Woo, I’m on a (wiki) roll tonight.
Wondering if there’re any vegetarian or vegan preppers on this site. Or if you simply know a lot about food, food storage, “exotic” food, then please let me pick your brain. ;)
I’ve done an all right job finding the nutritional items I’ll need as a vegan. I haven’t had to compromise my ethics (though I certainly would in a survival situation), but at a price. See, not only am I vegan, but I also try to avoid most of the refined, hydrogenated, hydrolized, pesticide-laden junk that’s so popular in American supermarkets. I’ve definitely had to scale down my standards a bit as far as that sort of “snobbery” goes, for the sake of both cost efficiency AND long-term storage potential. A lot of the organic, additive- and preservative-free comestibles on which I thrive are simply impossible to stock up on.
Specific questions I have: (1) can tofu be stored in the freezer, and does it last a reasonable amount of time after purchase? (2) Can vegan margarine (which is, I suppose, the same as regular margarine, minus a few dairy additives) be frozen long-term? (3) Does anyone know the shelf life of nutritional yeast?
I’ve posed these questions in a few other places around the net, so hopefully I’ll get some good answers from the preppers and from the vegan/vegetarian communities.
Incidentally, nutritional yeast is <i>amazing</i>, especially if you’re concerned about sources of Vitamin B12. It’s a must-have, in my book. I’m just hoping it doesn’t go bad…
I use veggie ground (which is tofu-based) and I buy a bunch at a time and store it in the freezer, no problem. Never tried freezing the fresh tofu, though I don’t see why not. It might affect the consistency (like freezing cheese — it gets crumbly). Not sure about the margarine — maybe try a small amount for a week or two and see how it defrosts — it might separate.
We try to eat vegan or vegetarian once or twice a week and I’ve been scouting out opportunities in local/ethnic markets. Middle Eastern markets have lots of possibilities. Also Indian — I found a dried tofu/meat substitute in the Indian section, which isn’t bad at all.
With much of the Asian stuff we get in the Chinese markets here, it’s hard to tell whether it’s additive-free and probably isn’t in most cases. But I’ve found interesting things like a Korean salty seaweed snack, and Buddha’s delight — canned mixed Chinese veggies & tofu to add to stirfries (beats the heck out of Puritan stew, which I tested & it tasted like dog food!)
Is there another name for nutritional yeast — is that the same as Vegemite?
Your tofu answer. Vegweb is a good site for anyone to check out, not just vegans. http://vegweb.com/articles/anai-1045952104.shtml Yes you can freeze margarine. Your yeast answer. http://www.foodsubs.com/LeavenYeast.html
Something you may need to consider, and that is the lack of electrical power which will basically make your frozen tofu passe. You might want to consider freeze dried vegetables which are available in #10 cans and contain no preservatives or additives.
BTW, it has been a few years since I had some, so I hit my camping store tonight and we had green beans. Couldn’t tell they were freeze dried. (Vacuum packed in foil are only good for ~5 yrs…the cans can be good for up to 20)
CK, thank you! I’d forgotten about Vegweb. Great resource.
Zapper, yeah, I’ve considered the whole lack of power thing. I don’t stock up on items requiring refrigeration, but I know that when this whole thing starts up I’ll want to take advantage of a few days’ electricity and cook up some tofu…I’ll miss it SO much.
Name, I’m going to look for Buddha’s delight…can it be found in the regular grocery store, or Asian markets only? Thanks for the reminder, I like to get canned pujabi sometimes but it’s very very salty. I’ve been meaning to look around more in the Middle Eastern/Indian sections at the supermarket and at the co-op.
Vegemite is a yeast extract, whereas nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast—the link that CK provided is very useful and interesting: http://www.foodsubs.com/LeavenYeast.html
Hi all, newbie to posting but not to reading this site. I usually spend quite a while (in this case, weeks, because this site is large) reading a site before I chime in.
