Ten Wild and Healthy Snack Foods to Collect and Eat During Emergencies

A number of local area emergencies created the need for emergency planners to address the problems of feeding a large, stranded population. If you're going to fall within directly line of a hurricane, tsunami, stranded by flood or live in an area of earthquakes, what you bring with you can make the difference in your ability to survive.

#1 Healthy Snack Food for Emergencies -- Water and Supplies to Disinfect

Water remains the single most essential item for survival. Water in areas hit by emergencies can be tainted by pollution, human waste, and or natural parasites, bacterias and viruses that can cause outbreaks of disease. A supply of iodine tablets and a small bottle of bleach in your backpack or matches and a pan, will improve your chances to survive.

#2 Healthy Snack Food for Emergencies -- Salt and Potassium Chloride

In tropical or hot weather regions, having a supply of salt and or dried energy drink can help prevent the loss of salt needed by your body.

#3 Healthy Snack Food for Emergencies -- Nuts

Edible nuts from local trees can be scavenged if retail packages aren't available. Look for walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts as well as less palatable acorns; the latter was ground by native Americans into a paste.

#4 Healthy Snack Food for Emergencies -- Dried and or Roasted Seeds

Dried and roasted seeds such as sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds are similar to nuts and also have good oils.

#5 Healthy Snack Food for Emergencies -- Dried and Fresh Fruits

Dried fruits are easy to carry and less likely to spoil. Bring raisins, craisins, bagged in plastic. They are lightweight and fill the need for sugar. Many fresh fruits are heavier to carry. Check the area for fruits such as apples, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, huckleberries, salmonberries, chokecherries, current as sources of vitamins, sugar, fiber and water.

#6 Healthy Snack Food for Emergencies -- Dried and or Canned Meats

Beef jerky, can's of tuna or other meat, and freeze-dried hiking meals can provide essential protein and can be a tasty pick me up. If you have access to a cooler, salami and pepperoni can be tasty additions.

Pemmican was a favorite of Native American Indians and was made by grinding jerky and dried fruit into a power and mixing with melted buffalo or beef fat until it thickened, then rolled into balls.[1]

#8 Healthy Snack Food for Emergencies -- Canned Vegetable Taste Treats

Olives and baby onions can be wonderful additions to your diet. Native onions grow wild in many places and can be a welcome source of food. Corn is a great seed to carry and sow or eat from fields.

#9 Healthy Snack Food for Emergencies -- Portable Roots

Most roots are long lasting and provide good vitamins and flavor. If scavenging for food, the bulb at the base of bulrush can be eaten raw in summer and is sweet. Cattail root can be eaten raw or baked or dried. The central stem of a narrow leaf on a Yucca plant is edible. Check fields for potato or sweet potato or squash. These latter three are suggestions from Native American Skills & Crafts [1]

#10 Healthy Snack Food for Emergencies -- Olives and Mushrooms and Eggs

Olives in a can be a welcome oil addition to your diet. Mushrooms, if you know the edible ones are also a good choice. And duck, alligator, bird and turtle eggs can be found in swampy areas.

[1] David Montgomery, Native American Crafts & Skills