There will probably be some people that do not agree with this, but based on science alone, I agree with the following example list of protein items. I found this list online, but it is a good example based on my research. The example I am trying to show is a "raw" protein diet. Protein, along with Vit C and other vit's, is extremely sensitive to Denaturation. (wiki it). What this means is, when you cook something, especially after storage, it loses a huge amount of its usable proteins. The reason is, most consumable proteins are highly associated with living cells. Once cooked, saturated in unnatural, refined salts, and many other possible variables, the cells basically die and/or mutate, aka denaturation. This is from Wiki, but gives a solid description "When a protein is denatured, secondary and tertiary structures are altered but the peptide bonds of the primary structure between the amino acids are left intact. Since all structural levels of the protein determines its function, the protein can no longer perform its function once it has been denatured"

This is where hippi vegans, pescetarians and vegetarians come in. The big debate, outside of preserving animal life, is the nutritional debate. Once something is cooked, especially meat, it coagulates AT LEAST 50%. (Max Planck Institute)

The point I am making is not against meat, cooking, storing, etc. I love home cooked meals as much as the next guy. I am trying to point out efficiency, based on science. It is more efficient per sq/ft of storage to store fresh proteins like seeds, etc, than to cook something, can it, then recook it later and expect there to be more than 30% of its original protein. Bascially, you can have more protein per sq/ft with sealed hemp seeds, sprouts, goji, etc, than with cooked, then canned, then recooked meat, beans, etc. Also, Vitamin C works very similar. Once cooked you basically get nothing. A good tip with Vit A and C if buging out is to boil your water, let it cool a little (cool enough to sip), while it is cooling take pine needles (maybe 20 per cup or so, that is what I do), cut them in half and put them in your cup, once cool enough to sip, to make a tea. Pine needles are packed with vitamin A and C and the nutrients are mostly retained as long as the water is not boiling when you put them in. The best way to get the most Vit C and A is to chew them. Prevents Scurvy! 🙂

ps. Freezing is hard on proteins too, but not as bad as cooking. From what I have read, vitamin C is very sensitive to freezing.

This is not the best, but a quick google search that seems to point out some good examples. If you can store things like sprouts, etc. Then you should have plenty of protein if eaten raw.

1. Hemp Seeds
2. Goji Berries
3. Sprouts
4. Spirulian/Blue Green Algae
5. Pure Synergy
6. Maca
7. Avocado
8. Figs
9. Greens and veggies
10. Sprouted Nuts and Seeds

Beans and legumes I would think are cheapest source

If you're looking for LONG-term long-term storage, you may want to steer clear of nuts and seeds. A cup of raw avocado has 3g protein - although a ton of useful fats - while a tablespoon or two of chia seeds have 4+g and store for 2-4 years, can be sprinkled on salads or stir fry or mixed into other grains. Sprouted chia seed powders typically contain 3g of protein again. As seeds sprout, their complexes change and commonly both the carb and the proteins shift a bit.

The beans and legumes that were mentioned are going to be least expensive, compact and longest-storing. Beans will have more protein than lentils or peas.

If you don't like "regular" beans, think about grabbing garbonzos that can be turned into hummus or pintos for refried beans that can be used as a dip or in burritos. You can also grind dry beans and use them as thickeners for gravy, sauces, soups, casseroles and as partial replacements for flour in bread recipes.

Barley, red wheat, amaranth and quinoa all have fairly high protein amounts per cup (for grains) and can be added as fillers to any soups included or be added to some of the veggies to make soups, or be milled and used as a thickener like ground bean flour, especially if your bucket meals are low in calories or small in serving size.

I do a lot of powdered eggs for my dogs. They're relatively inexpensive, they're fast to cook or, since I buy them pasteurized, cooking is optional (especially for the dogs), and they're a lot of fats and protein for the amount of space they take up. Check and see if Augason Farms (especially from Wal-Mart), Thrive, or Emergency Essentials can ship to your location. That's where I get the long-storage eggs.

The dogs are prepared to eat their eggs with oatmeal in the morning and barley at night, and a handful of rehydrated carrots or green beans, because there's no way I'm paying what they want for freeze-dried meats as a daily meal (once in a while treat for all of us) and wet-pack meats take up a lot of space.
🙂

Slightly different than suggested above, but how about whey protein? The typical shakes that gym enthusiasts have after a workout? We always have a large costco-size container at home (for post workout sip, though neither the wife nor I are cliched metal heads...). They're affordable, store somewhat easily if unopened and pack a fair bit of protein, plus nor preparation other than adding water. We find it gives energy and works well as a snack is it helps you feel full.

