It seems that one minute none of us had heard of swine flu and the next minute it was a significant world wide issue. As I write this Australia is faced with high numbers of people catching swine flu and they are putting in place a number of measures to try and contain it. How long before we are faced with high numbers in New Zealand?
Shortly after the emergence of swine flu I listened to an interview on National Radio with a New Zealander living in Mexico. Hearing what she was personally facing in Mexico really made me ponder a question. If our family was quarantined and not allowed out of the house without any warning how well prepared would we be? What could we eat? On that particular day the cupboards did not look great I have to say. Although we did have a good supply of wine!
Of course it is not just the threat of swine flu that should make us wonder how well we could survive in NZ; we also face the threat of natural disasters.
The Ministry of Health recommends that for influenza pandemic planning we should all be prepared to last for at least seven days without a single trip out to buy groceries.
In a pandemic the whole food supply chain can be affected as factories close down, transport is stopped and shops are closed.
You will want to be prepared so that you don’t have to face last minute crowds at the supermarket as people, some of whom may already be falling ill, panic to stock up.
Take a moment and consider what basic staple foods you have in your cupboards, fridge and freezer.
- Do you have non-perishable carbohydrates like rice, pasta, cous cous, noodles or flour?
- Do you have some non-perishable protein foods like canned beans or tinned fish?
- Do you have any non-perishable fruit and vegetables like dried, canned or frozen supplies?
- Do you have any powdered milk?
- Don’t forget about water, as some utility services may also be affected, especially with natural disasters!
When thinking about what your family may need for survival try to base it around foods you are familiar with. Once you have built up these supplies remember to replace them as you use them.
If you are not a person who can stand at your pantry door and create a masterpiece out of basic supplies it may be a good idea to have a good basic cookbook on hand like the Edmonds Cook Book.
Things you could make out of basic recipes include:
- Pasta dishes using tinned tomatoes as the base
- Stir-fry rice or risotto
- Soups with pasta, rice, or tinned beans added to make it more wholesome
- Scones instead of bread
- Potato top fish pie using tinned fish
- Pasta salads with tinned fish or chickpeas as the protein
As well as the basic food items don’t forget about other staples such as toilet paper, soap, panadol (for fevers) and feminine hygiene products.
