Doomsday Food Prep: Guidelines, Types of Food, and What to Avoid

Doomsday prepping is becoming an increasingly popular practice, as more and more people are realizing that it’s important to be prepared for any type of emergency. While there are many different ways to prep, one of the most important aspects is having a stockpile of your own food.

We will discuss the best types of food to store, how much you need, and what to avoid.

Basic Food Guidelines

When it comes to doomsday food prep, there are a few general guidelines you should keep in mind. Here are some of the most important things to remember:

• How much food should you store? The general rule of thumb is that you should have enough food to last for two years.

• The best food to store is something that will last for two years or more. Some foods, such as salt, have an indefinite shelf life. Consider the shelf life of different foods and make sure to stock up on items that have a long expiration date.

• Packaged foods are generally easier to store and prepare than fresh fruits and vegetables. Food that doesn’t require refrigeration is the best option since you won’t be able to keep a fridge running in an emergency situation. Buying shelf-stable foods is a great way to make sure you have enough to eat.

• The nutritional value of survival food is important. Be sure to include foods that are high in protein and calories, as well as essential vitamins and minerals.

• It’s also important to have a variety of different foods, so you don’t eat the same foods every day which can lead to food boredom.

• Avoid storing any food that is difficult to prepare. Remember that if you store things like hard wheat you will need a grain mill to grind it into flour.

• One way to ensure that your food doesn’t go bad is to rotate it using the “first in, first out” method. This means that you should use the oldest food first and save the newer items for later. This system will help you to avoid wasting any food.

• The best storage conditions to ensure foods are stored properly are in a cool, dark, and dry place. Mylar bags are great for storing food because they keep out light, oxygen, and moisture.

Types of Food to Store

There are a variety of different types of food you can store for an emergency situation. Here are some of the most popular options with a decent shelf life:

Canned foods

Canned fruits, canned veggies, soups, and stews are all great options. Just make sure to rotate canned food out every few years so they don’t go bad. Canned goods are also great because they can survive flooding.

Dehydrated foods

This type of food is lightweight and doesn’t require any refrigeration, making food storage easier.

Powdered foods

Powdered milk, powdered eggs, and powdered cheese are all good options. Just add water and you’ve got a meal!

Freeze-dried foods

Freeze-dried fruits, vegetables, and meats are another great option. These ready-to-eat meals have a long shelf life, only require a small amount of water to rehydrate, and maintain most of their nutrients.

Doomsday Prepper Food List

Now that we’ve gone over some general guidelines, let’s get into specific foods. Every prepper should try to get a good amount of non-perishable foods. Here are the food groups to focus on and some examples of the best doomsday food prep options:

Fruits and vegetables

Canned fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, freeze-dried fruit, raisins

Grains

Instant rice, brown rice, white rice, pasta, quinoa, oats, wheat flour, instant mashed potatoes, popcorn, wheat berries

Beans and legumes

Black beans, kidney beans, lentils, dry beans, canned beans, dried beans

Dairy

Powdered milk, cheese, eggs, condensed milk

Fats

Cooking oil (vegetable oil and/or olive oil), lard, peanut butter, coconut milk

Meats and protein

Canned meat (tuna, salmon, chicken), dried meat, beef jerky, spam, protein bars, textured vegetable protein

Spices

Iodized salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, vinegar, honey, soy sauce

Helpful hint: Buying mixed spices that can be used for multiple meals will help save space.

Baking supplies

White flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, butter powder, yeast

Helpful hint: Baking soda is also good for cleaning, disinfecting, preventing tooth decay, and being used as an antacid.

Drinks

Water is a must but you can also mix it up by bringing drink mixes such as coffee or Kool-Aid.

Foods to Avoid

There are also some foods you’ll want to avoid storing:

Perishable items

These will only last a few days or weeks, so they’re not worth the hassle.

Junk food

Junk food is high in calories and low in nutrients. You’ll want to avoid it during an emergency situation.

Alcohol

While it might be nice to have a drink during a stressful situation, alcohol will only dehydrate you and make it harder to think clearly.

Carbonated drinks

These will go bad quickly and take up valuable space in your food storage.

Whole wheat flour

Know that whole wheat flour won’t store as long as white flour due to its higher fat content. It is still a good food to have, but if you must choose one or the other for long-term food storage, white flour is the way to go. Potato flour is also another alternative.

Brown sugar

While brown sugar is not a bad thing to store, it will get hard over time, so store this sparingly instead of in bulk.

Comfort Food for Mental Health

While doomsday prepping is mostly about practicality, it’s also important to have some comfort food on hand. This can help improve your mental health during a stressful situation. Here are some examples of comfort foods you might want to include:

Chocolate

Chocolate can help improve your mood and lower stress levels.

Peanut butter

Peanut butter is high in protein and healthy fats, which can help boost your energy levels.

Soup

Soup is warm and comforting, and it’s a great way to get in some essential nutrients. Canned soups do well in food storage, but you can also make your own soup with dehydrated or freeze-dried ingredients.

Vitamins and Supplements

Finally, don’t forget to stock up on vitamins and supplements. These are essential for maintaining your health during an emergency situation. Here are some examples of vitamins and supplements you might want to include:

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is important for boosting your immune system.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is important for bone health.

Fish oil

Fish oil is a great source of omega-three fatty acids, which are important for heart health.

Multivitamins

Multivitamins are a good way to make sure you’re getting all the essential nutrients you need.

You’re Finally Prepared

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when doomsday prepping. But if you follow these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to having a stockpile of healthy, nutritious food.

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