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Don't mean to be a Debbie Doomer, but I couldn't help thinking about this. We all know the economy has been struggling for quite a while and it doesn't seem to be getting better. If there were a major crisis to occur (take your pick...war, rampant inflation, the dollar tanks) or even a minor crisis ( power outages, snow storms, hurricanes) many people would find themselves in dire straits. Food shortages is the first thing that comes to mind for me. How would one with MC handle this? What items would you "hoard" or store to get you through diet-wise? I know with a MC diet, everything one eats is suppose to be simple and natural, but in a crisis this would not be the case. Shelves would be stripped clean, your favorite GF items are gone! Does anyone think freeze dried foods are a good source for MC diets? Canned fruits? Canned meats? I am very interested if anyone here on the board stockpiles for an emergency, and if you do, what do you buy?
Mandy
MC, the Economy, and You
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Mandy,
This is a good point. Although I don't buy GF products, I sure do eat fresh meats, fish, veg & fruits. I also use my freezer for those things, but as you point out, in a power outage, that wouldn't help for very long.
I do use canned tuna and salmon, and things like nuts, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and squash that don't require refrigeration. I've been thinking about using my dehydrator to make soy-free jerky, but haven't gotten beyond the pondering stage.
I guess my other 'safe' foods would be shredded coconut and coconut milk, and various oils (olive, avocado, coconut). Um, and chocolate. Doesn't sound like a very balanced diet!
Even though it doesn't solve the whole problem you point out, I think I'll pay attention to making enough of certain dishes to freeze.
Sara
This is a good point. Although I don't buy GF products, I sure do eat fresh meats, fish, veg & fruits. I also use my freezer for those things, but as you point out, in a power outage, that wouldn't help for very long.
I do use canned tuna and salmon, and things like nuts, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and squash that don't require refrigeration. I've been thinking about using my dehydrator to make soy-free jerky, but haven't gotten beyond the pondering stage.
I guess my other 'safe' foods would be shredded coconut and coconut milk, and various oils (olive, avocado, coconut). Um, and chocolate. Doesn't sound like a very balanced diet!
Even though it doesn't solve the whole problem you point out, I think I'll pay attention to making enough of certain dishes to freeze.
Sara
Hi Mandy,
Yes, this has certainly been on my mind, also. I am stockpiling corn flour, cornstarch, Corn Chex, almond flour, freeze-dried broccoli, asparagus and cauliflower. In addition I have been canning turkey stock, turkey, lamb and will be canning pork. Sam's Club in Utah sells canned turkey containing nothing but turkey and salt. I will be buying more when I go to Utah. They also sell chicken, but I can't eat it, otherwise I would purchase some of it, too.
These are all the items I am presently eating. I need to get more arrowroot. We have had several electricity outages here this year, so I can't depend on the freezer food being available. DH wants to have a natural gas-powered generator installed. I have plenty of Entocort and supplements.
In addition, I'm putting together a 72-hour emergency kit containing three days worth of meals in case I have to evacuate my home quickly. I was delighted to find 1/2 pint plastic bottles of Silk Almond milk to put in the kit so that I'll be able to eat Corn Chex. That was a big concern for me. I'll probably put together a pancake mix, pudding mix, and maybe a muffin mix. I have a makeshift portable oven I could use. I would put Lara bars or something similar in the kit, but I can't eat them. I probably need to stuff some diapers in the bag.
I remember reading years ago when there was a truck strike or something similar that toilet paper was the first thing to disappear from the shelves. We have always stockpiled it since that time. Imagine being without toilet paper with our condition.
Grannyh has written that she wouldn't have been able to get through the hurricane they had in Texas a few years ago if she weren't taking Entocort. I'm sure GF products were not readily available. I want to be prepared if anything similar happens.
Gloria
Yes, this has certainly been on my mind, also. I am stockpiling corn flour, cornstarch, Corn Chex, almond flour, freeze-dried broccoli, asparagus and cauliflower. In addition I have been canning turkey stock, turkey, lamb and will be canning pork. Sam's Club in Utah sells canned turkey containing nothing but turkey and salt. I will be buying more when I go to Utah. They also sell chicken, but I can't eat it, otherwise I would purchase some of it, too.
These are all the items I am presently eating. I need to get more arrowroot. We have had several electricity outages here this year, so I can't depend on the freezer food being available. DH wants to have a natural gas-powered generator installed. I have plenty of Entocort and supplements.
In addition, I'm putting together a 72-hour emergency kit containing three days worth of meals in case I have to evacuate my home quickly. I was delighted to find 1/2 pint plastic bottles of Silk Almond milk to put in the kit so that I'll be able to eat Corn Chex. That was a big concern for me. I'll probably put together a pancake mix, pudding mix, and maybe a muffin mix. I have a makeshift portable oven I could use. I would put Lara bars or something similar in the kit, but I can't eat them. I probably need to stuff some diapers in the bag.
I remember reading years ago when there was a truck strike or something similar that toilet paper was the first thing to disappear from the shelves. We have always stockpiled it since that time. Imagine being without toilet paper with our condition.
Grannyh has written that she wouldn't have been able to get through the hurricane they had in Texas a few years ago if she weren't taking Entocort. I'm sure GF products were not readily available. I want to be prepared if anything similar happens.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Gloria, good for you with canning! I don't have the time, technique or patience for it, but I wish I did! That is why I am so interested in freeze dried foods. They are lightweight, last for 15 to 25 years! and come in so many varieties. I've seen several kinds of meat, fruits and vegetables available. I just wish I knew if anyone here has eaten any freeze dried foods and whether they had any adverse reactions to them. It seems to me that freeze dried packets of food would make a great snack, (dry or wet,) be easily portable and you wouldn't have to worry about spoilage.
