Some of the very first foods I bought for my food storage pantry weren’t exactly health foods. I loaded up my shelves with cans of ravioli, Vienna sausages, and boxes of Cheerios, from GMO crops, I’m sure.
My kids tastes have changed since then and we are eating fewer foods with gluten, more raw milk, and lots more produce, but when I first started with food storage, I bought what I could with a limited budget.
There’s a lot of judgmental people out there nowadays who loudly criticize moms like me who buy foods they deem to be “unclean”, for whatever reason. Maybe the foods contain GMO ingredients, maybe the honey isn’t local, maybe the meal contains high fructose corn syrup — it doesn’t matter to these militant moms. They’ll let you know, loud and clear, that you are a sub-standard mom and your children are in danger because you feed them fast food meals every now and then.
“What??,” they screech. “You aren’t growing your own organic foods and raising free-range chickens and then canning every last little tomato and carrot in purified water?”
“You fed that to your family for dinner last night? Ewwww! Do you know what that kind of food can do to a kid? No wonder your kids have _____”
Fill in the blank with anything from ADD to warts to allergies. Whatever the malady, you are to blame, in their eyes.
Well, I want you to know, just as loudly and just as clearly, that here on my blog and elsewhere, I have no intention of judging what you buy for your food storage or what you serve your family.
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
— Plato
Yes, there are foods that are more wholesome and, yes, we should probably all be eating and storing them, and yes, every kid who wants a pony should have one!
Being a mom is a non-stop journey of learning new things, applying the good, ignoring the bad, and praying that, somehow, our kids turn out okay in the end.
But we all do the best we can, where we are, with what we have. One thing I’ve learned in just our first week of trying to eat as gluten-free as possible is that it can be pretty darn expensive! Right now, I can afford an occasional meal of $4.99/lb. GF pasta, but 4 years ago, I sure couldn’t have
Am I a better mom now that I’m trying to serve a lot more produce and “clean” foods than I was 4 years ago when my kids were chowing down on Vienna sausages? Do I love my kids more now than I did then?
Of course not!
I don’t want any mom, or dad, to feel like they can’t prepare their families for an uncertain future just because they can’t afford more expensive organic, non-GMO, high-fructose-corn-syrup-free, gluten-free foods (is your head spinning yet?) or because they haven’t turned their backyard into an organic garden.
It’s downright depressing to try and measure up to someone else’s measuring stick when they aren’t walking in your shoes and dealing with your set of circumstances.
Always focus on doing what you can do, and let the militant mommies out there find someone else to pick on.
That’s all I have to say.
Bravo!
Very well said! Leading by example is one thing. One very good thing. But this over-righteous, militant blather from the purists is way over the line. They are no different than the militant vegans we all have to suffer all too often. Plus, in a real survival situation, a starving person or a parent trying to keep their kid’s from crying in hunger are not going to give a rat’s behind about how “pure” the food is.
Well said, Lisa!!! I completely agree. I would also like to add that even moms who have made better food choices for their children occasionally take a few steps backward. I know I try and feed my boys healthy food but when things are busy for one reason or another they eat too much sugar. I know it! I see it! I’m going to fix it! My point is that eating healthy (and motherhood in general as you pointed out) is a journey with a lot of curves in the road. You have to do the best in can in the moment! Those militant moms have social issues (or other issues going on). My mom always said when people are overly critical they are compensating for something in their own life. It’s hard to think of that when their words sting but it really is true!
Very well said, Lisa! I totally agree because when it comes right down to it in a grid down survival situation, you want your kids to eat something that they like. At that point it’s a matter of morale and survival, not health consciousness. I have a mixture of freeze dried and canned grocery store food in my storage. When time is of the essence, I usually go for a can of soup or chili and it’s got all those bad things in it but if it’s what I want, that’s what I will eat.
As gluten free as possible? Are you going gluten free due to one of your family members being diagnosed with Celiac Disease or a gluten intolerance? If so, at a minimum that individual needs to be absolutely gluten free… and that means separate cutting boards, a separate toaster, no preparation of gluten free foods after using wheat flour (it gets into the air and takes hours to settle out), etc.
