Hurricanes, floods, and power outages can hit without warning, leaving people without power and access to fresh, nourishing food. In times of natural disasters, people scramble for emergency supplies, but what’s typically available are things like MREs (Meals Ready to Eat), bottled water, processed snacks, and canned goods—most of which are filled with preservatives, sugar, seed oils, soy, and wheat. These foods are designed to be shelf-stable but filled with toxins, making them far from ideal for anyone who values their health. What they don’t provide, crucially, is clean, nutrient-dense meat.
Imagine you're in the middle of a hurricane zone with no power, refrigeration, or way to access fresh food for weeks. Without access to meat, many will be forced to rely on carb-heavy, preservative-laden emergency rations that can leave you feeling sluggish, bloated, and constipated—by design. Most emergency food is meant to keep hunger at bay, but it often comes at the cost of your well-being. And for those of us who value clean eating and avoid processed foods filled with pesticides, wheat, sugar, and seed oils, that’s a terrifying reality.
This is why having pemmican—a traditional, shelf-stable food made from dried meat and fat—on hand is essential for anyone who wants to maintain a clean, carnivore or whole-food diet, even in the worst of times.
Why You Can’t Rely on the Usual Emergency Supplies
Communities often receive an outpouring of aid after a natural disaster. Still, it’s almost always the same type of supplies: MREs, granola bars, and processed jerky covered in soy, wheat, sugar, and seed oils. These foods are designed for emergencies, but they’re far from nutritious, and for those of us who avoid toxic ingredients, they’re downright harmful.
Disaster situations can feel like a nightmare for people with a clean, regenerative-based diet. Without refrigeration, getting access to fresh meat is nearly impossible, and shipping in fresh supplies is rarely an option. Aid efforts focus on delivering bulk emergency food supplies, not on sourcing healthy, sustainable foods. What’s missing? Real, nutrient-dense, animal-based foods that can sustain you without compromising your health.
The Power of Pemmican: A Clean, Shelf-Stable Solution
Pemmican is the perfect answer to this problem. Made from dried meat, rendered fat, and sometimes a small amount of dried fruit or honey, pemmican has been used for centuries as a long-lasting, portable, and nutrient-packed food. It was a staple for Native Americans and early explorers, and for good reason—it’s shelf-stable without preservatives, packed with healthy fats and proteins, and provides steady energy.
Unlike processed jerky (which often rots quickly and isn’t shelf-stable), it is usually filled with sugar, wheat, soy, and seed oils. Pemmican, however, is pure, with clean nutrition. When sourced from regeneratively farmed, grass-fed animals, it offers a truly clean source of sustenance that can be stored without refrigeration for years. Having a stash of pemmican on hand in an emergency means avoiding the carb-heavy, inflammatory junk food that dominates most emergency rations.
No Refrigeration? No Problem
One of the biggest challenges in a natural disaster is the loss of refrigeration. Without the ability to keep food cold, fresh meat quickly spoils, leaving many people to rely on processed, non-perishable foods. But with pemmican, refrigeration isn’t an issue. It’s designed to be shelf-stable, making it the perfect solution for anyone who wants to maintain a nutrient-rich, meat-based diet even when the power is out for weeks.
Pemmican is not only shelf-stable but also provides the kind of clean, nourishing energy essential during stressful situations. Whether you’re dealing with the aftermath of a hurricane, stuck without power, or facing an extended emergency, having pemmican on hand ensures you get the nutrition you need without relying on toxic, processed foods.
Beyond Natural Disasters: Hospital Food and More
What’s Really on the Hospital Menu?
Hospital food often falls into the category of ultra-processed, low-quality meals that offer little in the way of real nutrition. Here are some common examples of what you might find on a hospital tray and how these foods can harm your health:
- Processed Meats: Hot dogs, deli meats, and sausages are commonly served in hospitals. These meats are high in preservatives, sodium, and nitrates, which can increase inflammation and raise the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. Processed meats also lack the essential nutrients and healthy fats your body needs for healing.
- White Bread and Refined Grains: Refined carbohydrates like white bread, pasta, and rice comprise a large portion of hospital meals. These grains are stripped of their nutrients and fiber, causing rapid spikes in blood sugar. Elevated blood sugar levels can contribute to inflammation, delay wound healing, and lead to energy crashes, all hindering recovery.
- Sugary Snacks and Desserts: Patients often receive cookies, gelatin, sugary cereals, and flavored yogurts, which contribute to blood sugar imbalances. Sugar promotes inflammation and weakens the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight infections and heal properly.
- Canned Fruits and Vegetables: Hospitals may serve fruits and vegetables, but are often canned and packed in sugary syrups or preservatives. These processed versions lack the vital nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants found in fresh produce, which are crucial for reducing inflammation and supporting recovery.
- Artificially Flavored Juices and Beverages: Many hospitals provide sugary, artificially flavored juices and soft drinks with little more than empty calories. These beverages lack nutrients, can contribute to dehydration, disrupt blood sugar levels, and offer no support for the body’s natural healing processes.
How Processed Foods Can Delay Healing
For patients who are already dealing with illness or injury, consuming nutrient-poor, highly processed foods can significantly delay the healing process. Here’s how:
- Inflammation: Processed foods are loaded with unhealthy fats, added sugars, and artificial ingredients, contributing to systemic inflammation. Inflammation is a major roadblock to healing, as it can increase pain, slow wound healing, and lead to chronic diseases. Foods that trigger inflammation make it harder for your body to focus on repairing tissues and recovering.
- Weakened Immune System: The immune system is critical in healing, especially after surgery or illness. However, consuming sugar-laden and processed foods weakens the immune response, making you more susceptible to infections and complications. A strong immune system is necessary for the body to defend itself against pathogens and promote tissue repair.
- Poor Nutrient Absorption: Processed foods often fall short when it comes to the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your body needs to heal. Refined grains and sugary snacks are a good example—they're stripped of fiber and essential nutrients that play a big role in gut health, which in turn helps your body absorb what it needs to recover. Without these key components, your body can't perform at its best.
- Without adequate nutrition, the body cannot repair cells, produce collagen for wound healing, or regenerate tissues effectively.
- Blood Sugar Imbalances: Refined carbohydrates and sugary foods cause rapid spikes in blood sugar followed by crashes. This leads to fluctuating energy levels, making it harder for patients to regain strength and feel better. Additionally, chronically high blood sugar levels impair the body’s ability to heal wounds, particularly for individuals with conditions like diabetes.
Why Pemmican Is the Perfect Hospital Food
In contrast to the nutrient-poor foods found in hospitals, pemmican is a powerful, nutrient-dense alternative. Made from dried meat, rendered fat, and sometimes dried berries, pemmican is rich in high-quality proteins, healthy fats, and essential nutrients that support the body during stress and recovery.
- Protein for Tissue Repair: Pemmican provides a concentrated source of high-quality protein, which is essential for repairing tissues, building new cells, and supporting the immune system.
- Healthy Fats for Energy: The rendered fat in pemmican provides long-lasting, stable energy, which is crucial for maintaining strength and endurance during recovery. Healthy fats also support brain function, reduce inflammation, and help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K.
- Shelf-Stable and Convenient: Pemmican is shelf-stable, making it an ideal emergency food for unexpected situations like hospital stays. It requires no refrigeration and can be easily stored in a bag or drawer,
Why Pemmican Should Be in Every Emergency Kit
Whether it’s a natural disaster or a personal emergency, being prepared with pemmican ensures that you have access to clean, nourishing food no matter what. Here’s why everyone should have a stash of pemmican on hand:
- Long shelf life: Pemmican can last years without refrigeration, making it ideal for emergencies.
- Nutrient-dense: Packed with fat and protein, it provides steady energy without the sugar crashes or bloating from carb-heavy emergency rations.
- Clean ingredients: When sourced from regeneratively farmed animals, pemmican is free from pesticides, preservatives, and harmful additives like wheat, soy, or seed oils.
- Portable and lightweight: Pemmican is easy to carry and perfect for emergency kits, bug-out bags, or even keeping in your car.
The Reality: Pemmican is Labor-Intensive, But We’ve Got You Covered
Pemmican is undoubtedly one of the best foods to have on hand for emergencies, but it’s also a labor-intensive process. The traditional method requires time and effort, from drying the meat to rendering the fat and blending it together. And while it can be expensive to source high-quality, grass-fed meats, the investment in your health and peace of mind during a disaster is priceless.
Luckily, we’ve done the work for you. We source clean, regeneratively farmed ingredients and prepare shelf-stable pemmican for years. Whether you're preparing for a natural disaster, planning a long hike, traveling, or even heading to dinner with friends but don't want to settle for menu items filled with preservatives and toxins, having a stash of our pemmican bars ensures you're never caught without real, nutritious food.
There’s nothing worse than being forced to eat food that makes you feel sluggish or sick during an emergency or unexpected situation. By stocking up on Pemmican, you’ll be ready for anything, confident that you can stay carnivore, nourished, and healthy—no matter what life throws your way.
Conclusion: Don’t Be Caught Without It
In any emergency, whether a natural disaster or something personal like a hospital stay, having pemmican on hand can be the difference between staying nourished and healthy or relying on toxic, processed junk food. When refrigeration is lost, access to clean, real food becomes incredibly difficult. But with pemmican, you have a solution—one that has stood the test of time and provides real nutrition when you need it most.
We may not always be able to predict when disaster will strike, but we can prepare for it. Having a stash of pemmican isn’t just about being ready—it’s about maintaining your health, sanity, and well-being, even when the world around you feels chaotic.
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