Sometimes I feel like the blog is getting pulled in a multitude of directions. We discuss recipes, homesteading, autism, healthy eating, and preparedness/survival in addition to other odds and ends.
I mentioned in a previous post that we're gearing up to start the GAPS diet in October. Our primary reason for doing this is that (I pray) it will help Sam's autistic behaviors and Andrew's belly troubles. However, us doing the GAPS diet is also a preparedness measure. You see, the idea behind the GAPS diet is not that it's a permanent way of eating. The diet eliminates certain foods for a time in order to give the gut time to heal. After healing has occurred, then you can reintroduce the foods that were once offensive. Some might be saying at this point, "Okay....so what's this have to do with preparedness?"
Well, so far our family has put away some foods that we can no longer eat. Wheat and even brown rice cause negative side effects for our boys. Imagine being in an emergency situation and having food available, but knowing that if you give that food to your children, they're going to suffer. Their bellies will be full, but then you'll be left dealing with humming, hand flapping, loud repetitive talk, and diarrhea. Not fun to deal with EVER, but DEFINITELY not wanted in an emergency situation. So, while our main goal in doing the GAPS diet is to heal our sons, another goal is to make life in an emergency situation easier.
I can attest that storing away food for an emergency is very difficult to do when you have special diets to work around. It's my hope that the GAPS diet will heal our boys and therefore make emergency food preparedness an easier task.
Is there any health-related issue in your family that is a hindrance to your emergency preparedness? Is there anything you can do about it now so that it's not a huge ordeal when times are not so easy?
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I was thinking about this too. I wonder if it would help to preserve meat traditionally, like by smoking it. A generator would be helpful to keep freezers going. My friends are filling their freezers with local pig, cow, moose, caribou, bear, fish, etc. (we live in AK).
ReplyDeleteThe Smiths,
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that traditional preservation like smoking would be great. Then you wouldn't have to worry about having electricity for freezers and such. I have acquired a supply of canned salmon since it is allowed on GAPS and keeps well for preparedness purposes. Of course, you probably have a fresh supply of that more readily available where you are than where I am! Unfortunately I have to settle for canned fish. I definitely think it's possible to balance GAPS and preparedness, it just takes a little more thought and effort.
Take care,
Janice