Guide To Vegetarian Food Prepping For Emergencies

While each crisis situation will have its own unique look and feel, it is critical to be as prepared as possible.

It doesn’t have to break because of an emergency if you’re on your way to becoming a vegan.

This vegetarian and vegan food prep guide will assist you in packing and preparing all of the necessary vegetarian choices in the event of a SHTF crisis.

See also: How To Store Quinoa Long-Term

Can Vegans Prepare For Emergencies?

Yes, even if they are vegan, they may fully prepare because being vegan will not hamper them in any way during the preparation process.

People may believe that vegans and vegetarians will have a difficult time coping in a crisis, but with proper preparation, they will be able to handle any SHTF situation with ease.

One of the biggest advantages of being a vegan during an emergency is that food, particularly meats, spoils less. If you are caught in a grid down, the odds of your meat spoiling are extremely high.

Vegans don’t have to worry about this, and they also don’t have to worry about wasting a lot of energy. Meat requires a lot of gas to be cooked fully, which you may easily save if your family is vegan.

So, with a little help from Mother Nature and our instructions, vegans can prepare for any SHTF catastrophe.

See also: Shelf Life Of Wheat Berries

Best Vegetarian Food To Stockpile

When people consider about the vegetarian food supply, they often assume that their diet is deficient in nutrients.

Many foods in the vegetarian diet, on the other hand, can provide just as many nutrients as any steak or meat curry. You can stockpile in an emergency by following our extensive best food groups guide.

Grains and Pasta

Pasta and grains are the most nutrient-dense, protein-rich, and fiber-dense foods. They have a long shelf life and can be used for a variety of meals. The following are some of the best grains to stockpile:

Rice- While and brown
Quinoa
Couscous
Whole wheat pasta
Rice noodles

Canned Foods

Canned goods should be high on your priority list because they are easy to store and last for years without taking up a lot of room.

They’re fantastic for quick desserts, pasta, and stews. The following are some canned items to keep on hand:

PTomato paste
Marinara sauce
Pizza sauce
Olives
Vegetable broth
Artichoke hearts
Beans

Fruits and Vegetables

These aren’t the most practical foods to stockpile because they spoil quickly, but attempt to stockpile them as soon as possible because they can still give sustenance for ten days during the initial time.

• Potatoes
• Onions
• Sweet potatoes
• Garlic
• Carrots
• Apples
• Oranges, limes, and grapefruits
• Eggplant
• Parsnips

Beans and Legumes

Beans and legumes should be included in your stockpile if you are concerned about a lack of fibre and protein.

Lentils are also an excellent meatloaf substitute because they can simply be made into a vegan meatloaf for a whole protein-packed meal.

• Kidney beans
• Black beans
• Chickpeas
• Red and green lentils
• Pinto beans

Seeds and Nuts

These are fantastic for getting a healthy amount of fats, minerals, and protein into your diet.

They lubricate your joints well and aid in the development of strong muscles. We recommend stocking:

Almond and peanut butter
Hazelnuts
Pecans
Almonds
Peanuts
Chia seeds
Cashews

Baking Goods

Baking can help divert the attention of the entire family, particularly children, while also providing appropriate sustenance.

Many vegan alternatives may be used to bake cookies, bread, and other baked goods in the same way that normal baking can be done. Here are a few must-haves:

• All-purpose flour
• Wheat flour
• Almond flour
• Chickpea flour
• Gluten-free blend
• Powdered sugar
• Maple syrup
• Applesauce
• Cocoa powder
• Vanilla extract

Freezer Foods

If you have a deep chest freezer, we recommend keeping frozen meals in it to supplement your diet.

Fill your freezer with fruits and veggies that will last for months if kept at the proper temperature.

• Mango
• Bananas
• Mixed berries
• Peas
• Corn
• Broccoli
• Green beans
• Bell peppers

Snacks

You may certainly skip this list if you are only preparing for the necessities, but having snacks on hand might be useful when you have children.

They also give nourishment and maintain freshness for a long time.

• Chips
• Seaweed snacks
• Salsa
• Pretzels
• Granola bars
• Popcorn
• Trail mix
• Fruit leather
• Dark chocolate

How Much Vegetarian Food To Prep and Store ?

This is the most crucial question, and it is dependent on the type of emergency you are dealing with and preparing for.

If you’re preparing for many calamities, such as a power outage or a nuclear assault, you may need to stockpile for months or even years.

However, if you’re just getting started, we recommend doing at least one month’s worth of meal prep (four weeks). This is what your grocery list should look like:

• 1 to 2 weeks’ worth of perishables
• Crackers, potatoes, onions, bread, and other semi-perishable goods for two weeks.
• Frozen vegetables, fruits, and simple ready-to-eat meals for 2-4 weeks.
• Flour, pasta, tinned meals, and rice for four weeks.

Should You Dehydrate Your Food?

Yes, dehydrating your food is a good idea, especially if you’re preparing for a grid-down disaster.

If you don’t have much space in your cupboard, food dehydration is a great option. Dehydration saves space while also substantially reducing weight. Because of the moisture reduction, the items have a long shelf life after being completely dehydrated.

