Blog

3

1

Last year the mid-Atlantic seaboard received a couple of feet of snow in record time - and this much snow happened twice - in December and in February. The worse storm, in February, resulted in at least 7-8 days stuck indoors for most residents, as snowplows were prioritized to the main highways in the meantime.

My husband told me that forecasters are predicting an 85% likelihood of this happening again this winter (!). Since last year we weren't yet paleo/primal, we had lots of pasta, rice, etc. involved in making it through that week.

But now I'm wondering: if you know that you're facing a week stuck indoors at home in the dead of winter, what's on YOUR grocery shopping list and in your pantry/fridge/freezer to make it through that week with minimal compromise? I think the main challenge lays in not having access to fresh produce that would be going south by mid-week. In other words - leaning on nonperishables.

I will definitely be revisiting everyone's ideas and answers if the predicted snowstorm comes around the bend in a couple of months or so!

Part of my starter shopping list for our family:

  • At least a couple of pints of organic heavy cream
  • Butter (Kerrygold)
  • Frozen homemade broth, or a healthier store-bought broth if no homemade supply existed
  • Canned crushed tomatoes (yes normally I rarely eat canned tomatoes because of the BPA factor, but they could make a good ground beef and tomato sauce for an Italian meal and a nice base for a chili)
  • Nuts
  • Less-perishable fresh produce like kale, onions, sweet potatoes, baby carrots, celery, etc.
  • Cans of coconut milk
  • Cans of pumpkin (combo with coconut milk and warming spices for a soup)
  • At least three dozen eggs
  • Frozen grass-finished ground beef - would probably do an Italian meal and a crock-pot chili meal with this added in
  • A whole chicken for roasting - would probably last us a couple of meals' worth, and then I could make a broth!
  • Some almond meal, for potential baking
  • Some coconut flour or coconut meal, also for potential baking
flag
1 
Just a quickie comment here ♥ Baby carrots are NOT baby carrots at all ! (easy to tell by cross cutting one and looking for the growth rings...... there are none) Fake baby carrots are simply the broken and misshapen carrot junk that are run through a mill and rounded off to resemble a whole carrot. Thing to remember is that once you cut or peel any food the nutrients begin oxidizing at a much faster rate. HTH, ~s – sienna Sep 26 2010 at 21:32
Real whole carrots are so simple ,sweet and much more nutritious. ~s – sienna Sep 26 2010 at 21:34

6 Answers

3

Canned fish. Easy to store, lasts for ages, and is versatile.

link|flag
1

Your list sounds fine.

I preserve various cooked foods in canning jars: chicken broth, bolognese sauce, pumpkin soup, bone broth, boiled beef, tomato sauce... (http://goo.gl/XeNx)

In germany you can buy crushed tomatoes in glass jars...

link|flag
Boy, do I wish I could find a source of crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, etc. in GLASS containers. Anybody know of U.S. brands/sources? – familygrokumentarian Sep 19 2010 at 3:23
It's suprisingly easy to make your own. Look up canning on line and that'll get you started. Buy some organically grown tomatoes at your local produce stand and off you go! Good Luck! – Mike Opteris Sep 19 2010 at 21:53
1

Only three dozen eggs? I try not to go below that ever. and I live alone and it's still summer ;-)

I would add to it coffee (totally personal), fish cans, make sure I have enough coconut oil and milk, and some good beef sausages that are easy to just pop in the oven to warm up.

The problem might be if the electricity went down. not working fridge is a bummer. I have a gas oven, which at least would provide with warmth and cooking place.

link|flag
Yea, you're right; I probably would end up needing a couple of dozen more eggs just to be sure. ;-) – familygrokumentarian Sep 19 2010 at 1:27
Snowmageddon provided plenty of free freezer and fridge space in case of electric failure. ;-) – Karen Jan 13 2011 at 21:09
1

Just about anything you eat normally would be available either in cans or frozen or will keep for a long time. Milk is an exception, but most paleos don't drink much milk. I noticed cream lasts a lot longer than milk, but I don't think it would last for months. The workaround is if you can find ultra pasteurized cream which lasts for months even out of the fridge, as long as its unopened. The ultrapasturized milk is usually obtainable, but I have not been able to find the cream here in the United States, not even online, which is too bad because I'd really like to get some for camping. Coconut milk could sub for cream in some situations. Some of this depends on how strict you are at paleo.

link|flag
While I personally think UHT dairy is an abomination, if you are looking cream to take camping, Mini-Moos are your best bet. They are sold on the shelf, not in the cooler. – Nicole Sep 26 2010 at 13:26
1

Some of us also experienced power losses. I would consider making jerky and not relying too heavily on refrigeration.

link|flag
Ooo good point about power loss. Maybe in this case could store some food in a cooler with snow? – familygrokumentarian Sep 26 2010 at 21:38
0

which forecasters are predicting this? i didnt hear any asuch thing, its very depressing :(

link|flag

Your Answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.