Nutrient Survival Foods, by Pat Cascio

”As to water, we have our own well, and two fast running creeks within a few hundred yards of our homestead. Still, you can’t live very long without water. I have several generators. However, none are big enough (watt rating) to start the pump in my well. I hope to correct that one day. So, as a last resort we can obtain water from a creek and treat it so that it is drinkable.”

Gotta have water for the garden and the Dankoff solar water pump is one way to pump water without generators and fuel for years and years. Overtime I have learned more about the Dankoff pump. Any one who is interested in this sort of thing in general should contact this fellow. I’ve have multiple and very long email exchanges about technical aspects, and he has shed light on a number of important things I did not know. He is in the business, very knowledgeable and helpful. He has a true passion for this and is not simply selling stuff. It does not have to be a Dankoff, but perhaps you can install a pump in your existing well. There are options.

Contact Thad at Humbold Solar Water Pumps
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I’ll check them out. I strive for balance in the pillars. There are times one may take precedence over another in reaction to world events. Food is much more important than the latest range toy.

I really hope you cover all the other companies too. Right now it sounds like a TV Information show.

I will say that one of the other companies considers a single 72 calories freeze dried egg as a “full serving” I eat 3 eggs a day and 1 egg is not practical. I am a former Special Forces Medic and if we had a simple day the meal was set at 2000 calories. Moderate operation to Combat Operations 4500 calories was the goal.

The calorie count is a good reminder, GREGORY Knox. We have this conversation often with people who imagine reducing their calorie intakes during a time of survival level work loads. Many don’t realize that they will actually require greater amounts of food energy. It’s a dangerous error in thinking from a survival standpoint.

Another concern we have is that many don’t understand what will be required to acquire and store significant long term supplies, and to produce their own survival level food for the long haul. If we face a situation in which there are few or no supplementary suppliers, or the aren’t resources available to barter, trade or otherwise exchange, the magnitude of the crisis will escalate quickly.

Gregory, you’re right about the required calorie intake for working people. … Many of the ‘storage food’ companies provide daily calories for sedentary people.
…….. [ Sedentary Job: = Government Beaurucrats spending the day taking a nap, or watching Cartoons and Soap Operas. And, yes it’s possible to watch television on a cellphone.]

The Storage Foods sold should be thought of as, a basic foundation to have available for emergencies. There are other supplemental foods, that can be bought or homemade.
…….. Here’s ~one of many ideas, that can be found on Survivalblog: ~Grandpappy’s Pemmican Recipe – A Native American Indian Survival Food. JAMES WESLEY RAWLES JANUARY 10, 2008.
“Pemmican can be safely stored for 8 months. If you can keep the temperature between 40 to 75 degrees then pemmican can be stored for several years.”

[Reason #10,743 on ‘Why people should consider moving to the Redoubt Region. = It’s possible in many places to dig and build a ‘Root Cellar’ ~ that’s will stay dry in the Winter and Cool in the Summer. [SurvivalBlog has Root Cellar ideas too!]

(Personal Opinion: = It seems all the sane people are moving to safer locations. The normal people left behind in the ‘Blue’ areas are becoming surrounded by the Demonically Possessed.)

You’re absolutely right about. I never look at servings, I figure the calories and then base that on about 2500 calories per day to see how far that food will go.

I checked out their nutrition info. “Servings” range from 250 calories to 380. So, figure on eating at least double what they recommend.
Considering, also, the lack of variety, one would have to seriously supplement anything larger than a “72” hour kit.

Thank you, Pat Cascio! Will definitely check into this company and their products. Your thoughts are very much appreciated!

I always look forward to product reviews, especially for products that are new to me. I’ve been at this preparedness lifestyle for a few decades now and what amazes me about the emergency food system claims is how they focus on number of servings and nutritional value. Both very important, but a serving does not a meal make.

In harsh times when we will be more physically active and mentally stressed you have to prepare 2,000 calories or more per day to maintain good health and weight. A meal of 300 or fewer calories from a single serving will leave you sick, tired and hungry. The relatively small selection of food from this company will also lead to food fatigue due to lack of variety. A couple of days might be OK, but a week of scrambled eggs and mac and cheese even with a nice nutrient rich cookie is not a well thought out plan.