There are many gluten free meals that can be made without going to the specialty products… you just have to read the labels on your condiments (and check with the company on anything labeled “natural flavoring” and make foods from the outside of the store – meat and veggies, rice, potatoes and so forth.
I didn’t mean that to sound judgemental. I had a really hard time when I first had to go gluten free, because wheat, rye and/or barley(or malt) are in so many products. Just wanted to impress upon you (and your audience) the importance of being completely gluten free if you have Celiac Disease or a gluten intolerance.
Hi Ellen. In answer to your question, no one in my family has Celiac or has a for-sure gluten allergy or sensitivity. Right now I’m just working on eliminating as much gluten as possible to see if it clears up some minor issues my son has had over the past couple of years. When he was a baby, he has severe baby asthma and a bit later, RSV. He’s always had very sensitive skin and when I was recently reading the symptoms of gluten sensitivity, a couple of them lined up with what I’ve observed with him.
It’s only been a week, but I’ve been really impressed by how accepting he is of eating gluten free. It’s tough, though, when he’s given goldfish crackers after a football practice and when his favorite food is pizza! I bought some gluten-free pizza dough mix last week and we’re giving it a try tonight.
If I start seeing his symptoms at least lessen, I’ll know that gluten was the problem.
Thanks for the information you shared!
If you do decide to go gluten free for him (we’ve been for almost 3 yrs as I and both my daughters have full blown celiacs) check out http://www.glutenfreeonashoestring.com This lady come up with flour blends to use either cup for cup in regular recipes or in some of her recipes. It’s like having a gluten free all purpose flour at your disposal that DOES NOT SUCK! It’s great. Kinda fussy and expensive at first but once you start mixing the flours and cooking the things you use to buy for your son( like cheese crackers, pizza, pasta, biscuits, etc) it gets much easier and less expensive. I stumbled upon her website and then like it so much I bought the book and was totally impressed. By far the best gluten free flour blends for the money and the recipes are really good! Unlike my girls I still remember what real pizza tasted like but this is actually pretty close. Good luck finding out what helps your son. I think you are being a great advocate for your son’s health by altering his diet to try to control some of his symptoms. Sounds like a great mom to me 🙂
Thanks, RW! So far I think his skin is looking clearer. I made gluten free pizza tonight, and it was actually quite good. I used Bob’s Red Mill GF pizza dough mix. I don’t remember how much it cost, but for sure the dinner was cheaper than going out!
I really think that all the people who grow organic foods should drop their prices. As I shop I see a lot of wasted food being thrown out even organic. I think organic companies would profit more if they made it more available for the low and med. income families. And caring more for the human race then their pockets. And maybe they can beat the GMO companies and put them out of business.That would be awesome. and by the way Dominos Pizza has a gluten free crust.
Yes, Dominos GF pizza is tasty but it is made at the same counters and in the same ovens as the regular pizza. My oldest is allergic and i am sensitive so this doesn’t hurt us to eat occasionally, but someone celiac would have a much bigger problem.
Thank you! Your supportive, encouraging attitude makes a huge difference. I hope others will consider following your example.
Hmm, not quite sure that was her point here. Please re read the title and reserve judgement.
Amen!
Also, good comment Ellen. Gluten-free is necessary for some and a fad for others.No judging, just what some people want to try for a vaiety of reasons.
Some people are so insecure that the only way that they know to make themselves feel better is to try to make someone else feel worse. Enjoy your life, but if you can, pray for someone that miserable.
Judging others isn’t just limited to food choices, unfortunately. Working mom vs. stay-at-home mom, homeschool vs. public school, etc. There’s a lot of judgment floating around. Being a mom is hard enough without having to deal with other people’s harsh opinions. Wouldn’t it be nice if moms could just support one another? Like, Gorges Smythe said, I just remind myself that the ones who judge are just trying to make themselves feel better.
In the discussion here and over on Facebook, I was reminded of a former friend who, one day, made me feel like a failure because the kids and I were eating at Chick-fil-A. That was the beginning of the end of our friendship when I realized that I didn’t want to spend time with someone who made me feel terrible about myself. I’m open to new information but please, leave the judgmental garbage at home! (Saying that to her, not you!!)
Both preparedness and nutrition/health is a top priority for our family. My husband has a gluten intolerance and both my kids have allergies. I wish both areas could combine to make food storage much easier! As it is, my husband and I are learning to preserve our food so we can still buy what we feel is essential for our family but be able to preserve it for emergencies, the future, and whatever comes our way. It’s a lot of work and time but so important to us! Just wish it was easier! 🙂 I think each family is doing the best they can and we all need to support each other!
I know it’s really tough for families with moderate to severe issues with food ingredients. I have quite a bit of wheat stored and if it turns out that my son has gluten sensitivities, well, we’ll cross that bridge, when we come to it. If we’re starving, we’ll all eat wheat! Of course we could also trade it for other foods that we might need.
Amen Sistah! Preach it! 😉
I try to feed my kids primarily fresh, Organic foods. I try to cook from scratch as often as possible. I don’t have much left after that in my budget to store “premium” food away for a rainy day. I buy a little bit of the cheapest, most shelf stable items when they are on sale, and when it gets close to expiration dates, we can donate it to the local food pantry… if we are still in the fortunate position to be able to eat fresh whole foods.
That’s pretty much what I do, too, Tas. I have quite a bit of freeze-dried and dehydrated produce but my preference is fresh for both in the future (meaning a large garden) and eating in meals now.
I may be one of those militant moms.. lol. I have worked really hard over the last year to change our eating habits of junk and processed foods. Although, it’s none of my business what other people eat or feed their kids. I just cringe when they offer things to my kids without asking me first. Especially foods that they used to love that were the hardest to wean them off from.
You don’t sound militant to me, Valerie!! I think we are all trying to do our best, and as more and more information has come out about GMOs, the downside of wheat/gluten, and all the additives to our foods, thousands of moms are joining what can only be described as a food revolution. The unfortunate fact, though, is that many, many families these days can only afford what a lot of these moms would describe as “ewwww” foods! I want families to have some food set aside for emergencies or a worst case scenario, and think that any food you can put away is fine!
Every once in awhile I give my kids the really unhealthy stuff. The last time I opened a can of SpagettiOs with Meatballs my kids wouldn’t eat them because they said they tasted wrong. I bought them Cap’n Crunch once and they all complained that the cereal took the flesh off of the roof of their mouths. They decided that Go-Gurt is too sweet, so they prefer the plain yogurt with a spoon of jam in it. So, they get to taste junk and decide that they don’t like it, and now they don’t want it either. Sometimes you have to let them have the unhealthy stuff so they see that they aren’t missing out on anything when they see their friends eating it.
Good for you! My son used to grab salad out of my bowl, and now I’m working on re-training him — away from some of the junk he’s been eating and toward fresh fruit (which he loves) and veggies. I buy virtually no processed foods but do have some in our long-term storage. Better fed than dead. ;o)
I was diagnosed as Gluten and Soy intolerant last May. It has been an uphill battle but I have pretty much adjusted after almost a year. My food storage is full of soy and wheat and you name it. But you’re right – if we were starving we would eat whatever we could. I certainly won’t buy anymore canned soup or wheat berries, but I’m still grateful for what I have. Now, if I was Celiac that would be a different matter altogether. But, thankfully I’m not.
As someone who has been GF and CF(casein free) and SF(soy free) for the past 5 years, I can tell you, food storage is a whole new thing, but totally do-able!
Instead of wheat, we store Rice, Quinoa, Millet, Buckwheat, Corn and GF Oats & Oat groats. Instead of ready made (just add water) meals, we have ingredients in #10 cans that I can then mix into ready made meals and package in mylar or quart jars. It is different, but definitely do-able!
Well said!
I’ve thought about that myself. And I am trying to store the best I can. BUT I have sugar stored, you know, the ‘white’ kind. And other things that we wont discuss. I figure in an emergency situation I will be glad to see a box of Lucky Charms. And so will the kids.
Without reading all of the other replies, I will say this:
If SHTF, those same Moms will take your vienna sausages and feed them to their starving children, and Bless you for them.
Pretty sure there are others who would agree with me, and probably already did…
Personally, I am just pleased with I can store ANYTHING and leave it alone for an emergency…
You just keep on keeping on! I love your posts, your honestly, and your hints and your tips and and and… I teach workshops (including Preparing for a Power Outage, and Cooking with Boxes, Cans and Jars)… your journey has helped Me make MINE!!! Thank You!
Last time I checked, starvation kills people faster than non-organic fruits and veggies.
When fresh produce brings an astronomical price, and those militant mommies can’t afford a single organic apple, they may find that box of Cheerieos or can of Vienna Sausages surprisingly acceptable.
Keep up the good work fellow Survival Moms! We’re ALL in this together! 🙂
I’ve always thought that people do the best they can with what they know…When they know better they do better. The fact that they are storing SOMETHING to eat is a step in the right direction! We can not judge others, but we can help educate them when they want information! Share what you have learned with others and they can take it or leave it….. :o)
This is an excellent point. I would just like to add it isn’t much fun being on the opposite end of the criticism. We are a no gmo, gluten intolerant, organic when we can, vegan family for health reasons and our preparedness “family” always seems to find our storage lacking. Yes, there is a tiny bit of ramen and conventional canned food in our food storage, but we have made a significant effort to invest our small budget into quality foods. For this, we have received a LOT of criticism for not having years worth of food storage. Every “survival mom” must find a balance, it’s true. Just wanted to share that it doesn’t feel very good to hear from friends and family that my healthy choices are bad ones. At least I’m trying to prepare for my family. Wish some folks would give me a break. 🙂
Thanks for a non-judgement zone! Not seeing that on some of the major preparedness sites…a lot of very shrill judging of people, religion, politics and food habits happening. Glad you are not into that divisive garbage!
Yes!
I agree also! Each of us obviously loves our family, so what would be the point of trying to poke each other in the eye? Life is difficult enough without taking flack from each other. God bless! and bravo to all the moms chiming in. Wish we could all have coffee together!
I agree! I’m going to make a point, whenever I’m traveling around the U.S., to set up a Survival Mom Meet-Up, like the one we had in Houston this past March. It was great to meet a number of women and quite a few spouses in person.
Thank you. I hate when people respond to an innocent comment by screaming that you are feeding your family poison, etc. They can eat what they want, but don’t criticize me for eating a cookie made with white flour and sugar. The thing that surprised me the most, though, was when I was reading a blog, and people were having fits because she was cooking something in her microwave! Again, if they don’t want to use a microwave, fine, but don’t accuse someone else of poisoning their family because they choose to use one. Compassion and tolerance is even more important than food storage.
My approach was to store enough of that junk so we wouldn’t starve, then replace it with quality stuff as it was consumed. I couldn’t afford what I wanted as well as stocking up, but I could afford it as we ate through the cheap junk.
This is a much-needed breath of fresh air!
Too many of us are struggling with low incomes and long hours at work. We feed our families, we stock up for emergencies, and we have no choice but to buy whatever’s cheapest. Gardening, canning, and raising animals just aren’t practical for us right now. Our 8’x10′ full-shade yard isn’t conducive to much beyond sitting on a hot summer day.
I’ve reduced the number of prepper websites I read in recent months because too many have become an endless litany of “don’t do this/don’t do that” instead of offering support and suggestions. I’m more interested in seeing people plan for an uncertain future any way they can than read about how I need the best and most expensive products out there. I may never win “Mother of the Year,” but keeping my kids alive through a dire emergency is more important than the specifics of how I do it.
Well said Single mom! I used to visit many, many different blogs bc I wanted to get as much useful information as I could. However, I got sick and tired of the endless diatribe directed at anyone who doesn’t eat the right foods, use the right cleaning products, live in the right place, etc..etc…… People, like me, visit websites like this for help, and insight and the wisdom from those who have been there and done that. But when what we get becomes bitter criticisms and harsh judgements, it becomes a negative force in my life that I have to remove. Therefore, I too have quit visiting almost every other site but this one (and a few others). Although, truth be told, there are folks who visit this site that try to do the same things. Fortunately, most of the other viewers shut them down before it gets out of control. I really appreciate that the folks on this site (those who visit, as well as Lisa) do make every effort to keep the criticisms to a minimum and attempt to focus the comments in a more positive direction. That is the only way that we, as a community of like-minded individuals, will be able to help one another take care of our families in the best way that we can with the resources that we have available to us.
My 97 year old aunt will tell you that during the early 1920s she lived on a potato farm. Our family was a poor one and there were days that you had boiled potatoes and milk morning, noon, and night because they had a cow and they had potatoes. I guess you could say they were strictly eating organic. You love your family and you do what you are able. We could all learn a lot by listening to those who have lived through a time that we can only imagine.
We had an advantage that our kids will (hopefully) never experience — Parents or grandparents who lived through the Depression and ration-book years and talked about it once in a while. Mine would laugh if they could hear people talk about “homegrown” or “organic”! Could you imagine someone today sending their kids to school with nothing but a dry biscuit in their pocket for lunch? Or using 2 squirrels to make dinner for 12 people?
Great blog post. I so agree…
Don’t judge each other for individual choices on the journey. I started preparing a year and a half ago, because of concern over finanial collapse. Loads of store bought canned food. I didn’t have clue what to do or how to do it.
I started dehydating last summer to take advantage of the fresher items in season.
I started canning last fall, to get better food choices that we liked (particularly meat) in my storage.
This year we are growing a non-gmo, non-hybrid garden for the first time; to have better food to store.
It is a journey! It is an individual journey.
I started my f/b page to specifically help newbie preppers, canners, dehydrators & because newbies have questions we don’t even know to ask….
BTW, you are one of the first blogs I found when I was learning to prepare. Thank you!
Oh, and I still have frito’s stored.
I am a little late to the party here but wanted to comment on a few things. If TSHTF ANY food would be welcome by most people. Do I like canned veggies? NO, not really, but would it be better to have them on the storage shelves than, say, nothing? You bet!
I have been gluten free for a few years and it is expensive. However I have also found that I just don’t eat the pasta and bread anymore. I have GF flours to make my own flour mixture for baking since my family really likes muffins. I can also bake GF bread but for just me, it’s not worth the time and expense. In an emergency scenario I can bake it and I am sure everyone would eat it with no hesitation.
Lisa, if you find that your son needs to be completely GF you can buy the flours from Amazon for an extremely reasonable price. All the flours can be frozen. Also, our Walmart has a GF section where the Tinkyada pasta is MUCH cheaper than at other places.
You are going to burn a lot more calories if you are dealing with a crisis situation. The food nazis want to believe that you will always have “organic” available, but the truth is – you will be happy to have ANYTHING at a moment like that. I use what my family normally has to shape by food storage. Yes – we eat spaghetti so I store spaghetti etc. I like Spam (makes an awesome filling meal fried with potatos and onions) – I store Spam. You do can store rice and beans, but if you can’t eat rice and beans, what good is it?
Thank you!! So many boggers and commenters tend to have that holier than thou tone. So thank you and I’m still reading “Survival Mom” and recommending your blog and book to EVERYONE!
I so agree!!!! We all do the best we can at the time and with the funds on hand. The goal is to feed our families. Healthy of course is what we want and need – but they and we will need some ‘comfort’ food too. Those spaghetti-o’s may make the difference between calm and peaceful and stressed to the max. Loving and nurturing our families isn’t that what it’s all about…
Very well said, and thank you! I needed that!
I have a child with Type I Diabetes. I have been the only means of income for our family for quite a while. I do not make the kind of money that affords me the luxury of purchasing only organic, or non-GMO foods. I live in a zero lot line and cannot grow a garden large enough to feed my family both because of a lack of space and also because of HMO Rules. I also live in a hot, humid, southern climate where storing large quantities of flour, etc., is not practical due to bugs, etc.
But I do prep! I do the very best that I can. And I do admit that I buy quite a lot of junk. Anything with carbs and a long shelf life. I can bake my own bread from scratch and I do know how to can my own food, I have done it, but since I work and take care of a family, I am tapped out time-wise.
These are not excuses, they are just the facts of life as I know it now.
So I do the best I can. And I too have recently stopped reading some prepper blogs and discontinued going to some prepper sites simply because I am not able to get the kind of information that can help ME plan for MY family according my MY circumstances.
And I do feel judged at times.
