Okay, so yes I do have a little obsession with surviving the Zombie Apocalypse but that is not a bad thing, in fact it is a very wise thing because you just never know. So I thought I would share a few tasty tips to add to your food cupboard in preparation for the undead disaster, ‘cos you gotta eat!
First off I wouldn’t recommend a shopping trip within the first two weeks of the outbreak, chances are your local supermarket will be full of cashiers wandering around gnawing on the rotting meats from the butcher counters. Happy go lucky customers doing their weekly shop are now roaming up and down the aisle hoping to find some canned brain, all in all not a safe place to be. And that’s assuming the zombie outbreak was fast and extremely contagious with a very short incubation period. If it has been a slower process then the likely hood is that your local shops have been trashed by the initial panic buying followed quickly by the inevitable looting.
General rules of food consumption in this scenario should for your family and you to gorge on the fridge and freezer food, no harm in building up some stored fat much like a bear preparing to hibernate. No heating means cold nights, a layer of fat adds a little comfort. Though please note excessive weight gain will impact the chances of survival when running for your life. Next eat the fresh products, bread, biscuits, fruit and vegetables. All providing essential energy and vitamins to once again prepare you for the chaotic times ahead.
Bottled Water (obviously)
It goes without saying that you’ve already filled your bath and any other containers with water the moment you learnt of the ‘mysterious virus spreading across the world bringing the dead to life’. This will need to be used for personal hygiene, toileting as well as assigning some for drinking. But it is always a good idea to have some bottled water. For a start it will remain clean and free from contamination, handy for not only drinking but cleaning wounds (Please note: this is not zombie bites, don’t bother cleaning the dudes arm up, beat him over the head until his skull collapses and his brains pour out, he’s a goner anyway). About 10 large bottle will set you up until the two week lock down is over.
Many many foods come in the form of a can. From the classic baked beans and soup to chilli or a full breakfast and not forgetting fruit and vegetables. Canned food has a shelf life of anywhere between one to five years and therefore the most convenient way of getting daily sustenance without risking botulism or salmonella. Plus they are cheap and chances you already have a small supply from your weekly shop. Adding one or two extra to that shop won’t financially cripple you.
Whilst I recommend a range of soups and vegetables. My number one choice is baked beans. Considered a super food they are packed with protein, fibre, iron and calcium. As well as being one of your five a day they are also not too bad eaten cold. One last thing, make sure you have a can opener.
Rice
A big bag of dried rice is a must. Rice is the staple food for more than half of the world’s population. It offers complex carbohydrates which provide a slower and more sustained release of energy than simple carbohydrates. White rice is one of the quickest easiest foods to digest and is often recommended for those who are debilitated and weak and require easy assimilation and quick energy, an inevitable side effect of a zombie apocalypse. Down side is that rice does require boiling so fire is a must. But worry not here is a video on Urban survival, how to light a fire: Lighting a fire – Urban Survival
There is nothing like a pinch of salt to vastly improve the blandness of your apocalypse menu and brighten your day, but it’s a lot handier then this. As salt inhibits the growth of microorganisms humans have been salting meat to preserve it since ancient times. So if you’re not quite hungry enough to eat the whole cat, salt a little for later. Please bear in mind though that you will probably require a reliable water supply before setting up your salted meat emporium, the sodium in salt plays a part in triggering thirst mechanisms meaning chances are you’ll require a drink after chowing down on salted squirrel. There are many other uses for salt, some irrelevant, I don’t think anyone is going to be too worried about keeping their fresh cut flowers blooming for longer, but some handier such as using it to brush your teeth. You can find out more about the uses of salt from the Salt Institute.
Lots and lots of fatigue fighting coffee, you really don’t want to be falling asleep on your watch. Also honey, it’s sweet and has the advantage of never going bad. It apparently reported that archaeologists found 2000 year old jars of honey in Egyptian tombs and they still tasted delicious! Turns out the unique chemical composition means bacteria can’t grow in it, smother those manky wounds, honestly it works, there has been research and everything.
Happy Eating folks! (hopefully not brains)