I suggest that if freeze dried food is the way you want to go then you should have as large a variety of products from multiple suppliers that will allow you to prepare “meals” with different combinations that total 600 to 700 calories per meal and include protein, starch (for quick energy), vegetables and fruits. A piece of bread of some kind (bread, cracker, cookie, cake) is a nice addition for comfort as well as a nutritious drink (water based preferred unless you like powdered milk).

If you have kids or other dietary requirements you will have to dig a little deeper to find the right combination. Any change drastically away from a person’s typical food consumption could lead to serious gastrointestinal issues.

I applaud the addition of a new member to the emergency food family and wish them well and much success. I will purchase a sampling of their products and consider adding to my personal survival food system. I mean, who can resist a good chocolate chip cookie, right?

John – The Ready Guy
Good points, all!

From your post: “A piece of bread of some kind (bread, cracker, cookie, cake) is a nice addition for comfort as well as a nutritious drink (water based preferred unless you like powdered milk).”

We do use powdered milk, and find that mixing it and allowing it to sit for 24 hours makes all the difference in the flavor. Of course this strategy assumes access to refrigeration.

We also keep on hand one of the powdered sports drink mixes. Using BPA free sports water bottles, we mix ice and cold water, just half of the recommended amount of the powdered sports drink, and one packet of a water soluble vitamin mix. It’s refreshing and a good fluid support.

Of course some of these strategies work well in the current environment, but may require adjustment (or abandonment) under other conditions depending on the severity of those.

Another thought inspired by Pat Cascio’s review.

From Pat’s post: “Of course, not everything we consume comes from the USA – many foods come from Mexico, because of their long growing season – still, we are seeing serious food shortages all over the country these days. I read about a trucking company in Texas that had over a hundred truck drivers, and they closed their doors because they couldn’t get any freight to haul. This is getting serious, folks.”

Just prior to “general awarenes” of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic, people shopping in our area grocery stores were oblivious to the crisis coming. When “general awareness” caught a hold of them, they quite literally emptied the shelves which had always been well stocked. We had been ready for some time for the initial lockdown, but made one last trip to the store in that time — when people realized trouble was at all our door steps.

My husband and I had a shopping game plan detailing a focus for each of us, but this was tossed out of the proverbial window on entry in the store. What we saw was shocking, even to us. The produce had been cleared entirely. There was nothing there. It looked like a store gearing up for a grand opening. The display tables were there and nicely draped, but there was no fresh produce. …and I do mean NOT ONE ITEM.

Reading about shortages, imagining them, even planning for them, is wholly different than seeing the reality of such a situation unfold before one’s very eyes. Seeing it happen in real time leads to a new level of awareness.

In the nearer term, we are likely to see shortages related to supply chain issues, and potentially due to geopolitical moves as well. We may yet see these should there be an escalation of war — traditional kinetic war, eletromagnetic war or another form of cyber war. In the longer term, we are likely to see these related to much larger, universal forces including solar cycles, and the risk of a solar micronova.

The need to act on this concern is serious and there should be some degree of urgency — not panic, but focused attention.

I found it kind of funny last year when the shopping craze kicked in. I went to the store a couple of times for perishable items like produce and bread. People were going crazy buying TP, cleaning products and whatever food they could find. I laughed to myself because I didn’t really need to be there.

It really does come down to sustainable living. You can store until the cows come home but in the long run you must PRODUCE! I know this is a harsh reality for those individuals without the capability to ‘grow your own’ but you must get your heads around this. If right now the lights went out how long could you survive on what you have stored? THAT IS THE REALITY! Find ways to at least grow enough to survive. Food storage is kinda like a hand gun, it can get you to your long gun.

Pat, a note on your diabetes, consider MMS (Master Mineral Solution). Do your own research. As with all controversial subject matter I would not rely on conventional news and medical advise. COVID is a case in point. MMS has been proven to cure Malaria in 48hrs as per a Red Cross documentary (now of course removed from their archives). A very interesting subject. There is MMS-1 and MMS-2 both very easy to make and widely available.

With all due respect; Implying that the use of MMS (chlorine dioxide) as a remedy is very dangerous. Even the original proponent of it (Jim Humble) said that it cures nothing. Chlorine dioxide is toxic and should not be ingested, period! Not all reasons from removing bad information from the internet is because of some conspiracy to hide the truth. There are no Youtube videos telling us not to drink gasoline, but no one (sane) would.