When you wish to leave your base and venture out for days, dried foods can come in handy. The food would fit into your bug-out backpack with ease.

How To Dehydrate Vegetables And Fruits

To dehydrate fruits, cut them into the proper shape and cover them with a layer of lemon juice to keep them from going completely black.

After that, place them in your chosen room and let them to dry out.

Cut the vegetables into little pieces and blanch them to dehydrate them. If you don’t want to eat raw veggies after rehydrating them, blanching is a must. Then, lightly dip these vegetables with lemon juice and place them on a plate to dry.

Affordable Dehydration Options

Natural sunlight can be used to dry vegetables and fruits. Of course, it will take a lot of time, but you may dry and preserve fruits and vegetables without spending any money at all.

Using the air to dry

Although it will take a long time, far longer than sun-drying, you can still dry fruits. Only air dry when the weather is dry; humid weather will cause the food to become fungus-infested.

Drying in the oven

Dehydrating food in the oven is simple and inexpensive because you don’t need to buy a dehydrator. However, because to spotty drying, the food may not be completely dry.

Professional dehydrator

These could be a tad pricey. Still, if you plan on dehydrating a lot of food, these are the best option because they dry the food rapidly, evenly, and use less electricity.

Having A Garden Is A Great Idea

If you’re a vegan, having a garden isn’t just a good idea; it’s a requirement.

If you were an omnivore, hunting and fishing would be a simple and straightforward option, but this is not the case with vegetarians and vegans. They require a plot of land on which to grow food that they can eat even after their stockpile has been depleted.

Because a family can only store a specific amount of food, if the situation lasts for years, they will need a fresh replenishing supply to consume and nourish their family. Potatoes, onions, soy, rice, peanuts, wheat, and lentils are some of the best garden crops.

You’ll have to go through a lot of trial and error, but once you figure out how to cultivate each item, you’ll be able to feed your family for years. Garden herbs such as oregano, parsley, chiles, lavender, and others can be used to season your food.

Square foot gardening is a good option if you don’t have a lot of room to garden or farm. This strategy allows survivors to grow a wider range of food on a tiny plot of land.

Even if you only have a few square metres, try to make the most of it by planting something. It is usually preferable to make use of all available resources when surviving.

Foraging For Food

Yes, in an emergency, it is a possible alternative. People frequently deplete their stocks or fail miserably at gardening.

Foraging can be a great strategy to find and eat fresh, edible food during this period. Even if you have plenty of food, hunting for fresh nutrients in the wild is always a smart idea. Foraging is similar to hunting, however it is just for vegans and vegetarians.

You’ll have a better chance of discovering good, nutritional ingredients in the wild if you’ve made your home in the woods. If you detect foliage, inspect it carefully; you’ll almost certainly find some edible and nourishing elements.

Tips for foraging that might be useful:

• If you’re not sure about something’s origins or features, don’t eat it. Because you won’t have access to doctors during a SHTF situation, it’s always best to be safe. Always keep in mind that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
• If you’re going to go foraging, be very careful where you go. Make sure you’re familiar with the area and keep an eye out for holes, harmful objects, and predators.
• If you don’t have much time, focus on a small number of items and make sure you know everything there is to know about them.
• Compulsorily learn different sorts of edible grass based on the location of your shelter.
• Keep an eye out for dangerous insects and animals. You should avoid harvesting at night because it exposes you to a number of dangers. Whatever happens, try to get through the night and go out scavenging in the morning.
• Consult an expert who can teach you about the many sections of plants.
• Always let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return.

There are five distinct characteristics of dangerous plants to be aware of. To begin, avoid touching or eating certain plants:

• Second, if you observe a discoloured or milky sap, don’t eat it.
• Fine hairs, beans, or thorns can be found on most hazardous plants.
• When you taste them, they could start to taste bitter.
• The leaves and woody sections have a faint almond fragrance.
• Any plant having a dominating three-leaved growth pattern should be avoided.

Plants That Are Easy To Forage And Are High In Nutrients

Cattails

These are extremely nutritious plants. You can nearly consume the entire plant, including the roots, shoots, and pollen heads. Cattails aren’t the most appetising of plants, yet they are edible.

Dandelion

Dandelion is quite easy to come by, and the entire plant can be eaten in a variety of ways. Its blossom buds are incredibly nutritious and can be eaten in the early spring.

Because of its light texture, it can be eaten raw as a snack or in salads. The leaves of these plants can be stir-fried, and the roots are delicious in the winter. Make sure the roots are delicate by boiling them twice.

Pear Prickly

This cactus-like plant prefers dry, rocky soil to thrive. If you live in such a location, you should investigate this plant.

Because the spikes might be dangerous, wear strong elastic gloves and use tongs. To get rid of the thorns, crush the fruit in water.

You can produce juice, jellies, nectars, and pies using the de-spiked fruit. Its pads are readily cut and cooked as a vegetable substitute.

Its branches can also be roasted and peeled to reveal the tasty pulp inside. The seeds can be dried and mashed to provide a thickening agent for practically any soup or dish.

Grasses

As previously said, all grasses are edible. You can chew on the leaves and consume the juice to acquire the nutrients while avoiding gastrointestinal distress. After that, spit out the remaining strands.