Poll: What would you consider the perfect storage food

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Actually none of them are perfect, although I voted for wheat. Legumes are what nutritionist call incomplete proteins. For the body to use it it must have grains. Think about beans and rice. All cultures have used this combination for centuries. As far as storage ability, Honey wins hands down.

I agree, that's why we should focus on more than one and store items that complement each other, like you stated beans and rice.

[crossbow]

Rice and it can be ground into flour. If the choice was 2 items, it would be rice ans wheat, if 3 items, rice , beans, wheat.

[Grantmeliberty]

I chose honey because it has medicinal and healing properties, and is relatively rare. I have probably 75 pounds stored away. In SHTF circumstances, it will also be a treat. My current favorite survival food wasn't on the list, so I had to choose a best from the second class.
Chia seeds are IMHO the optimum survival food, because a small amount of them will sustain and energize in an emergency, they have a very long shelf life, in excess of 5 years without any special care, contain good levels of protein, and ALA omega 3 fats. The linked article is a good introduction. I have been using them for a few months now and carry small amounts of them in each kit. 2 tablespoons, a daily ration, fits nicely in a plastic 35 mm film container, available free at Costco photo or any photoshop I am sure.

http://www.naturalhealthyellowpages.com/natural_products/ads/chia_seeds.html

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Thanks for the Chia info, I'll have to look into that.

[Deep Operator]

I will vote for Legumes.

The nutritional content of Legumes is outstanding and the cost is very reasonable. There are not too many foods that are super rich in fiber, complex carbs, and protein.

Hard to beat a food source in which all of those nutrients are present together. Dried legumes can last a for a long duration.

[lungs]

soirry, but there are only 7 billion people on this earth, and probably half of them don't eat rice. hard winter wheat supposedly keeps forever, but it does not provide all the nutrition you need. You have to add legumes and several other nutrient dense foods.

[hua man]

Corn. I have to earn my "That Guy" tab this month.

Corn in the Americas have fed just as many in other countries. The Aztecs/Mayans/Incas hoarded it more than gold. It has fed the AmerIndians in its timeline. Can be cooked on the cob, ground for cornbread, pinole, fritters, johnny cakes, corn nuts (love those), etc. Goes great with pinto beans(cornbread) and steaks(corn-on-the-cob).

I know corn wasn't on the Poll, but sometimes the "Out of the Box" thing needs to be said. BTW, I voted for Pop-Tarts. Can anyone make those? If so, may I have the recipe?

[Fanderal]

I voted for Wheat, but would liked to have seen Corn on the list.
I agree that none of the choices are perfect or even that great depending on where you are.
I'm in Oklahoma, so Wheat and Corn are both readily available and cheap, and you can expect them to be that way (relatively speaking) even after TSHTF. If I were in SE Texas, or Louisiana, I would switch to rice.

But since we are also talking about long term storage, which means we get to stock up, I have ALL of the above EXCEPT the Pop Tarts (ugh it's what my grand kids would choose though)

So add:

Corn

All of the above EXCEPT Pop Tarts

All of the above including Pop Tarts (need something to feed prisoners hehehe)

Fanderal

[2531]

Rice, as it is versatile, goes with anything and is a great bang for the buck.