Neonanswer, I keep running into you! I am not a vegan, but I have been a vegetarian for 37 years (I will 47 on my next birthday). We probably have similar diets in that I also tend to avoid processed foods. One liter of soda will go flat before I drink it all. I do not eat much candy or sweets. I also tend not to eat many exotic foods. And you are not being “snobbish” in your choice of diet. It is right for you. I have occasionally encountered folks who tried to make me feel bad or guilty for my choice of a compassionate lifestyle, but don’t fall for that. There is nothing snobbish about deciding to be a vegetarian or vegan; it’s a personal decision and if it’s right for you, then you have nothing to apologize for or to explain.
I have the same questions you do, but I can deal with a small amount of dairy in my diet. For example, I would eat powdered eggs for protein. My issue is that my diet is heavily into rice, pasta, and potatoes with a good variety of fresh vegetables. Of course I can use frozen veggies, but what if the electricity goes out? And yes, butter and any margarine will freeze and thaw nicely. You won’t notice the difference between frozen and fresh-bought, at least in my experience.
Zapper, thanks for the note about freeze dried veggies. I will have to look into that as I’ve been really worried about it. I depend heavily on fresh veggies. I won’t ask you for links since I always feel that looks like laziness on the part of the person requesting them - I can Google for links myself - but if you have any favorite links I’d love it if you’d share them along with your knowledge. It sounds like such a great idea!
Name, your post gave me a chuckle when you mentioned “Vegemite” - I’ve already dated myself, so I can do so again - all I could think of was that old 80′s Men At Work song “Down Under” when they say “She gave me a Vegemite sandwich”! The very few Americans I know who have tasted Australian Vegemite said it was horrible. It’s probably an acquired taste.
Neonanswer, I posted on the “Preparing for Pets Too” thread just now asking for advice for caring for my green iguana (Green Guy) and a word about your cockatiel’s heating. My first post - this is my second. Whee!
GreenGuysMama—nice to run into a kindred spirit. I take comfort knowing that there’s another exotic pet-owner and vegetarian in the ranks. I sent DemFromCT my e-mail address so if you request it (e-mail address can be found on the sidebar up at the top of the page, under “about FluWiki”) you can get in touch with me that way, too. Welcome to the wiki.
I’m vegetarian too and have been for 27 years. We eat mostly organic and subscribe to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). We too have had to scale down in terms of storing organic foods. We ordered freeze-dried veggies from two sites: www.beprepared.com (we’ve ordered from them before and like them and are currently awaiting another order) and www.survivalacres.com (placed my first order a couple of weeks ago and are awaiting delivery. Both places have good reputations. As for tofu — yes, you can freeze tofu; changes consistency somewhat, but not necessarily in a bad way. You can also get tofu in aseptic packages (I think Nasoya is the brand) and you can get this in a regular health food store. Also, in the macrobiotic section, they sometimes have freeze dried tofu. Haven’t tried the latter, so you might want to experiment with it before investing too heavily. Also from the mail order places you can order TVP (textured vegetable protein). Hope this helps. — Libby
Welcome, GreenGuys Mama!
The very best freeze-dried fruit & veggies I’ve ever had are available from Just Tomatoes. They started out doing just tomatoes and now do most everything. I buy them at my health food store but they also sell to camping supply stores. They aren’t like regular dried products; the freeze-dried process makes them very light and crunchy. They have veggie blends that you can eat “just like popcorn”, as the label says. Fruit blends are candylike. They have onions, corn, peas, garlic, cranberries, mushrooms, soybeans, carrots, and so much more. I put the vegetables in my soups and casseroles and sprinkle the bananas, strawberries, & blueberries on my cereals, etc. Their website is:
Oh, and their berries are amazing…
Mmm I love freeze-dried berries. I used to buy those Triple Berry Cheerios and just eat all the berries, leave the Cheerios for someone else…haha.
