When a hurricane is building up momentum the last thing you want to worry about is making an elaborate meal for dinner. Making smart food choices during hurricane conditions will ensure that everyone in your family will stay healthy. The stress alone from a hurricane can lower your immune system and when combined with poor food choices this can leave you with a sore throat, a cold or a fever. Find ingredients that can last without refrigeration for a few days and still be considered safe to consume during a hurricane. Experiment with some recipes before you start your hurricane preparation to see what works best for you and your family.
Here are some ideas to help you figure out what to purchase and cook when your options are limited:
Snacks
Chips and salsa are wonderful staple items. Search for canned salsa, black beans and diced tomatoes. You can add any of these items to a meal or you can eat them alone. Pack some granola, dried fruit, fruit leather, applesauce, trail mix, and granola bars. Fresh fruit such as bananas, oranges, apples, and strawberries are perfect for snacking on because they don’t make a mess, require any clean-up or create any waste.
Canned food
Soup is the perfect meal for lunch. You can eat your soup cold if you don’t have a generator to heat up your food and you can also use disposable silverware and bowls if you don’t have running water to clean your dishes afterward. Stock up on soup. Even if you don’t use it all during the hurricane then you can save it for a rainy day. Choose canned foods and soups with the lower sodium option because water may be in short supply. Find canned foods such as carrots, corn, peas, beans, and pasta. Remember to make sure you have a manual can opener.
Classic PB&J sandwiches
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a staple meal option during a hurricane because it is simple and requires little to no cleanup. All you need is bread, peanut butter and your favorite flavor of jelly. A nice glass of milk goes well with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but milk must be refrigerated. Instead, you can try almond, hemp, rice or soy milks as alternative options. Combine cereal with one of the alternative milk because this is the perfect way to get fiber.
If you’re ever in doubt about eating any foods that could be spoiled throw it out. As you prepare for any hurricane and purchase healthy food for your family, don’t forget to prepare your hurricane shutters for your Melbourne, Florida home. If you don’t have hurricane shutters to protect your windows and doors, please give us a call at Brevard Shutters right away.