Pat, I would recommend checking out simple pump for your well. Engineer 775 on YouTube has a lot of information on water Storage and delivery.He also has a website practical Preppers .com

I second your recommendation! We have a Simple Pump installed in our 400 ft. well. They were great to work with and it is easy to use. My husband is handy and was able to install it himself. It did take the better part of a day….He mentioned that the worst part was worrying about dropping a part down in the well as he worked! Here’s to hoping we never have to rely on it solely!

About “Gluten Free” I find this subject humorous as to how companies try to make a sale claiming to be gluten free for their product. Believe this or not, I have seen regular drinking water on store shelves claiming to be gluten free, wow really? It is true that many products are naturally gluten free. I like to look at these for a laugh.

The “gluten-free thing” is serious and real for folks with gluten sensitivities, particularly those with celiac disease. Even small amount of hidden gluten in the diet can cause autoimmune issues, and chronic malabsorption of food in the gluten sensitive. This has serious long term consequences and would be quite problematic in a grid down situation. Since so many of our easy calories in a long-term storage diet come from carbs, it’s really important for those with celiac and other gluten sensitivities to put careful thought into their storage plan.

And buyer beware- if it says gluten-free, look for tested and certified gluten-free products. They are hard to come by in the survival storage industry.

Just because a food is inherently gluten-free does not mean the end product is gluten-free. For instance, cross contamination is well known to occur in oats which are often processed on the same machinery as wheat.

These days, gluten-free diets have become equated with granola eating hippies, or with neurotic, healthy people who want to eat the trendy diet of the day. Please use discernment! Yes, gluten-free diet IS healthy for those who have genuine gluten sensitivity- in fact it’s their only known path TO health. However, somehow this medical dynamic has been confused to mean that anyone eating a gluten-free diet will be healthier. Not true, of course!

Thrive Life has certified gluten free foods. Augason Farms carries some certified gluten free foods. An example would be they carry regular oats and certified gluten free oats.

Thank you JV. Have you tried eating any of their food either GF or regular? And how was it tasting?
Mountain House Foods also has a selection of certified GF foods in the #10 cans. Quite pricy, but their reputation is good.

KayBee,
Celiac runs in my husband’s family. We have tried the Mountain House GF beef stew. It was good but a bit salty. We just added a little bit more water and it was fine. My kids LOVE the Thrive Life and Augason Farms freeze dried strawberries. Both are certified GF. I also cook frequently with the Augason Farms dehydrated onions. The kids LOVE the Thrive Life GF sausage crumbles. Both are reputable brands. My mother-in-law likes the Thrive Life GF cooking flour.

I grew-up on a farm; we started our day pre-dawn with thousands of calories.
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Calories!

Calories were emphasized by BisonPrepper James M Dakin on his old blog.
Calories were as important as a) junk land and b) isolation from goofballs.

One of his last posts prior to going dark:
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Wildfires fighting “…can require 6,300 daily calories…”!
Yeah… right… sure.
For me and my teammate Kristine The Six-Foot Blond, each of us could convert twelve thousand daily calories — each — to work.
12,000 calories per person daily…. just to keep up with work demands.

Now do you understand my reasons for two forty-foot Conex shipping-containers of long-term storage-foods such as factory canned-goods plus a forty-foot semi-trailer of more factory canned-goods… plus operating a very productive small farm?

John the Ready Guy, I believe you need to do a little more research. Yes, Jim Humble does say, “That is cures nothing!” That is because if he says it does cure anything he is in violation of FDA rulings. That is why he had to form a ‘church’ in order to get his information out. Rather than setting ‘protocols’ he has to use the term ‘sacraments’ to satisfy the letter of the law. I am NOT proposing anyone just jump in an do something without doing there proper ‘due diligence’ but we must dig a little deeper than the surface. If MMS is so dangerous and poisonous, I guess I’m speaking from the grave. I love SB because we can have this type of discussion. I respect your right to disagree with me but I’m speaking from actual experience. I have no other objective. Sorry, I have to go, I’m still working an eight to ten hour day at almost 75, I’ll check back after my work day and will be more than happy to respond.