I found some very flat, dried, tofu. http://www.ellenskitchen.com/clearlight/soyfoods.html and some instructions, (that I didn’t have to install Japanese to read) http://tinyurl.com/dyx3m
Hm, Justtomates has dried, diced tofu, too. Never thought to try and buy direct, though I’d seen the small containers in stores. I haven’t gotten a food dryer, and only dry some garden herbs, freeze some things. Not like some people around, here who really know how to put food by. My grandmother canned, but I never saw anyone doing it; once cans could be bought in the store instead of being in a hot kitchen in the summer, well…
Thanks, Neonanswer! I’ll look into it and add my email address also. Hint: it’s not hard to figure out!
Name, thanks for the welcome! Much appreciated. Very kind of you!
Australian vegemite is delicious as a seasoning for beans or wild rice! Use it like bouillon. Personally, I’ve never tried it as a sandwich- too salty!
American friends, The secret to the Vegemite sandwich is to use only a little, smear it rather than slathering it. Allegedly it is one of the richest known food sources of Vitamin B. Most Australian children grow up on it.
It also enhances mashed potatos - Im sure there is some sort of vegemite recipe website out there.
Beware though - Vegemite addiction is common, it is frequently smuggled overseas to supply the cravings of Aussie expats and travellers.
There may also be side effects - craving beer that does not taste like water, a desire to play football without a helmet and frequent use of the terms “G’day” and “Mate” have all been reported by the unfortunate victims of vegemite dependancy.
Not into the vegan thing, but can’t you dry your own vegetables? I know in the Civil War the Union issued dessicated (called ‘desecrated’ by the troops). vegetables, so the process has to be fairly simple. You may lose some vitamins but I think one of the first things everyone should buy is a years supplies of multi-vitamins, just to be on the safe side.
I would assume the rehydrated beans, etc, could be good in meatless stews and the like.
I love watching americans faces when they first try vegemite!! Its hysterical! They almost always put it as thick as peanut butter…but would I tell them not to? Hell no!! Us Aussies just love the stuff
Vegemite and sardines! Anyone else?
Omnivore here, but I do love sprouts and have moderatley stocked up on seeds. They don’t take up much space and the only equipment you need is a jar, cheesecloth and fresh water. Although I do not practice the most healthy eating habits and am not a nutritional expert, I can’t imagine going for months without live, green food. If someone knows of a good source for sprouting seeds, please share. Thank you.
I’m an omnivore, too, but trying to get back to more meatless meals and to limit the amount of additives and crud in our food. I haven’t ordered from this place yet, but they do have some organic freeze dried vegetables available. They also sell organic spices and fair trade teas, among other things. www.frontiercoop.com
neon_answer Hi, it’s great to hear that there are other people out there that eat similar foods. I use nutritional yeast a lot. I make a “cheese” sauce out of it. I usually buy 5lbs bags and fill up a large jar which is stored in the food closet. The rest of the yeast I then put in my refrigerator. It will last for over a year as far as I can tell. I order it online thru www.healthy-eating.com
We are strict veggies, not vegans but for any dairy/eggs use organic, local, free range. Anyways we have a 6 mos supply of freeze dried, add water and heat meals for our family from Harvest Foodworks in Ontario Canada. In the US I found a place called Mary Janes Farm which seems to have some interesting things to stockpile. Dont forget wood/fuel/water. We are lucky enough to live on a farm and have our own well, veggie garden, generator, wood/gas stockpile and should be bale to remain “hidden” for a few months. But it seems everyday there is something else we should have ready…
RI Mom of 2 – at 09:05
You’re right on track with the herbs and spices. Having a variety of bulk spices on hand will allow us to experiment and make these long-term storage foods taste better, thus increasing nutrition. The herbs and spices are very important for their deep anti-bacterial and anti-viral activities.
