For one longtime prepper, the challenge of storing food goes beyond simply stocking up in case of a worst-case scenario. It also means having emergency meals on hand that fit medical needs and travel routines.
In a Reddit discussion, the prepper asked for opinions on using dehydrated meals during long drives to visit family. The prepper's planning was made difficult by health challenges that included celiac disease, and they said they were monitoring their blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.
Here's what to know
The original poster explained that they had been stocking food since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and had about a year's worth of supplies for three people and two dogs, including canned basics and two full freezers.
Their next priority, though, was different: "small-volume lightweight foods" that can last two years and work for emergency travel or evacuation.
The poster added that the ideal choices would need to be gluten-free as well as low in sodium and carbohydrates.
Other users pointed to a familiar trade-off: convenience versus nutrition.
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"Salt is always an issue with canned food if you're watching blood pressure," one commenter wrote. "A lot of freeze-dried food has a fair bit of salt as well."
More background
The prepper's goal was to build a safe food system for car and motorhome travel when refrigeration can't be counted on.
Lightweight dried foods are easy to transport, and they may help travelers avoid repeatedly buying costly meals on the road. But commenters made clear that freeze-dried meals are typically more expensive than canned foods.
Users also emphasized that not all shelf-stable foods are created equal when dietary restrictions come into play.
"My soy allergy limits my choices for meals," one commenter noted. "Mountain House and a couple of other brands have meals that are safe."
The OP joined in lamenting the lack of options.
"My life would be so different if I did not have to be gluten-free that I can't even think in those terms," they wrote in a comment.
What can be done?
Several people offered advice for obtaining quality dehydrated foods at a reasonable price.
"I follow all of the main companies and wait for sales," one shared, naming Mountain House, Augusta Farms, Thrive, and Keystone. "... I subscribe to all of their mailing lists and wait. The main thing I do differently is make a 'menu' of meals, and then when the components of that meal go on sale, I dive on it. That way I am not just buying random things."
Where can I learn more?
These articles look at emergency food kits for dietary restrictions, power-outage food storage, blackout fridge performance, backup home power, and battery systems that keep refrigerators running.
• One homeowner sought cheap and easy emergency kits that fit vegetarian and allergy needs.
• A woman shared a brilliant power-outage hack that keeps refrigerated food fresh longer.
• Someone else warned that a common freezer trick can actually hurt fridge performance.
• Preppers said generators or solar panels can determine how comfortably homes weather blackouts.
• VillaGrid's home energy storage system can keep refrigerators running through blackouts.
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