During the Great Depression, fat people got skinny, and skinny people got skinnier.
I believe those who are near their ideal weight and are fit, may struggle to maintain their weight after a collapse of the country, simply as a result of stress and then the extra physical activity. The body will try to maintain the existing weight level for at least two months by regulating metabolism, and not drawing on fat reserves. It’s called homeostasis. At some point, if calories are not above starvation levels that are roughly for males about 1,100 to 1,500 calories, the metabolism that burns most of our calories, will be slowed down and fat reserves tapped to preserve muscle. Eventually the body consumes itself, muscle first, as we starve. By reducing muscle mass, the body metabolism consumes fewer calories.

I’m overweight like most are these days. I would be in better shape if I did not have physical limitations that come with old age. Once when I was in my 30’s, I was also 70lbs over weight and decided to get rid of it and did so in only one year. I was losing fat, not muscle, at the maximum rate the U.S. Army finds ‘healthy’, and that was 1.5 to 2.5 pounds per week. The conditions were similar to what one might experience in a collapse situation. I was in the gym 2 hours everyday, roughly 1 hour cardio, 1 hour weight lifting. Diet was extreme low fat intake, and very high protein intake.

Total caloric intake was limited to no more than 2,000 per day, or less. The result was I lost fat, and slowly gained about 15 pounds of muscle. At the end of one year, I was at a health 9 percent body fat, lean and mean, very strong, and very fit. It was a radical transformation that we might experience in a WROL. I learned I could go without food for two days without slowing down, and could tolerate starvation levels 1,200 calories for about 3 days, but would do no more, because the body would shut down the metabolism. I learned how to go hungry, or get use to going hungry and not become weak or tired. I had an amazing amount energy regardless, and would drive people in the office crazy. They thought I was on drugs. Because the body had become conditioned to these extremes, if there was no food in the stomach, it maintained blood sugar levels (glucose), by quickly switching to burning fat reserves. I was not tired and listless while starving to death, I was simply losing weight and getting stronger.

Most of use have lots fat to lose. Fat is there for a good reason. Although we have gone to the extreme and have way too much, it can be the buffer that sees us through a radical, or extreme situation. Because of my experience, because I learned the physiological mechanisms involved, and used that knowledge to my advantage, I was able cause the body to lose weight, and become stronger at the same time by purposefully causing it to do so. Most people will lose muscle when they lose weight, and become weak, because the body seeks to maintain it’s fat reserves, and takes from muscle tissue, but if we eat enough muscle building protein, the body uses that instead of muscle tissue. Eventually after low blood sugar level is repeatedly and daily experienced, the body begins to using the fat reserves without delay instead attempting hang on it. Eventually the body adapts to the extreme conditions, so when blood sugar dips slightly, fat is immediately burned and blood sugar levels are kept higher, and we do not feel hungry. Also if enough muscle building protein is consumed, muscle is preserved and can be increased even though fat is lost. It is a delicate balancing act of caloric intake, nutrition, and exercise.

One of the methods to increase metabolism is moderately heavy weight lifting that continually challenges different muscle groups. The process of breaking down. and rebuilding muscle tissue when weight lifting, or exerting ourselves with heavy manual labor, increases our metabolism, and create more muscle that consume calories by it’s presence. It is much easier for well-muscled males to lose weight than it is for females as a result. This process of rebuilding muscle actually burns more calories than doing cardio, or running 30 to 60 minutes per day. I could do 7 1/2 minute miles for about an hour at 95 degrees F, and feel refreshed after a short rest. This is, btw, the level of fitness a person needs to fight. However, running, or light weight lifting does not break down muscle, and burns fewer calories. In the beginning of our exercise program light weight lifting can burn calories as our muscle are not yet conditioned, or toughened up. More weight will have to be added. Start with lightweights and high repetitions to condition the body for heavier lifting, otherwise injury to tendons and ligaments is possible. If you are not a little bit sore the next day, work harder. Same goes when adapting to a WROL, go slow in the beginning, or people, especially older people, could become seriously injured.