I regularly purchase from TSN Labs. Wide variety, excellent service and great prices. They also sell a full line of plants that are traditionally used for therapeutic purposes. They’ve been deeply encouraging and a Godsend to our work.
just tree words.. soybeans, soybeans soybeans… there you will find your Tofu and your soymilk, and your dinner.. It dry, its stores well, and is next to meat in nutrition, Dont know how to make soymilk? Learn,, you will have plenty of time ;)
Where do you get dry soybeans? Not found in my local grocery stores.
A Protein Tip for Omnivores: Unflavored gelatin is an easily stored protein, low cal, easy to add to any soup, stew or shake drink. Keeps well too. Whey powder may be an excellent protein addition to shake drinks, and it comes in large cans. I am not sure how long it keeps, though. Coconut oil is an excellent keeper. You can keep it for 5 YEARS at room temperature. Vegans, spread it on bread as a butter substitute. Fry with it, it’s very stable. Bake with it, it’s light and flaky. It’s a short chain fatty acid, easy to digest. Excellent for weight loss, high energy levels, and has medicinal value too. An excellent skin moisturizer, and hair conditioner.
Flax seed The perfect food! You know it can quickly lower your cholesterol level. (Prostaglandin Leukotm Essent Fatty Acids 96:54[6]:451–5) In one study participants with chronic high cholesterol were given three slices of bread containing flax seed along with 15 grams of ground flax seed a day. In three months their cholesterol levels were lower and their tendency to form clots were reduced dramatically. Buy as a whole seed. It’s in expensive and don’t grind it til you use it. It will keep indefinitely in an airtight light proof container. It has many minerals like magnesium. Grind them in a coffee grinder. Sprinkle on your cooked or dry cereal. It is an alternative to fish oil for your Omega 3 fatty acids at a nominal cost.
My friend’s oncologist (my friend is a breast cancer survivor)said the flaxseed she took to lower cholesterol over a period of years could have contributed to her increase in estrogen (which flaxseed does) and the cancer. I’m not a doc or nutritionist, but people need to take a close look at their health condition before taking anything. Just my 2 cents.
Hi Dusty — Moderation in all things. My favorite study on Breast cancer (Plant Medica 65;13:352–7)Problems with estrogen are behind many of the cases of breast cancer. Certain plants constituents known as lignans and isoflavones can help synthesize estrogen and increase the ration of “good “estrogen to “bad.” Lignans are found in oats, barley, whole wheat, sesame seeds, and flaxseed. Bacteria in the bowel converts these lignans into two mammalian lignans—enterodiol and enterolactone— which have a chemical structure that blocks estrogen activity. Lignans are just one type of a group of plant chemicals called phytoestrogens or plant estrogens. Phytoestrogens have a marked ability to influence estrogen levels. When body estrogen levels are low phytoestrogens help elicit an estrogen response when levels are high, they compete with existing estrogen negating much of its effect. In other words, Phytoestrogens exert a beneficial balancing effect. As such, it is not surprising that high levels of lignans have been found to inhibit both the synthesis of estrogen and estrogen-stimulated breast cancer cell growth.
That was the sublime. . . Now, the ridiculous.
To help combat the tendency for breast cancer. . . Stop wearing the bra. (pause for incredulous laughter)
The health of the breasts appears to be directly linked to the optimal flow of the lymph glands. Wearing a bra for 14 hours tends to increase the hormone prolactin, which in turn decreases circulation to the breast tissue. Bras can impede the lymphatic flow. Poor circulation and drainage in the breast can increase the risk for breast cancer. Several years ago medical anthropologist Sidney Singer, compared the instances of breast cancer in two groups of women in the Figi Islands. Half of the women wore bras and the other half did not. Singer discover that the women who wore bras had the same rate of breast cancer as women living in the good old U.S. of A. Those who went bra-less experienced practically no breast cancer what so ever. So your ex-Hippie Mom who still goes bra-less should be in rather good shape, so to speak. If one has to wear a bra make sure that you take that contraption off at night to give that lymph system a chance to flow. But I digress. . . Back to veggies.
divinesitcom-
My in-depth research reaches the same conclusions that you’ve stated here.
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