tryptophan</TD><TD align=right>0.16 g</TD><TD align=right>50.00</TD></TR><TR><TD>tyrosine</TD><TD align=right>0.48 g</TD><TD align=right>49.48</TD></TR><TR><TD>valine</TD><TD align=right>0.89 g</TD><TD align=right>60.54</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH align=left colSpan=3>Other</TH></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TH>nutrient</TH><TH>amount</TH><TH>%DV</TH></TR><TR><TD>alcohol</TD><TD align=right>0.00 g</TD></TR><TR><TD>caffeine</TD><TD align=right>0.00 mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>artif sweetener total</TD><TD align=right>-- mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>aspartame</TD><TD align=right>-- mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>saccharin</TD><TD align=right>-- mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>sugar alcohol</TD><TD align=right>-- g</TD></TR><TR><TD>glycerol</TD><TD align=right>-- g</TD></TR><TR><TD>inositol</TD><TD align=right>-- g</TD></TR><TR><TD>mannitol</TD><TD align=right>-- g</TD></TR><TR><TD>sorbitol</TD><TD align=right>-- g</TD></TR><TR><TD>xylitol</TD><TD align=right>-- g</TD></TR><TR><TD>organic acids</TD><TD align=right>-- mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>acetic acid</TD><TD align=right>-- mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>citric acid</TD><TD align=right>-- mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>lactic acid</TD><TD align=right>-- mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>malic acid</TD><TD align=right>-- mg</TD></TR><TR><TD>choline</TD><TD align=right>-- mg</TD><TD align=right>--</TD></TR><TR><TD>taurine</TD><TD align=right>-- mg</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffe998><TD colSpan=3>Note: The nutrient profiles provided in this website are derived from Food Processor for Windows, Version 7.60, by ESHA Research in Salem, Oregon, USA. Of the 21,629 food records contained in the ESHA foods database, most of them - including those of the World's Healthiest Foods - lacked information for specific nutrients. The designation "--" was chosen to represent those nutrients for which there was no measurement included in the ESHA foods database. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Some beans are just too large to properly cook in a thermos. My personal experimenting arrived at this mixed group of legumes and grains that cook together in a Thermos overnight:

Lentiles
Black beans
Garbanzo beans
Navy beans
Pinto beans
Split peas
Barley
Brown rice
Rye berries
Red winter wheat

Mixing the legumes and grains produces a more complete protein meal. This mix costs on average only sixty-cents per pound at the local Food Co-op.

:smile: one-part mix to two-parts boiling water. It will be ready to eat out of the Thermos in the morning.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Thanks for the recipe KG, looks like it would be pretty tasty. Do you soak any of the beans first or is overnight in the thermos good enough?

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

I dont know bout thermos recipes, but I used to make this Brazilian dish called Feijoada, which is basically black beans with sausage and lots of pork parts. fantastic dish, look it up. I used to make it with lentils too.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Soaking is alway preferred because it reduces the flatulence a great deal and speeds cooking. The best wide-mouth Thermos is now on sale:

http://www.gourmet.org/brands/nt/vac...ttles/FDH1405/

:wavey: buy a small toilet brush for cleaning this wide-mouth Thermos. Wal-Mart has the perfect size. Bottle brushes are too small.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Everyone should get in the habit of drinking water. I rarely drink anything but room-temperature water, at least a gallon a day.
I don't drink coffee unless I have at least 500 miles to drive in a day. I never drink booze (anymore). I tried cutting out salt but didn't see any benefit. Now I have as much quality sea salt as I like with no prblems. If you have high blood pressure go easy on salt. If you live in a cold climate eat salt to improve circulation to extremities.

If you live near southern Idaho go visit:

http://waltonfeed.com/sitemap.html

Now that's frugal eating.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

My favorite website on nutrition and the 100 Most-Healthy Foods:

http://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php

:Zzzz: everything I ever needed to know about healthy foods on that one website

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

back on topic:


At Wal-Mart I purchased eight cases of these for 88-cents each. Shelf life of over two years. Wild caught and not farm. Tastes great. The 3oz size is perfect for sandwiches. Comes in a sturdy pouch not canned.

The woman working the Food department at Wal-Mart carries this little tiny handheld computer gizmo and she ordered the eight boxes directly from their warehouse in real time standing right in the aisle. couple of clicks and..."Pick them up on Wednesday Sir." Just like that. Realize that even huge grocery stores like Wal-Mart don't have any stock in the back of their stores. WTSHTF you will be out of luck trying to find any food anywhere. Get it now.

