Eating Healthy in an Emergency

It is a fact of living in this beautiful province: we're in an earthquake zone. Should a major earthquake strike the Lower Mainland, we may be without power and without new supplies for days or even weeks. Because of our unique geography – our mountains and ocean – it is going to be hard to get food and other supplies into our area. It is recommended that every household maintain an emergency supply kit sufficient to sustain all members for at least 72 hours, though many believe that it would be better to be prepared for much longer than that.

There are a lot of websites out there to guide you in constructing an emergency kit for your family, or you can buy pre-assembled kits. A basic kit should include things to assist with water (bottles or tanks to store water, water purification products), shelter (mylar blankets, rope, tarp), light (flashlight), hygene (garbage bags, antibacterial gel, bleach), first aid, and food. Depending on where you live and your likely situation should an earthquake, flood, or other disaster strike, you may want to add tools, camping supplies, communication gear, and more to this basic kit.

To make the food portion of your kit as low maintenance as possible, and to avoid waste if there isn't an emergency, aim to just store extra of anything you use regularly that will be useful in an emergency. If you always keep a full case of canned beans on hand, you will be ready to make a quick meal or be set in a crisis. I aim to keep a couple of full cases of different kinds of beans, a case of tetrapak soy beverage, a case of canned soup, and a case of unsweetened canned fruit on hand at all times. As soon as one case is opened, we purchase another. We also aim to always have sealed packages of oatmeal, dried fruit, apple sauce, tetrapak juices, quinoa, multigrain crackers, nut butters, and other versatile and nutrient-rich foods on hand.

When preparing your emergency food, keep in mind the needs of all members of your household, especially babies, anyone with allergies, anyone with diabetes, and anyone who is on a low-sodium diet (watch those canned goods, especially). Keep in mind that you may be without refrigeration, electricity, and gas, so choose foods that can be eaten cold and with minimal preparation. Have lots of favourites on hand; in an emergency, staying hydrated and getting enough calories is a top priority. And remember to pack a manual can opener with your kit!

Though getting calories is the first priority, eating healthy is important even in an emergency. In fact, it may be most important in a crisis, as stress levels are high and access to health care and medicine may be disrupted.

Proteins: Protein will be very important, especially if you are physically stressed. Good sources of protein to have on hand include canned beans, nuts and seeds, nut butters, and shelf-stable tofu. Also consider powdered or canned milk or dairy alternatives in shelf-stable tetra-packs, especially for kids. Non-vegetarians may want to add canned fish and chicken to their stocks.

Fruits and Vegetables: Fresh is best, of course, but may be gone fast if supplies are disrupted. Having a couple of bags of frozen produce on hand can be helpful, as even if the power goes out, they will be good for 24 to 48 hours if kept in a freezer. After the freezer stock runs out, canned fruits and vegetables, though less nutritious, are better than nothing. Consider canned tomatoes, unsweetened fruit, and shelf-stable apple sauce as palatable options. Dried fruit is also a good choice.

Carbohydrates: As in daily life, aim for high-quality, whole grains. Have on hand multigrain crackers, brown rice cakes, and high-fibre, low-sugar cereals.

Other: There are a lot of protein and energy bars on the market, and they can be a good addition to your kit. Before buying a bunch, though, try one, as the taste and texture can vary greatly. You will also want to check the ingredients, as some are very high in sugar.

Having shelf-stable juice on hand can be helpful as a source of quick energy and to help keep hydrated.

If you would like to buy full cases of any products we sell, or any other organic product we may be able to source for you, just give us a call at 604-708-2345 or email us at info@greenearthorganics.com for a price quote.