Right now, I cannot buy 40 acres with livestock and a well. Right now I cannot afford to buy all organic, gluten free, foods, I have to pay for insulin and water bills and light bills and a mortgage instead.
I have managed to fill two closets full of food, buy weapons, seeds, tools, and food (that would not meet with the approval of many militant nutritionists) but I am doing my part as I can and I need encouragement and advice, but without judgement based upon my financial and physical limitations.
I too, had a friend that I had to cool it with because her life revolved around all organic, non-GMO food, her heirloom garden, her politically correct non-gas-guzzeling car, homeschooling, etc., And I always felt that it was wonderful that she was blessed to be able to do all of those things. But when she began looking down at me for not being able to do all of those things, I had to slow my relationship with her.
Bottom line, we all do what we can, and we all have different circumstances, limitations, abilities, and affordabilities. What we should celebrate and encourage, is that we are all WAY ahead of the proverbial game because we ARE actually trying to do something to prepare. Not everyone has that for-sight.
I am genuinely happy for those that CAN do the most for their families. I truly am. I just hope that those who can, won’t judge those of us who cannot prep on the same grand scale.
Thank you Lisa for exposing the food nazis for who they are! In California we are beat to death with their diatribes of organic, non GMO,etc-etc. We are also subjected to endless lectures on weight loss, weight conciousness,etc-etc. One of my former friends is all into raw vegan foods (non cooked veggies & fruits). This woman will lecture anyone on the benefits of raw foods, no meat, non GMO,blah, blah. She also smokes a pack of cigarettes a day and is 50 pounds overweight. And the point of this excercise is….?? I love to can, but sometimes I actually open Campbells and Del Monte. I like some soy products, but I’m not giving up a steak or chicken. I wish that everyone would take a chill pill and just enjoy a meal. I am doing WeightWatchers, so I order a salad at McDonald’s but I do not care what anyone else orders. My wieght, my bank account balance, and my age is my business. I also respect your business. When did it become okay to be a know-it-all-judgemental bore? I have a great bean cassarole recipe that I recieved from an elderly lady. It is delicious. Right away I got questions and comments on “commercial” canned bean products, high fructose corn syrup, blah blah. Okay-if it offends you-don’t make it. We ate it at this lady’s Easter dinner and enjoyed it thoroughly. Good Grief! When TSHTF, I bet these same grandstanders will be very happy to dine at my groaning, food laden table! 🙂
I remember hearing my grandma say, “Live and let live.” That doesn’t seem to be a popular sentiment anymore, and I’m not sure why.
I misspelled casserole-apologies!
A great article and a great response from your readers! So many times a blogger will make a statement like you have made here and get crucified in the comments. I am delighted to see that this group has not taken that approach. We are all just doing the best we can! This is another reason to keep reading not only the informative articles here, but also the informative comments.
WOW! I have read each of these entries and i think it is safe to say that this truly struck a nerve with lots of folks. I think that in itself says alot.
Grow where you’re planted, granted it may not be the perfect location but we all do the best we can for our families. We use the resources we have available any type of food storage is better than none.
HMO = HOA, and for-sight = foresight….
Sorry for the errors, I felt passion and got carried away. You guys are awesome by the way!!!
That was a refreshing thread to read, somewhat, for the most part.
The somewhat part, I hope you’ve found the culprit for the skin problems and it’s not due to something like Filariasis (symptoms are bad eczema) seems to me the nation had a big outbreak from it. Jmho though.
Either way, I’ve found magnesium spray helps to ease skin problems like nothing else I’ve tried.
Just thought I’d pass that along, as you pass so much on to me via your blog, it took me forever to figure that out.
Very well said and something that really needs to be shouted from the hilltops more often. Nothing short-circuits (well, frankly more like ‘kills dead where it stands with no hope of revival) useful conversation then being sanctimonious and ‘better then thee’ with folks.
On a slight detour, I was diagnosed with celiac 5 years ago come June and if it would help at all I would be happy to send you a GF English muffin recipe I figured out a couple years ago that is endlessly adaptable – as well as quick (made on a griddle on the stove and after the first attempt, you can have 4 cooking at a time and take care of household chores in the 4 minutes bursts they need a side. When I am making them as a matter of weekly chores they ended up a perfect way to get my kitchen tidied and other little chores dealt with between beeps) they are vegan if you want them to be (or you can use any oil, butter, or even bacon drippings), any sweetener (or none at all), are adaptable to almost any pantry’s current contents, and I think I priced them out a year ago to something like less then a quarter a muffin. Not too shabby for something that can be used in everything from simply split with butter & honey, garlic bread, mini-pizzas, croutons, a base for dried beef gravy or french toast, or even with the addition of either cocoa powder or mini-chips can become dessert. (Um. Different ~batches~ for each use I mean – the pizza version wouldn’t work with the chocolate and the apple-cinnamon isn’t something you want in the dried beef.) Going GF can be a pain in the tuckus at the start, so if these would help at all just holler and I’ll email it to you. My NON-GF friends either can’t tell the difference or think they are actually better then the Thomas’s gluten-y version – we did an actual taste off.
FYI I found a canned green bean at Smith’s grocery we don’t hate!
I’ve PCOS and after buying everything else I’m buying some of the high glycemic foods. And for example we like brown rice. I decided that I’d rather have white rice, stored for 30 years in a number 10 can, than watch my child starve. Besides, perhaps I barter with it?
thank you for a well spoken post. I enjoy your articles. We store food for emergency situations, whether it be financial, environmental or something else. Is it the same as the food I cook regularly? No. But in a situation where we have a choice of eating the canned food or going hungry, I am sure the canned chicken and the canned ravioli will look pretty darn tasty. And those judgmental people will be standing outside our doors asking for a can of food. Keep up the good work on your message. It is encouraging to us.
All the “nutrition” dogma that people my age were taught over our lifetimes is now proving to be false. E.g. eat low-fat, high-carb. Now we are re-learning the wisdom of our parents, e.g. to lose weight, cut out the sweets and breads. So people whose food religion is different than mine … well, let’s just say I know better than to pay attention to fad/cults. My grandmother was right.
I really enjoy your website, even though I am a single man. I have some questions for you and your readers. I have been prepping for close to three years. I do believe in charity, but I had a few friends say that if TSHTF, they just plan to come to my house. What do you do for people like that? Do you make up charity buckets to give away, tell them move on, or take care of them. I just wondered how other preparing people are considering this in their plans.
Thank you, God bless the troops and our first responders.
Alexander,
I will not accept people into my home. I have been made fun of for prepping and trying to get other people to prepare. Now I do not talk to anyone about it anymore. One friend in particular is orgqnic, non GMO, and no longer allows her kids to drink milk. I will keep my canned food, powdered milk and bottled water. If you cannot accept what I am doing now then I will not accept you then.
It is their job to take care of their family. Not mine.
Well said. We started prepping 2 years ago and we used coupons like mad to beef up our storage. We have store bought cans of veggies, meats etc., and boxed cereal as well as white rice, white sugar and wheat. In our journey we also learned to forage, dehydrate and can our foods. We also hunt and fish. We have backyard chickens, an heirloom garden and have just started raising rabbits for meat. Food storage is individual and you do what you can to feed your family…some people simply don’t have the means to do as others say or do. We are blessed, peaceful and happy in our journey…
1) They are everywhere + they are us. I am vegan, mainly organic etc but I don’t do certain things “right” and get “the look” so phooey on them
2) Remind me + you that we don’t want to be anymore judgmental about prepping than “they” are about food. Yes, they know – but it’s just hard sometimes.
3)Encourage encourage encourage (yourself + others)
Blessings
Alexander – I expect to feed others, but not if they want to be pampered pincesses – they can carry a fair share, but if that’s their attitude tell them to start stocking tools, skills or something – and QUIT TALKING SO MUCH to those who don’t care.
I want to mention that this issue of being judgmental goes both ways. I am very in to eating healthy and fitness and I don’t push that on my friends or acquaintances. Most people are great, but more than once I’ve found myself at social gatherings where I choose to eat a little differently and am made fun of as someone who must never have any fun. One time a very overweight and frankly quite unhealthy acquaintance commented that “Wow I guess you might live one or two more years than me eating so miserably.” I just want to make the point that we all should be loving toward and one another. Like you, I do not stay in the company of people who have to criticize others to somehow justify their own behavior or feel good about themselves. Great blog and website!