Slightly different than suggested above, but how about whey protein? The typical shakes that gym enthusiasts have after a workout? We always have a large costco-size container at home (for post workout sip, though neither the wife nor I are cliched metal heads...). They're affordable, store somewhat easily if unopened and pack a fair bit of protein, plus nor preparation other than adding water. We find it gives energy and works well as a snack is it helps you feel full.

THAT is an awesome idea. It also made my head churn around others like Glucerna, Ensure and other meal replacement and "snack" shakes that will include some other vitamins and minerals along with the protein.
Thank you!

Slightly different than suggested above, but how about whey protein? The typical shakes that gym enthusiasts have after a workout? We always have a large costco-size container at home (for post workout sip, though neither the wife nor I are cliched metal heads...). They're affordable, store somewhat easily if unopened and pack a fair bit of protein, plus nor preparation other than adding water. We find it gives energy and works well as a snack is it helps you feel full.

😆 metal heads.. is that like a gym monkey????? 😆

Those "shakes" are good for replenishing but i would be worried people would end up trying to use it as a drink instead of part of the supplement..

I would not bank on Whey protein. I've done my research on that topic and whey protein is not the "protein" people think it is. First of all, whey comes from the leftovers of cheese. What factories used to try to give away, now goes through heavy processing to become whey protein. This protein is far from natural and your body has little chance of digesting it efficiently. The reason people fall for whey protein is because of the "salt" effect. It basically absorbs salts into your body making you retain water, therefore you get "swole" as they say in the gym. This is where you see the classic case of big hefty chest gym man who cant bend his arms enough to do his zipper, and has chicken legs, when in reality he would probably have a very hard time physically in a STHF because he is so bloated. Probably 0% of professional athletes use whey protein. Their nutritionist would not let them. I used whey protein for a while in highschool and only bloated from retaining water. Considering I was a basketball player this was not a good thing. It slowed me down, made me tired after the sugar rush and overall did not give me nutrients. The best thing to do is to research what proteins are closest to the human's natural protein. An egg is a great example. I believe it is one step from the perfect protein for our body, that is why body builders drink raw eggs. If you cook or boil the egg this no longer applies due to denaturation. Even more so (in a SHTF) the best protein in my opinion is an earth worm. They are easy to find (especially if you make your own compost) and two earthworms has more protein than a raw egg. The average serving of earth worms, six or seven, has around 40-50g of protein, compaired to 13g for eggs. A two handed scoop of earth worms would be over 9000g of protein... redonculas! Plus, they take care of themselves and would benefit a garden, compost, etc. Crickets also have high protein and calories. 100g of crickets has 121 calories. Not if you get them in stores though.

"Besides nutritional value, insects are also abundant and environmentally sustainable. Farming and harvesting insects takes very little water and transport fuel compared to livestock, grains and even vegetables. It's also more efficient than raising cattle. One hundred pounds of feed produces 10 pounds of beef. The same amount of feed would produce more than four times that amount in crickets"

Just realized it sounds like I am a nay sayer for protein shakes. Dont get me wrong. I make a smoothie every day, but it is all organic with natural hemp proteins, and other vitamins to help break those proteins down. Whey is not a good protein replacement plan.

Cheers

Tucker

Soup Lentils. Not only that, they got the perfect fraction of protein to carbs. But they're the cheapest. Less than five bucks a bag, which will last a week straight, or should. Now here's what to do with them.

Soup lentils are typically mixed with three parts of water, but this is just a matter of opinion, you can make lentils as thick or as watery as you like, it's pretty hard to screw up lentils by themselves. You can make a protein dip with crackers or bread, make soup or use them to cook meat in, in which case they absorb flavour. It's always a good idea, whenever you cook lentils to have butter, margarine, or cooking oil on hand. A buddy of mine taught me to rinse them thoroughly, but in the wilderness you don't have this option. That's okay.

You can make a thick protein stew. I typically, cook beef or pork(the fattier the better, as the lentils absorb the taste.) Add any vegetables and spices, and choose your desired loaf of bread. Very nutritious, and hearty, great for feeding multiple people.

In the wilderness you could look for edible plants and maybe some small game(rabbit, bird, frog, squirrel, snake, rodent, or fish) for variety and nutrition. In fact one of the two things Id take with me(If I had my dutch oven) is just lentils and tub of margarine or bottle of oil.

By themselves, lentils are spartan. The bare necessity. Like the vegetable version of oatmeal. Salt, pepper, and some kind of curry or spice will help. But it's their adaptability to include almost any other food that makes them a champion among foods.