Can we talk a minute about Coronavirus (COVID-19)? I don't want to cover the stuff that's already been all over the news and the Internet, but I do want to encourage you to come at this topic from a place of knowledge and trust in the Lord, rather than fear. Do your research, pray, and act accordingly, friends.
Personally, I'm not terribly worried about this virus, though I have some concerns for people who are elderly, have "weak lungs," or who have depressed immune systems. More concerning to me are the shortages we're seeing.
Drug & Cleaning Supply Shortages
In many areas, it's already almost impossible to buy cleaning supplies. Thankfully, washing your hands with ordinary soap (still easy to find!) is the best thing you can do, but if you're out and about and need hand sanitizer and can't find it in stores, I wouldn't bother spending $100 for a small bottle on Amazon. (Yes, I've seen it with my own eyes!) Instead, try making your own. Little House Living explains how. Edited 3-6-20: Just do bear in mind some simple rules for keeping your homemade sanitizer safe and effective.
Thankfully, basic hygiene supplies like sanitary napkins/tampons, toothpaste, and shampoo, are still readily available. But don't forget any medications you may have. The FDA has already announced that one medication (they haven't told us which one) is in short supply because it comes from China. I know it can be difficult to stock up on medications, due to insurance issues, but if you can do it, it's not a bad idea to have an extra bottle on hand.
Stocking Up on Food
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| Freeze-dried food is handy. |
I've also had a few people ask how they should prepare food-wise, since the federal government is recommending having at least a two-week supply of food and water on hand. But did you know that the government always recommends this, even when there's no pandemic? This is because weather occurrences, natural disasters, and so on could all quickly and easily interrupt our supply chain, leaving store shelves empty.
The recent talk of coronavirus has lead many people to suddenly buy up freeze-dried food. If you want some and can't find it, or if you simply want freeze-dried rations that will last 15 or more years and are actually healthy (Have you seen the ingredient lists on most freeze-dried food???), I recommend Valley Food Storage. You can see my complete review of their products here.
If you want freeze-dried food everyone in your family will enjoy and that you know is healthy because you prepare it yourself, I highly recommend a home freeze dryer. Harvest Right is the only company offering consumer-grade freeze dryers (commercial freeze dryers are much more expensive). You can see their products here. I have their medium-sized freeze dryer and absolutely love it!
One question I'm seeing a LOT is how to stock up on food if you eat keto. I think most folks who eat keto are used to fresh produce and meat; this makes them wonder how on earth they can have food set aside for an emergency. Let me help with that. (Don't stop reading if you don't eat keto. What I talk about here is the backbone of any healthy diet.)
First, consider food for your freezer. It's true that if the power goes out (unlikely with the Cornovirus) that the freezer can be problematic. Hopefully, you have a generator to buy you some time to use the food in your freezer before it spoils. But freezers are still a very convenient way to have a little extra food put by.
For keto, be sure to stock up on meat and frozen low carb vegetables. You can also freeze some dairy. For example, to freeze cheese, grate it, then pop it in freezer bags. It will work well for melting in casseroles or on top of food. Butter also freezes very well; just pop boxes of it directly in the freezer. You may also freeze cream cheese blocks and heavy whipping cream. Eggs last a long time in the fridge, but if you want to freeze them you can. Click here for instructions.
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| Learn to home can chicken here. |
* Canned meat. (You can buy canned chicken and beef at grocery stores, as well as fish such as tuna, sardines, and salmon. If you can your own meat, you can make a wider variety of meats shelf-stable.)
* Canned low carb vegetables. I get it if canned veg really isn't your thing; I don't like them much, either. However, in a pinch, I will eat some (like canned green beans). I also recommend pickles (they come in other veggies besides cucumbers), artichoke hearts, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and tomatoes.
* Olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, lard, and ghee, all of which remain shelf-stable for at least months.
* Stock or broth.
* Nuts, natural peanut butter, or nut butters.
If you've got all that covered, you might add:
* Queso, sugar-free salsa, and perhaps pork rinds.
* Almond and/or coconut flour, along with your sweetener of choice.
* Freeze-dried or dehydrated berries.
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| Learn to make pickled green beans here. |
Conclusion
Folks, I'm not suggesting you panic, hoard, over-spend, or steal any of these items. But I do hope that this post makes you think about preparing for possible future problems, such as job loss, natural disasters or, God forbid, worse. Planning ahead isn't something to mock. It's just smart! It's what people did until a few generations ago, when they were more in touch with nature. So even if you're not worried about Coronavirus, I hope you'll add at least a little extra food and maybe some bottled water to your pantry, for those times when they might be needed.
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