:smile: yum

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

holy guacamole, that is an awesome website. thanks

I poked around lookee what I found. FREE crap from Walmart in the mail. jest sign up. dont worry, they already got you in their db anyhow!

http://walmart.triaddigital.com/Free-Samples.aspx

other free crap offers
http://makingbysaving.com/phpBB/view...4d8b163ccd19a9

is free good enough to qualify as "frugal?"

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Glad I came across this thread! :bear_cool:

And another thanks for linking to the Hillbilly Housewife website. Awesome resource!

I also liked this one, linked at the same site:

http://makingbysaving.com/phpBB/index.php

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Unfortuately, Thorgrim, it also helps me produce a high-sulphur methane--and I've found no way to process and store it. :embarasse

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Update:

Just bought another 14 cases today. My local Wal-Mart is very clean and gives excellent service. The woman entered the order on her hand-held gizmo and I picked them up two days later. Their just-in-time inventory system is just amazing. Make a Preps List and compare their prices. They do bulk orders and make it very convenient.

:yippee: this whole thread offers great ideas from many GIMers

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Such a simple solution-- toilet brushes! One thing about thermos cooking that has annoyed me is the clean up. Especially if you make grains that get a bit softer like barley or oats. I do love barley though.

I think I'm going to go get another thermos or two, some brushes for cleaning them as well as a nice variety of lentils and grains.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

that chick of the sea pouch deal seems good to me, you get 15 grams of protein for 88 cents. usually if you want to buy a 15 gram protein bar it's $1.50 anymore.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

I've been buying these everytime I go shopping. Don't have cases of it yet but they do taste very good and have the good fats you need. No mercury either like Tuna. I have tuna too:wink: but would limit myself to 1 can a week. I buy the 7 oz package for 1.77 either at Target or Walmart. Target had a better price last few times I was there. Going to check to see if they can order some cases and see what the price is. Not sure how much salmon I can eat in two years so don't want to overbuy.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Fresh Caught not farmed
Two-Year Shelf Life
Healthy Omega-3 Oil
3-oz size for one meal
7-oz size for two (cheaper per serving too)

:yippee: precooked so just open and eat

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Cheap food is not anything to fool around with; unless you are really down on your luck.

If KG and others who've laid off the shit-food think they feel better now, just wait and see how you feel if you give macrobiotics a try. The japanese and chinese are about the most frugal folk on earth. You can learn some good tips by reading a few macro cookbooks. If you are seriously ill, it can help restore your health if eaten exclusively.

But, don't buy cheap food, go Organic. You really want food that builds up your health, not reduces it. Buy in 25-50lb sacks at the health food store, or maybe from a certified organic farmer. Organic, short-grain, brown rice is one of the super foods. You can substitute brown rice for pasta very well and really enhance your nutrition.

Whole grains really taste good and deliver the nutrition. Rolled Oats, Hard Red Winter Wheat, Grits, Cous-Cous, Quinoa, Brown rice are all staple foods in our home. Store the stuff in 1gal plastic jar, the rest in a food grade 5 gal bucket. 25lbs of Farina, Arrowhead bear mush is great in the AM when you're tired of oatmeal, but load up that oatmeal with walnuts, pecans, honey, raisins organic maple syrup and you won't be tired of it often. Bear Mush is great with the same additives, a little better with honey than oatmeal. Grits, yellow corn grits is great with eggs, or cooked then fried into cakes. Grits and Farina will actually make a pretty good side-dish at dinner. Bear mush and pepper/butter is pretty good stuff.

There is a great variety of beans you won't find anywhere but the healthfood store. Anasazi beans are really great, Adzukis are the macro staple, Red & Green Lentils are good, Black beans and Black Soybeans are really good. Lots of recipes in Macro cookbooks for these. Cold bean salad is really good.

Breadmaking is a lot of fun. Get a used bread machine at the thriftstore or dig yours out of the attic. Really nice not to have to spend all that time kneading etc. We run 2 2lb machines at a time. If you are going to bake, bake a bunch. We make our own pizza with dough from the breadmachine, lots of fun for the kids, add shrimp fetta cheese, all sorts of ingredients and meats. Desert pizza with pie fillings, cream cheese and chocolate.

Sea salt is worth storing. Also yeast; buy it in the 2lb bags, keeps well in a plastic jar, stores well. Make your own sourdough starter; google for recipes.

