Dieting, Bugging Out and Sheltering In Place: Should You Try To Maintain A Diet?

Dieting friends (and by “diet” I mean any nutritional regimen and include any vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-intolerant, no-sugar diets as well as the Zone, South Beach, etc.) – what happens to your diet when TSHTF?  Have you made plans to be able to continue your diet, or have you decided you would give up on it if things got really bad and you had to live somewhere where it would be difficult to eat foods with no sugar or no salt?

The answer will probably have to depend on what type of diet or nutritional regimen you’re on and why you’re on it.  While vegetarians might be able to put aside their moral or health arguments in order to eat meat if they really had to, someone who has a peanut-allergy can’t afford to eat peanut butter even if it’s the only food item left.

On the other hand, if you’re simply trying to keep your weight and fat levels down, then a survival situation should actually help out with that because by definition you will not be living in “normal times” and you should be less likely to overeat.  Whether you’ve both lost your jobs, or there’s been a hurricane evacuation, you will likely not be sitting in front of the boob tube and wondering whether you can make it through Lost without reaching for some chips or ice cream.

Some general tips for accommodating those with special dietary needs on your bug-out or SIP:

• stick to simple, basic homemade foods as much as possible
• focus on non-allergenic grains like rice and quinoa that everyone can eat
• almost all diets will allow fresh fruits and vegetables
• watch out for ingredients containing nuts, wheat, soy, and other allergens
• check the ingredients of your MREs closely
• water, beans, rice, fruit, greens should be your staples
• avoid meats, milk, breads, pasta, cheeses, eggs, nut butters

If there’s no one in your family with special dietary needs, perhaps you can consider yourself lucky.  But it’s worth keeping them in mind if you hope to entertain guests at any point.

Conversely, if you will be bugging out or SIP’ing alone, you should think about setting your limits and expectations now before it’s necessary.  If you’re invited for dinner and you’re starving, will you give up on your eating standards?  Where will you allow yourself to cave in, if at all, and under what circumstances?

The ideal situation, of course, would be to eat in the best way possible, which is, ironically, probably what the best possible diet is in normal times, too.  As simple, fresh and raw as possible.  Only drink water and herbal teas; eat mostly plants; and have some grains and legumes from time to time.  The good thing about such a diet is that it’s minimalist and frugal, too.

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