Daily Preparedness

As I wrote previously, we have recently learned first hand the importance of storing and learning to use a variety of food in our storage plan. A loyal reader, Linda, has a wealth of experience on this topic as she has had to live wheat free for the past 25 years. In addition to her own wheat-related issues, her family members share a veritable smorgasbord of allergies and dietary needs! Linda generous knowledge-share opens the door to a variety of grains with differing properties and nutritional value. All of the grains listed can be ground in a wheat grinder (check with your manufacturer to be certain).

• Millet. Millet is usually a great grain for allergies and sick people because it is the only alkaline grain. Millet can be ground into flour or prepared as one would rice. It is also good in pilafs or for breakfast.
  
• Sorghum Flour. Linda orders her online, but you might want to try a grocery store that specializes in Indian foods, where it may be called Jowar or Juwar. Sorghum is bland in taste which can make it easier to use than other alternative flours. It is gluten free!
• Montina flour (Indian Rice Grass). Indian Rice Grass is a grass long used by Native Americans, especially when the corn crops failed. It is the ’state grass’ of Nevada & Utah. Ground into flour, it is reported to resemble wheat flour. Linda gets her’s from Amazing Grains in Montana.
• Teff. Teff is a staple grain for Ethiopia and is a source of dietary fiber, iron, protein, minerals, nutrients and calcium. The iron in Teff is easily absorbed by the body. It is small, similar to millet, but slightly sour tasting. Teff can be found in some health food stores or ordered online.
• Quinoa. Originally grown in South America Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wah) is unique in the grain world as it is a nearly complete protein. You can find Quinoa that is white or red. It can be boiled like rice or ground into flour as a substitute for wheat flour in baking. Linda uses it in salads and says it is delicious. Quinoa can also be sprouted quickly. 2 to 4 hours in a shallow dish will sprout Quinoa as opposed to at least 12 hours for wheat.
• Rice. Brown, white or wild, rices can all be cooked as one would expect or ground into flour! Rice flour is a very fine flour that can work in conjunction with others for baked goods or used as a coating for meat or vegetables.
• Corn. Cornmeal is simply dry kernel corn (referred to as field corn) that has been ground. You can also grind popcorn if necessary to produce corn. Corn is naturally high in sugar and is coarse when ground. There are multitudes of corn varieties, which together are referred to as maize. Corn contains a lipid transfer protein that cannot be digested by humans and has been found to cause severe allergies in some individuals. The allergy may manifest itself as a skin rash, asthma, neurological impairment (sometimes mimicing autism), arthritis, mucous membrane irritation, diarrhea, vomiting and a host of other health issues. Corn today is processed into a wide variety of products include corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, paper products, cleaning supplies–nearly everything we use in our daily lives.
• Oats. Oats when carefully stored have an extended shelf life. We commonly see oats as either rolled, steal cut or ‘quick’ oats. Oats can be cooked as a cereal or ground into a flour. Most household blenders will grind oats into a fine flour.
• Rye. Rye is a ‘cousin’ to wheat and usually ground into a flour. The wholegrain can also be rolled and prepared as you would oats. