Bulk food ratio?

Discussion in 'General Survival and Preparedness' started by markthenewf, Jun 5, 2016.


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  1. markthenewf

    markthenewf Chief Newf

    Is there a basic rule of thumb ratio of freeze-dried to the bulk food items? For example, say you have a #10 can of freeze-dried beef stroganoff or something, what would be a good way of figuring out how much 'filler food' such as rice or whatnot should be set aside to enhance the meals? I've been thinking about this and really can't come up with a decent number that can quickly and logically be assigned. Keep in mind that the servings may not be the same size for the long-term/freeze-dried stuff either. Having a number that's off a bit shouldn't matter as long as it's something, right?
     
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  2. T. Riley

    T. Riley Monkey+++

    IMO, it's a daily calorie count issue. If the goal is 2100 calories per day then one needs an average of 700 calories per meal. Breads can make up roughly 1/3 of this at each meal (bread or rolls, corn bread, biscuits), leaving a about 470 calories which must come from the remainder of the meal. A serving of beef stroganoff will add 320 calories, leaving 150 to be made up with something else. One quarter cup of dried pinto beans cooked would fit the bill and add some protein. So you have beef stroganoff, pinto beans and corn bread. A great meal any time. Do this for the remaining meals each day and you can determine what the mix of FD to staples needs to be.

    I would urge you to make a seven day meal plan of exactly what you can prepare that will give you your target calories each day. Find or develop your reciepes and prepare each to make sure your family will eat them. Then add up all the ingredients necessary to prepare those 21 meals converting everything to pounds. Then multiply all the quantities by 52 to determine what you need for a year.
     
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  3. T. Riley

    T. Riley Monkey+++

    One more thing. I do not have the money for FD Beef Stroganoff at $3 per serving. For my group of 32 that would cost $96 for one meal. I would buy Beef TVP, egg noodles, DH mushrooms and sour cream powder and make my own. Would it taste the same? No. But it would be close, as nutritious and cost 1/3 as much. There are a lot of TVP recipes online.
     
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  4. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

    I don't think there is a ratio. You might want to consider looking at food storage differently.

    Plan two basic meals a day and make the evening meal left overs. That way you can cook during daylight hours using the sun and have an evening meal using little fuel.

    Plan 2 cooked meals a day, one cold meal with fresh bread that you cooked during the day.
    Menu might look like 7 favorite hot or cooked meals, 7 favorite breakfast
    Then do your storage planning from there.

    as time goes by you have the luxury of adding things to change the menu. for instance, I can tomato chunks and tomato and jalapeno's for salsa, I love fresh salsa with dried oregano in it for flavor but salsa is not a main food item for us.

    +++++++++++++++++
    FYI, TVP, if you are not use to eating it, will also give you constipation, drink lots of water and have something on hand to help with constipation. TVP= textured vegetable protein = soybeans that have been de-fatted and dried.

    Suggestion: stock, digestive enzymes, lots of water and oil if you are using TVP to help with constipation

    might consider sprouting, sprouted grains, blended together with sprouted beans, are an inexpensive, good source of protein, vitamins and minerals. If I could just find a mechanical blender this would be an ideal way to use post SHFT. and dried grain and beans are cheap and easy to store.

    Agriculture - Sprouts for living! | Survival Monkey Forums
    Getting started with food storage basics | Survival Monkey Forums
    Using Stored Grain, Nuts, Seeds to Optimize Health - Sprouting | Survival Monkey Forums
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2016
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  5. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    I would suggest you do these meals now, to see what needs changing, and how much of each item you need. Tweek you recipes now, then store what is needed based upon what you ended up using.
     
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  6. Seepalaces

    Seepalaces Monkey+++

    We went about it much the way that everyone here is recommending. My first food prep was 100 lbs of rice. We're Hispanic. We eat lots of rice regularly. So, in my mind, 100 lbs of rice is 100 days with one pound of rice a day. Then I got 50 lbs of beans. 1/2 lb of beans a day for 100 days. Then I added the more meal oriented things like canned beef and chicken. I suppose I'm trying to say, in my opinion, do it the other way. Buy the staples and then wedge in the mountain house within them.
     
  7. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

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  8. T. Riley

    T. Riley Monkey+++

    @Seepalaces Great comment. FD on my budget is at the very bottom after I know I can feed everyone for the required time period. It's like computer programming; make it work, then make it pretty.
     
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  9. Seepalaces

    Seepalaces Monkey+++

    Can I divert the thread just long enough to find out how you got a final count on who you're feeding? That's the kind of decisions that plague me.
     
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  10. T. Riley

    T. Riley Monkey+++

    All you can do is estimate. I have 32 in four family groups. I list them by name, who will be allowed through the gate without a fight. Depending on the event, not all will make it. I then added 10% for spoilage, charity and the unexpected. That's the best I knew to do. I am at 24 for a year now. Still a long way to go. I do not count on game or garden but that could allow me to provide for more.
     
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  11. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    Hispanic , Kewl I knew there was some tortilla in the replys , never know from the Avatar, first time I saw it I thought Judy Jetson (cartoon from 1960 era) Man am I old .

    Sloth
     
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  12. Seepalaces

    Seepalaces Monkey+++

    She's Kim Possible, one of my favorite super heroes from my kids' childhood. And, though we are Hispanic, I look a lot like her, except for the two inch teenage waist...you aren't the only oldster here...
     
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  13. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    All in Fun Ms Sea .
    I follow the Hispanic in Winco & see what they buy , So I might know .. Being Brit-Shit from an Island in GB , the food over there was always WAY over cooked .
     
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  14. markthenewf

    markthenewf Chief Newf

    Yeah, the responses are kinda in line with what I've been seeing. I think I can easily justify a cup of each bulk to freeze dried and figure out exactly how many base calories that would be and just linearly extrapolate from there. It won't be difficult as it's only me, the wife, and the pooch! I smell a spreadsheet cooking up ;). I suppose having a bit extra would come in handy during a bigger event as I'd be able to assist some neighbors that turn out to be "reliable".
     
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