Having a stash of non-perishable food on hand is absolutely essential for preparedness. It’s probably the first thing new preppers start with. But there is some debate on what should make it into that supply, and what should be left out. Some people just have a hard time giving up their junk food despite the fact that they shouldn’t be eating it now, let alone under the physical stresses of post disaster survival. There is no changing people’s minds, but this article isn’t really for those hardcore junk food addicts as much as for those that understand some of the basics of nutrietion and are just uncertain about what foods they should stock up on. This is a few reasons why whole foods are better than even reasonably healthy foods that last like pasta.
Healthier
Whole foods have been processed less than foods like pasta or cereal, this means that more of their natural health benefits are still available. This isn’t hippie non-sense, the nutritional benefits of food should be your primary concern when prepping, because they will be when you are struggling for survival. Simple things like constipation can lead to life threatening problems when you are without the option of medical care.
Cost
Whole foods like rice, beans, buckwheat, lentils, millet, quinoa, and other legumes and wholegrains are less expensive than processed non-perishables like canned foods and pasta. This means that you will have more money available for other resources, or that you will be able to afford more food for storage.
Food Prep
Foods like pasta (I don’t hate on pasta or anything, it’s just something that a lot of people store too much of) require boiling. Wholegrains, like those mentioned above, can all be sprouted and eaten without heating.
Space
Grains and beans can be stored in container, they will take the shape of the container with little wasted space, almost like water. This is not the case with canned food items that waste about 1/5 of the space they use with the gaps created between cans.
Feel free to stock up on snickers and Chef Bourdieu if you want to, but don’t blame me when you don’t have the health necessary to perform in a post disaster scenario.
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