Mandy
Mandy
Mandy,
Many moons ago, I did some backpacking in the mountains, and used freeze-dried foods for a few days, to help keep the pack weight down. As best I can recall, they all had long ingredient lists, including numerous ingredients that were definitely not MC-friendly. And that was many years ago - imagine all the soy, dairy, and gluten ingredients that are probably used in them these days.
Tex
Many moons ago, I did some backpacking in the mountains, and used freeze-dried foods for a few days, to help keep the pack weight down. As best I can recall, they all had long ingredient lists, including numerous ingredients that were definitely not MC-friendly. And that was many years ago - imagine all the soy, dairy, and gluten ingredients that are probably used in them these days.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Tex, I think the kind of freeze dried foods you ate while camping were called Mountain House. Things like Beef Stew, Cherry Cobbler, etc. Those packs would definitely have various ingredients in them. What I am talking about is an individual canister of one product, for example, strawberries, corn, potatoes, chicken, etc. I checked one can I have and noticed the only ingredient was strawberries. However, as usual, it was stated that "this product is produced on equipment that processes products containing soy, wheat, egg, peanut and tree nuts". Sigh. Guess I need to find freeze dried food that has dedicated machines. Btw, the freeze dried food is by Honeyville, if anyone is interested.
Mandy
Mandy
Mandy,
I've looked at the freeze-dried meats, and many (most) have additives, otherwise I would buy them. I have purchased many products from this website: http://www.beprepared.com Here's an ingredient list from their Provident Pantry freeze-dried white turkey: Turkey Breast Meat, Turkey Flavor, Modified Tapioca and Corn Starch, Salt, Carrageenan. A #10 can of the turkey is $44.95 and it provides 18 servings of 2/3 cup each.
Their FD ground beef, however, has no additives. Ingredients: Freeze-dried cooked ground beef. No additives or preservatives.
Allergens: Processed in a plant that handles milk, wheat, egg, soybean, peanut and tree nut products.
Meat canning is time-intensive, plus you need a pressure-canner. It takes 1 hour, 15 minutes to process pints, but most of that time just involves periodic checking that the pressure is correct. I didn't can meat when I was working, but now that I'm retired I have enough time. I attended a local Home Extension canning workshop before I began. I have canned many products over the years, and I'm very comfortable with doing it. In fact, I have a sense of accomplishment afterward.
For the most part, FD fruit and vegetables are pure and don't have any additives. I'm guessing that some FD meat has additives because it would taste pretty plain without them. I don't think you'll be able to find FD food that's been processed on dedicated GF machines, but during an emergency you're doing the best you can.
I visited the Honeyville Grain Company outlet when I was in Utah in October and purchased their blanched almond flour. I'm planning on purchasing more on my next trip this month.
Gloria
I've looked at the freeze-dried meats, and many (most) have additives, otherwise I would buy them. I have purchased many products from this website: http://www.beprepared.com Here's an ingredient list from their Provident Pantry freeze-dried white turkey: Turkey Breast Meat, Turkey Flavor, Modified Tapioca and Corn Starch, Salt, Carrageenan. A #10 can of the turkey is $44.95 and it provides 18 servings of 2/3 cup each.
Their FD ground beef, however, has no additives. Ingredients: Freeze-dried cooked ground beef. No additives or preservatives.
Allergens: Processed in a plant that handles milk, wheat, egg, soybean, peanut and tree nut products.
Meat canning is time-intensive, plus you need a pressure-canner. It takes 1 hour, 15 minutes to process pints, but most of that time just involves periodic checking that the pressure is correct. I didn't can meat when I was working, but now that I'm retired I have enough time. I attended a local Home Extension canning workshop before I began. I have canned many products over the years, and I'm very comfortable with doing it. In fact, I have a sense of accomplishment afterward.
For the most part, FD fruit and vegetables are pure and don't have any additives. I'm guessing that some FD meat has additives because it would taste pretty plain without them. I don't think you'll be able to find FD food that's been processed on dedicated GF machines, but during an emergency you're doing the best you can.
I visited the Honeyville Grain Company outlet when I was in Utah in October and purchased their blanched almond flour. I'm planning on purchasing more on my next trip this month.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Gloria, you got me running to the Honeyville website to check out their canned meat. It seems like the Honeyville brand of chicken, turkey and beef have nothing added to them. Just salt. Yes!!! If you are heading there, check it out! I like the Honeyville brands much better than Provident Pantry. And, btw, do you know that Honeyville will ship your order, no matter what the cost, for only $4.95? Beats the drive, if you don't have to. And they do have some gluten free products. I am so excited.
Mandy
Mandy
That's great, Mandy! I probably didn't look at the chicken and beef (if they had them) in the store because I can't eat either. The ham contains soy. I think I'll call about the turkey to see if they have it in the store. Maybe it will be cheaper. The 5# blanched almond flour was about $5 less in the store than it sells for online. That's probably how they are able to charge just $4.49 for shipping; they increase the price to cover the shipping. Nonetheless, it can be very expensive to ship 25-50 lb. bags of grains.Mandy wrote:It seems like the Honeyville brand of chicken, turkey and beef have nothing added to them. Just salt.
I'm going to try to fit as much as I can into our suitcases. I'm getting the almond flour and Sam's Club turkey for sure.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.