Most people are overweight and can remain healthy, and actually become healthier with weight loss, and rigorous daily exercise with a calorie intake of 2,000 calories per day and less, if we consume half of our body weight in grams of muscle-building protein with a restricted caloric intake. We can feel better than ever, full of energy, after our bodies adapts, and breaks it’s attempt to maintain homeostasis, or current fat levels, if we have lot of meat, or substitutes such a powdered whey protein. My food stores include lots of meat. If I do not have enough calories available in terms of starchy foods, or fat, I will consume more fat if it is available, and when that is gone and calories drop below 2,000/day, I would go from eating 1/4 pound of meat minimum, to 1 pound of meat minimum, if I were doing heavy manual labor. If I were young, I would need more meat protein.

These are rough estimates of what I expect is needed. I would listen to my body and adjust the diet accordingly. If economically possible, consider whey protein as a long term food source. That and frozen egg whites, is what weight lifters use to build muscle. Egg whites and chocolate-flavored whey protein in a blender makes a tasty smooth shake. I would have 5 chicken per person if only eggs where used a protein source. Eggs are the best balance of nutrition, and fat, and protein. I would use it to maintain current muscle, and a substitute for meat. Whey protein can be less expensive than meat and a compact form of muscle-building protein. So could powdered eggs. I consumed lots of both daily during my weight loss experience and attribute my rapid success to it. Store both as you would dry milk powder. I prefer fresh eggs, and store chicken feed when the garden is not producing. Adopt the attitude of ‘eat to live, not ‘live to eat’. I did it before, I can do it again. Do it now, and you’ll be able to go it again.

Tunnel Rabbit, well put, and matches my experience. Several years ago, I lost 30 pounds not by fad dieting, but by counting calories. I wrote down the calories of every meal and every snack (even my chewable vitamins at 25 calories) to determine my total needs. I still write it down, having kept the weight off. My results were surprising.

Even with my office job sitting at a computer, if I averaged under 2400 calories a day (but never under 2100 per day) I still lost 3 to 5 pounds a month. Now, I maintain my weight by taking 2700 calories a day. I’m not a big guy, 5’9″ and 175 lbs. and my main exercise is walking the dogs two miles a day (and I lift weights three days a week), but I still need more than 2500 a day.

If I had planned and prepped for only 2000 a day for one year, I’d end up way short of calories (or would run out of stored food a lot sooner). And when I’m more active, a day or two of 3300 to 3600 calories is normal. If you don’t measure what you need, how will you know what you need?

Eat like a caveman.

Survival foods are lacking in so many ways. Freeze dried is expensive, and typical survival food storage that includes mostly staple goods is convenient, yet neither type contains all the nutrition we will need. I suggest more meat protein, oils and fats, and fresh greens or sprouts if that is all we can do.

If one does not have any extra fat on the body to see us through lean times, we will need to supply ourselves with all the calories we might consume. If we are fat like me, I can use my fat reserves to get to the ‘other side’ of the crisis, if I have plenty of protein, eggs, and meat to keep me strong. Vegetarians might eat eggs, or whey protein, or otherwise risk the ill effect from the lack of calories from all veggie diet that might include the metabolism dropping into starvation mode. In addition, an all veggie diet may not provide an adequate amount of muscle building protein and oils, to keep you strong enough to do manual labor, day after day, all day. At least stock up on olive oil, whey and egg protein sources, if not other sources of muscle building protein. I have tried a vegetarian diet and it made me very weak. It can be done in good times when all we have to do is sit behind a desk. Eventually, even meat eaters will run low, or out of meats, so it is a good idea to learn how to eat like a vegetarian, and stay as strong as one can on that diet. Chickens are a good idea, and a breeding stock would be the minimum to have.

The one food items that most lack, and are usually sorely lacking in their long term food storage is fats and oils. Check your old stock to see if it is going bad, or will soon be bad. One cannot have too much muscle building protein, and fats and oils. As I can afford, I will top off current supplies with more olive oil, and animal fats. We need this to be apart of our nutrition, and to reduce the bulk of food we must eat to replace the calories we burn. As we get older, our ability to process food decreases dramatically, and many suffer from digest tract issues of various and serious kinds. Fats and oils can greatly reduce the amount we must eat, and is like rocket fuel for the body, and there is no sugar crash. Sugar is actually poison and I avoid it like a diabetic. Much of our bad gut heath can be attributed to an excess of sugar, or simple carbohydrates in our diet and an imbalance in gut flora. This is any food that is in a high glycemic index.