Ginger, I may have mentioned this in another comment but I try to live by my grandma’s motto, “Live and let live.” It is just nobody’s stinkin’ business about…well, just about everything! I’m not sure how we became a country full of busybody nannies who feel they have to police everyone else’s food and drink intake, exercise amounts, choice of vehicles, etc.
Survival Mom,
Love your site! Thanks for this article!! Amen to that! It’s so hard to be a busy working mom and it’s very hard to be judged, by those mom’s… sometimes us moms get tired and we just get mcdonald’s!!
Terri, we all do it sometimes…and some of the longer=lived foods aren’t necessarily the most healthful….I have plenty of prepared foods in my stock…so dont take it personally…at least we have some preparation for whatever may come! and chef boyardi has whole grain options available now! 🙂
Right on! If the SHTF, my family will still eat. It may not all be the most healthy food, but they will not be starving. Little snack pack puddings for a treat is not that bad in my opinion and will help with moral.
I love this post! I have a TON of canned foods that are still in my pantry collecting dust that I had purchased when I first started prepping. Lots of evidence that I used to not read labels 😉 I also ate a LOT of McDonald’s while traveling overseas. I’m just hopelessly addicted to some junk foods, even though I try to eat as organic as possible, raw milk, grass fed beef, etc.
And yes, years ago, I too, could never afford to eat the organic stuff that my family now eats. Eating healthy can be expensive! Back then, we LIVED off of Hamburger Helper. I also don’t recall being unhappy when we were poor either. If anything, we were more creative with what we did.
Thank you! This is fantastic!
Just saw this post today…It is timeless. I remember in 1992 I became a food Nazi . I was horrible…read something, went to the kitchen, stood on a chair, and started DUMPING food in the trash, garbage disposal, etc. The children rightfully thought I had lost my mind and to this day talk about it.
I pray I never fall back to that extreme. And I pray I NEVER judge another mother who is doing what she feels is right for her family at this time in her life. The book “A Nickle’s worth of Skim Milk” describes one boy’s experiences during the depression. He said he was never hungry…but there were certain foods he was hungry for. I have stocked treats for my family. That candy bar is not going to kill them and may make a hard time a bit easier. Love you!
What a great post. Every family has such different needs and ideas. I grew up without the knowledge of how to garden, can, have animals etc. Over the last few years my sister and I have slowly taught ourselves the basics of gardening, canning, and raising chickens. And although I am excited to have the ability to grow and can some of my own foods, it is important to remember that all that work is for nothing if the people you are feeding won’t eat it. I am the mother of two children on the Autism Spectrum. Mealtime can be a pain. Colors/textures/tastes all fall into their sensory issues. Although we are working on it, there is a LONG way to go. I remember the day I found a clearnace sale on one of my son’s favorite macaroni’s and I purchased 30 boxes. The people in line thought I was crazy and asked if I thought the world was ending. I told them no, but my son would think so if he couldn’t find his macaroni!
I wish people paid more attention to a great quote, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
You posted the link for this post on Facebook today, and I had to read it. Thanks for saying this. It’s hard to even have a conversation with others these days without wondering if they are being critical of your family and choices. You’re right. It is none of their stinkin’ business 😉 I appreciate this post more than you know!
You’re very welcome. It’s been disconcerting to watch the level of judging and condemnation rise over the past several years. Someone mentions they fed their kid some Oreos and people go berserk.
thank you so much for this! it’s more than time that all prepper sites made this statement!
having read thru all the responses i agree with the poster that said this touched a nerve. and i also agree with the others that state that they have dropped a lot of the other sites that they used to have. i too have dropped a number of the prepper pages that i used to follow. they have gotten so nasty, belligerent and militant! you have to have ‘this or that that certain’ thing, agree with the prevailing thinking, put in 5hrs a day doing exercises, have a certain type of bug out bag or vehicle. and if not? your considered beneath their notice, not worth talking to or pretty much dirt.
to each their own and in their own way. we can’t all live up to others expectations. we can only do what we can, when we can and what and when we can afford to.
We recently went gluten free paleo diet sorta gotta have my cheese.. Doing as organic as we can afford it is hard