Instant Noodles as part of your Prepper Pantry

[overlord]

After any disaster, you will notice that relief packs would always contain instant noodles/ramen/mami/whatever-you-can-call-them.

These are easy to prepare and serve.  They satisfy your hunger, provide a bit of energy, restore electrolytes and sodium to the body during wet disasters (typhoons, etc.), etc.

I too have some in my pantry as both preps and a snack from time to time.

These are not the healthiest of foods but can help when you need a quick fix.

Just be warned that a regular consumption of these food items can also damage the health:
www.longisland.com/news/08-16-14/instant-noodles-and-heart-health.html
www.yahoo.com/health/why-ramen-noodles-could-cut-your-life-short-94747327572.html
www.consumer.org.my/index.php/food/nutrition/132-stay-away-from-instant-noodles-to-keep-healthy
consumer.org.my/index.php/food/safety/150-no-instant-noodles-now

I am not discouraging you from eating them but do it in moderation like eating Canned Food items and Commercially Preserved Foods.

In fact, they serve as the basis for many delicious meals that can be created in post-SHTF scenarios.

What's your take?

[myrrph]

I've considered it and between instant noodles and rice, I opted for rice.

My 3 day food source for my BOB is basically MH for day 1, rice and canned food for 2 and 3.

But instant noodles do have 1 advantage over rice. It cooks faster. You crush it and put into hot boiling water, and you have hot edible carbo in 2 mins or less. I would probably bring this out for hiking/camping coz MH food is freaking expensive.

My 2 boxes of MH best sellers' kit just came in. Enough for the 2 of us for 4 days and that cost me 100 bucks!

I could do the same with instant noodles or rice and tinned food for $20 bucks. Singapore dollars too.

gives me a new perspective to food really

[strop2]

I read some of the links above and USA studies are faulty - every person going through the USA University system must do studies and they all come up with sensational claims for their thesis and their test cases are few (due to funding and time constraints). Rice would come in low-mid on the Glycemic Index (GI - how fast food is processed in the body and releases energy for your use) and Noodles would be similar but have more additives, giving a greater range throughout the GI.
As long as your body uses the food you intake - there shouldn't be an issue. The issue will be in over eating and having a slow metabolism.
When I've given food to poor people in my local area, it consists of 10kg of Rice and a 30 pack box of noodles - it does a family of five for a month. People will normally add something to their meal as normal, such as veg and meat.
My knowledge has been gained by training and being involved with champion sportsmen and having quals in Nutrition and Sports Nutrition.
I say - eat them noodles, haha.

[overlord]

Noodles from time to time are good and they can also help in the restoration of electrolytes in the digestive tract.

Too much of anything is bad though

[myrrph]

like i said lah, the only good thing about instant ramen is that it cooks in 2mins with hot, boiling water...

not my choice for health reasons, but shtf, perfect bug out food

[overlord]

The recent research into instant ramen is what scares me.

www.collective-evolution.com/2014/08/04/a-scary-look-at-the-digestion-of-instant-ramen-noodles-inside-your-stomach-a-deadly-ingredient-you-need-to-know-about/

[good]

My suggestion for instant noodles is to eat it without the seasoning, that should partially reduce the unhealthy side of it.

[myrrph]

think the posts and train of thought on instant noodles is... in the SHTF scenario... instant noodles pack the most bang for buck and weight of any food.

Given any given situation, I would carry some form of instant noodles with me. At least a packet or 2 but I've seen some videos that say, unpack the noodles into a ziploc and crush the noodles. There is a lot of merit to it, because instant noodles can be cooked _just_ with hot water...

food for thought yeah?

[overlord]

Oct 8, 2014 8:49:28 GMT 8 myrrph said:

think the posts and train of thought on instant noodles is... in the SHTF scenario... instant noodles pack the most bang for buck and weight of any food.

Given any given situation, I would carry some form of instant noodles with me. At least a packet or 2 but I've seen some videos that say, unpack the noodles into a ziploc and crush the noodles. There is a lot of merit to it, because instant noodles can be cooked _just_ with hot water...

food for thought yeah?

The problem also lies in the unindicated chemicals in the noodles that result in our digestive system having to work harder.

myrrph, we used to do the crushing of the noodles when we were mountaineering (in my younger days, about 30 years ago hehehe), put them in a cup and quickly boil water. they do cook faster that way.