Meat: We quit eating meat when we did strict macrobiotics, ate shrimp, eggs yogurt, fish etc but no meat. When we began eating meat again, we mainly made stir frys and soups/stews. We do roast lamb fairly often, buffalo, chicken, turkey, moose, salmon, grouse; but no beef. Basically we eat what most might consider small portions of red meat, but don't miss it.

Great ideas on the making burritos and lg pots of soup. Turkey soup is a great side benefit of buying turkey rather than chicken. Cost is about the same these days, and who doesn't like turkey meat more than chicken? I make the soup and never the same way twice. The fun for me is in cooking from scratch. It is fun to read a cookbook and then do your own thing.

We have tons of cookbooks and cooking gear/tools.

Fun to shop in ethnic grocery stores. Real fun to cook your chinese favorites at home. Tons of seasonings and sauces will help get those restaurant flavors. Fried rice an low mein really do more than just taste good if you put organic ingredients into your recipes.

If you are interested in Macrobiotics, you might ask at your healthfood dealers if they know of any macro restaurants in your town. Go try a macro meal. Pretty interesting cuisine, and interesting people who eat there.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

All your points are valid but grains and legumes ARE cheap food. Seems to me wtshtf stockpiling protein is the challenge. What is your suggestion for protein food storage?

:dontknow:

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

I live out of town quite a bit and my biggest concern food wise is not protein
its carbohydrates when you consider my chickens laying like crazy sheep and cattle nearby with abundant small and large game my biggest problem is where to get my bread.also a small bit of meat/protein goes a very long way
in soups or stews if you have ample bread,rice,potatoes etc to fill up on.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Buy a 50lbs bag of whey UNFLAVORED whey protein isolate on ebay.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

I can vouch for the benefits of a macrobiotic diet. I followed it pretty strictly back in my late teens and early twenties. Best I ever felt in my life! Lately I've been slowly trying to work back to that direction.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

That's where the corn in Corn, beans, and squash comes in. Depending where you are, get butcher, mandan, or some other indian, (thinner, with more exposed kernels, they dry better) as well as hominy variety. Don't forget popcorn! They're cheap enough to buy in bulk, or you can plant for a few years and grow your 50 gallons to put in storage. Always, always better to grow than to store. Growing lasts generations, but when that last tuna can is open, it's gone.

Beans and rice are a protein if taken together. I know people here favor protein drinks and suppliments, but I'm not fond, or know their storage life and requirements. Seems a rabbit trap or hutch would be good.

The food you really want is oil. And it keeps a long time in tins. Sunflower seeds would work there and can be grown (and eaten whole), but without a press, processing and refining is a chore.

I can grow enough food for a year on a few acres, but I'd have to kill a bear or render a pig to get oil. Thus the magic of ghee, or their tinned Red Feather butter.

TS

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

how long does that stuff keep. I got a big container full of it about a year ago intending to use it and then I switched my diet into another direction.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

Chicken soup is fast and easy and cheap to make. Heres how I live on 30.00 a week. I'm single so my stuff goes further as well.

First drink lots of water, you will feel less hungry and want less food.
2nd, I usually go to one of the larger food stores once a week and buy one of those chickens they cook in the rotisseri. Its the same price as buying and cooking yourself but you dont have to spend the time or moey cooking it. A bag of carrots and celry and a bag of frozen corn and peas. 1 onion and a pepper.

I eat the chicken for 3 meals before i use the carcass for soup. With the soup i use a bag of carrats and whole celery bundle. 5 minutes before I am ready to eat i add 1/2 a bag of corn and peas. The corn adds a nice flavor to the soup. I also use salt and pepper. 1 pot of soup will last another 3 days for lunch and dinner.



As for countries that eat well on the least amount of money. I would have to say Cuba is the best. Everytime I go I lose a lot of weight, not because i dont eat or because I eat crap but because I drink lots of water and eat healthy without all the extra crap I normally eat.

For breakfast its usually frsh fruit and coffee. Cuban coffeee is the best in the world. Lunch is pork and som salad stuff. Lettuce cucumber and tomatoe when available. Dinner is usually chicken and beans with rice.

For a special occasion meal they make a rice imperial that is awesome!!! Rice, chicken, beans, olives and some other ingredients..

The cuban people for the most art are very poor and dont eat nearly as well as we do but they live just as long.

Re: Frugal Survivalist Foods
 

I think a fresh container should have at least 2 years before anything goes wrong with it,make sure it`s sealed.I guess isolate should keep longer than concentrate because there is very little of carbs and fats in it.Whey protein prices went thru the roof this year.I bought a 50lbs bag for 150.00 delivered a year ago and have just bought another one for 284.00 which is a great deal these days.