Before you think I am crazy, let me explain. Emergency Preparedness is important. I am not talking about the end of the world, nuclear fallout, etc. But if you are considering those ideas to happen for the future, this might be a good start for you. Back to emergency preparedness; FEMA and your local Emergency Manager have put out lists of the most important items you should have on hand in case of an emergency. These things are important for you and your family to consider. The number one reason: survival. Will you go hungry for 7 days or will you be well fed and have enough energy to get the things you need like firewood?
So what happens when there is an emergency? Do we have to evacuate? Or are we staying put? Well, if you have to evacuate, hopefully you have thought ahead, researched what you need and packed an emergency Bug Out Bag (BOB) for the whole family. Survival tools, clothes, compass, maps, emergency radio, food, water, etc. It doesn’t take up much room, just a bin that is easy to grab and put in your vehicle or carry if necessary.
Wait, did you say food? Yes, I said it. There isn’t any problem finding all the rest of the ingredients on your list. Well, what about me, I am gluten free? I can’t eat what everyone else is eating. Oh my gosh, can you imagine the uncomfortableness, pain and possible medical problems? What about gluten free emergency food? So that got me thinking. Are there really people out there who sell gluten free emergency kits / food? There is more than I thought.
There are many versions of this long shelf life food. One way to go is freeze dried. According to what I have seen, it has a longer shelf life (20-25 years) than the canned versions (5 years). Veggies, fruit, desserts, grains and beans are also available. If you don’t want to wait, go to your local sportsman’s store and get the meals in a package. Try that next time you go camping. If you like them make sure of the shelf life and get a few for your 72 hour emergency kit.
There are 2 types of freeze dried meats. One is real meat and the other is Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP). You could also probably do jerky. It seems like the real meat is more expensive. So if you are more on a tight budget for amping up your emergency supply, you might want to try the TVP.
Shelf life is important. You don’t want something to spoil before it’s time for you to use it. Make sure when you get new stock, you rotate it so the new stuff is at the back of the shelf. Keep a log of when your food expires so you can use it before it goes bad. Nothing like paying a premium for something and you have to throw it away. Or it goes bad and you realize it when you need it. Research what you want: gluten free, long shelf life, tasty food. And go with the best option for your family.
Costco actually has a host of foods available for purchase. There even is a kosher, gf, dairy free, nut free, soy free and egg free company that sells these products. That is at http://www.aaoobfoods.com.
Here are some other websites that are informative:
www.Buyemergencyfoods.com
www.Momstart.com
www.Livestrong.com
www.Glutenfreeemergencykits.com
www.preparedplanet .com
http://www.celiac.com/articles/21603/1/How-to-Prepare-a-Gluten-Free-Disaster-Emergency-Kit/Page1.html
So do your research, make a list, put together a kit, have a plan and be prepared! It doesn’t take much time. And it’s piece of mind that you and your family are covered just in case. There is no worse feeling in the world as a mother / father than not being able to provide for or feed your family!
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