The process of digestion requires a huge amount of the bodies energy and time to process the food we eat, and more so, as we age, and if we are eating larger quantities to replace calories from a long hard day’s work. If we can reduce the demand on our digestive system, and rev-up the bodies metabolism by consuming at least 40% of our daily calorie requirement in fats and oils, we will work harder, longer, and stay warmer outside in the cold. Knowing how manage our food intake, and how to fuel up the body for a certain activities, can make a world of difference in our quality of life, and performance. If we plan accordingly, we’ll plan to eat a diet that is nutritionally dense, and packed with calories. Fats and oils do this twice as well as carbohydrates. For each gram of carbs there is 8 calories. The body uses 4 calories to digest it and the net gain is 4 calories. For each gram of fats and oils, there is 9 calories. The body uses only 1 calorie to digest it, and the net gain is 8 calories. And the process of digestion does not slow us down as much as when we eat fats and oil. I plan on eating like a Conan, the Barbarian. Red meat also boosts testosterone production. I am going to need all of that as I can get!

I reckon I probably have enough body fat to get me through several months before caloric intake really becomes an issue. A few months worth of supplements won’t quell my appetite, but will help keep me in the fight. Of course, with exertion comes the need for protein as the catabolic process will always deplete muscle tissue if not replenished. So what supplies I do have I try to focus on protein uptake as a significant source(but not all) of daily calories. Being a big (albeit older) feller, I reckon most people will look at me like they always have, that because of my size I can do more than average. It is not logical, but it is the way of things. Kinda like how libs want to do with my hard earned “surplus” income. After all, since I am a big guy and have worked hard to earn a good living, I have to do “my fair share”, right? At least that’s what my wife keeps telling me.

For the vast majority of the people out there that might try and prepare for catastrophe, growing their own simply is not going to be an option. They may be able to produce something. But it won’t be anywhere close to what they will need to get by. Fortunately, any shtf is going to need a dynamic set of talents and abilities in any community. What I can’t do and get can be bartered for with what I can do and have. If farming and livestock simply isn’t practical, and for most of us it won’t be, then having other talents can become adequate substitutes. After all, I have met no one yet who can reliably meet all their needs in a disaster situation. Just because you have a thing does not automatically mean you can maintain a thing. Every interaction with desperate people, whether desired or not, no matter how well prepared you may be, is going to be a roll of the dice. You only have to roll snake eyes once to lose it all. Keep that in mind. History is chock full of the mighty losing empires for all sorts of reasons. We simple folk are in no better condition.

18 Month shelf life for the bars and cookies, and expensive? Don’t think so.

Shelf life? Or did I miss it…

Years ago I was reading on how to get the proper nutrition from what we eat. The author said that it would be extremely difficult because we don’t consume very many calories anymore due to our relatively sedentary lifestyle compared to the early 1900’s . Because of all the physical effort spent just living( washing clothes be hand, hand sawing wood, weaving, hauling water by hand , etc.)the average woman ate at least 3000 calories a day. The idea that we will do all this heavy labor and not need to consume more calories concerns me. Have you ever been around someone who was dieting and severely restricting their calories? They aren’t usually very agreeable. Then if you add extreme stress and uncertainty to the mix it isn’t going to be nice. I say stock up abundantly. But just regular foods will store a long time and are much less expensive. Pasta, rice, beans, spices and seasonings, meat in cans, dried fruits , etc. I do agree oils are very important. I know that olive oil and coconut oil store a Long time if kept in a cool place. Also lard can store well if kept cool. It’s easy to render your own lard. If you have a meat processing business in your area you might be able to get the fat scraps and render them yourselves for very little money. Most people don’t want the pork fat. I believe that the more you can have on hand the easier it will be to adjust to the new reality

Hey Sis, I agree lard is an extremely useful product. Not only for use in baking, cooking etc. but also for fuel, soap, torches and more.
One of the best sources for high protein on the homestead is rabbits. They are so lean you really do need to add more fat to your diet if you are using them as a major source of protein. Contrary to popular belief rabbits really can be raised on just fodder from the homestead. For some reason I don’t think they had pellet feed 200 years ago.

Pat, Just a note. If you would like an explanation of what MMS is check out, mms4health.com. I really do respect others that may have a differing opinion but this site explains it much better than I could.

“I believe we all can agree that, we need water”. Just a little something I saw on the web…the Warka Water Tower. Feasible?

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