What would you love to get at a food bank, if you had health problems too?I'm trying to remember what I would have loved to find at a food bank back when we were broke. (I remember what food was available.) BUT, since the cost of food often goes hand-in-hand with diabetes, high blood pressure and other health issues when poor, I'd like ideas on "non-perishable foods"... |
your right.. low sodium is almost never really low sodium
my body screams at all sorts of food additives, preservatives, coloring, processing, etc....
it is not safe for me to eat most canned or boxed meals
sodium content isn't a concern for me personally, but is for my bf
generally speaking, it is not safe for me to eat out anywhere.... even other people's houses (if I go to mom's she will plan properly, but if I go to my sisters, I bring my own meal)
I am much safer making meals at home
for me, the most basic form of any food
fresh or frozen veggies (with no sauce, no flavoring, or additive)
sweet potatoes, red potatoes, idaho potatoes (because we can't use rice, pasta, bread, etc..)
quinoa, barley, buckweat, unprocessed oats
fresh or frozen fruit
dried fruit without additives (without sulfur)
fresh or frozen chicken (without carageenan... hard to find.. and more expensive)
frozen fish (tilapia, tuna --- but not salmon or any form of shelfish... dr took those off bf list)
fresh or frozen meat (not ground because that usually has additives that I can't tolerate.. without any additives, preservatives, seasoning, etc..)
dried or fresh herbs to season stuff with
almonds, pecans, walnuts
honey, maple syrup, stevia
because bf is on very restricted sodium we could not use any canned food
because my problems with wheat we could not use pasta... I suppose we could if they stocked buckwheat pasta
more recent studies on rice explained why I always get sick eating it... arsenic levels are rather high in most rice & even higher in brown rice... so we can't use rice
I use steel cut oatmeal & eggs for breakfast.... because most cereals have stuff that will send me to the hospital. I have to be careful about what eggs I buy... even the organic, grain-fed, free-range.. I have found 2.... exactly 2 brands of eggs I can eat & actually digest... one is eggland's best & the other is nearby farmer (higher than cheap grocery eggs).... every other egg (even from other nearby farms) I have ever tried to eat makes me very sick... I am sure it has to do with whatever the chicken are feeding on, maybe also their living conditions.
neither me nor bf are diabetic, so sugar isn't so much a problem. I don't buy any because most everything that sugar would be used in also has some form of wheat... and it just isn't worth it to me to worry with alternatives. If I want something on my baked sweet potato, I use a little maple syrup. I use raisins (un-sulfered) in my oatmeal with a little bit of honey
I buy huge bags of potatoes when they are on a good sale... we grate them & use food dehydrator... store them in freezer-quality zip-lock bags & use the dried potatoes to make all kinds of potato dishes
I dry lots of different types of fruits & veggies when they are in season.... but none in the same high quantity that I do with potatoes
------ I suppose now you know why going to a food pantry has never worked for me
My guess is that my list isn't very helpful for what you are looking for.. but maybe it gives you ideas for the seriously diet limited folks
If i really needed it, ANY food would be great.
But, if I wanted to be particular i would want NAME brand items instead of generic saltine crackers that always end up on the shelve of a food bank. Also, I would want little goodies like granola bars, fruit snacks would be good.
Try the hearty cambells sous
Chili
Good cereals
100% fruit juices
This list wasnt really for me. Just thinking about a few times I gave food to one. Most people just "cleaned up" thee inner shelves and gace away food that was taking up space. Like old green beans, beat up dry noodles, and the sorts.
i am limited on foods I can eat as well.
Pasta and jars of sauce
Beans and rice
Canned chicken and tuna(low sodium type packed in water not oil)
Cans of fruit juice or low sodium V-8 (vegetable juice)
Saltines with peanut butter or jars/cans of cheese (cheese wiz)
Fresh fruit
I helped out at a small food pantry before Thanksgiving . The volunteers kept saying powdered milk is considered to be liquid gold. Clients can do many things with powdered milk.
Fresh vegetables
