What To Eat During Storm Sandy And Extended Power Outages: Tips, Recipes, Ideas

Eating Healthy During Extended Power Outages: Tips, Recipes, Ideas   

Advise From The Kitschy Collector: What To Eat During Storm Sandy: Surviving Power Outages Like A Gourmet (LOL) .  Listening to the news last night about Storm Sandy  preparations, I was running through my mind what I might be able to eat if the power goes out for an extended amount of time. I mean how much tuna salad can one person eat? I chuckle when the suggested rations include granola bars and boxed juices. Those are SNACKS not meals. But the Kitschy Collector did do her homework on this topic and hopefully my readers scan share this information with  other before they go out shopping today.

Beyond The Food Pyramid 

So I went cruising the net and found  some really ridiculous articles about NUTRITION during hurricanes and bad storms. Nutrition....are you kidding....these articles were actually talking about "proteins", "calcium", "balanced diets". What they didn't discuss is what to eat. Now is not the time to talk about calories in and calories out. No one is in the mood to hear about food pyramids either.

Another area that the experts like to cover is food spoilage.  While this is a  critical topic, it still does not  address what to eat beyond crackers and peanut butter.  But it is an important concern so here is information on this topic read http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/power_outages.html

Not The Time To Barbecue When Tree Limbs Are Flying

Now some of you might be thinking, oh I'll barbecue. Well that idea is not going to work when the winds are gusting and the tree limbs are flying  and you are up to your ears in water. And by the time the storm settles down and with an extended power outage, your meat is not safe for consumption.

The answer is to find 100 ways to use the same ingredients differently. Please readers, please add your comments and suggestions today so we can share our resources. 


So what foods can you prepare for the upcoming storm?

WHAT TO EAT DURING STORM POWER OUTS 

Here are some foods  to keep on hand, followed by  some suggested recipes from "The Healthy Hurricane/Disaster Cookbook"

What To Buy  For Food Before A Storm Or Power Outage

1. canned tuna
2. canned salmon, canned chicken, canned shrimp,  sardines, etc.
3. Parmesan cheese in the green can meant to me stored at room temperature
4  almond milk, soy milk, rice milk (buy the small boxed variety)
5. boxed juices or ice tea (buy the small boxed variety)
6. crackers
7. peanut butter, almond butter, soy butter
8. canned beans (kidney, black, navy, chick peas etc.

9. raw fruits and  vegetables
10. jams and jellies
11. bread, pita, wraps etc.
12. lemon juice , herbs, spices
13. cereals that can me made with rice milk/almond milk.
14. canned vegetables (carrots, potatoes, corn etc.)
15. dried fruit
16. nuts
17. make sure you have plenty of pet food on hand
18. Do you have an hand can opener?  
Tuna and White Bean Salad 

Ingredients: Directions:
2-6 oz cans tuna packed
in oil
3 cups drained and rinsed
canned white beans
preferable cannelloni
beans
2 bunches watercress
(about ¾ pound),
tough stems removed
and leaves chopped
(about 2 quarts)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine
vinegar or white wine
vinegar
¾ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fresh-ground
black pepper
1 tablespoon drained
capers
1 red onion, sliced thin
Combine by tossing gently tuna (including oil), beans,
onion capers, watercress, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and
pepper in a large bowl. Serves 4.
Variations:  Use arugula instead of the watercress. Try
canned sardines instead of the tuna

California Chicken Sandwich 

Ingredients Dressing Directions:
2 -6 oz chicken breast
cans
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
8 slices of whole wheat
bread, toasted
4 small romaine lettuce
leaves
2 plum tomatoes each cut
lengthwise into 4
slices
1 peeled avocado, cut
into 8 wedges
1/3 cup fat-free
mayonnaise
2 tablespoons thawed
orange juice
concentrate
1 teaspoon lime juice
½ teaspoon ground
cumin
Hot sauce to taste
To prepare citrus mayonnaise, combine first 5
ingredients in a small bowl.
Spread 1 tablespoon citrus mayonnaise on each of 4
bread slices.
Top with 1 lettuces leaf, ¼ chicken, 2 tomato slices, 2
avocado wedges, and remaining bread slices. Serves 4

Salmon Salad with Chopped Cucumber 

Ingredients: Directions:
1 can (14.75 oz) salmon,
drained and flaked
1 medium cucumber,
peeled and chopped
½ cup chopped celery
5 radishes, thinly sliced
½ small green bell
      pepper, chopped
¼ cup light mayonnaise
¼ cup fat-free plain
       yogurt
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp grated onion
Lettuce or mixed
salad greens
In a bowl, combine salmon with cucumber, celery,
radishes, and green bell pepper.
Blend mayonnaise with lemon juice and onion in a
1-cup measure; toss with the salmon mixture until well
blended.  To serve, line a salad bowl with lettuce or
mixed greens; mount salmon salad on the greens.
Serves 5


Garbanzo Spinach Salad 
Ingredients Dressing Directions:
1- 15 ½ oz. can Chick Peas
10 oz bag “Washed and
Ready-to-eat”
Spinach
½ cup walnuts
2 red apples
1 cup alfalfa sprouts
1- 8 oz can “pineapple
tidbits in its own
juice”
½ tsp. orange rind
8 tbsp juice of fresh
orange
4 tsp canola oil
2 tsp. cider vinegar
3 tsp fresh lemon juice
Drain canned ingredients.
Prepare dressing in a small bowl.
Wash apples and dice to bite size pieces.
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.  
Drizzle dressing over top and toss lightly. Serves 4

For more recipes read: http://jefferson.ifas.ufl.edu/community_dev/pdfs/Cookbook.pdf

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists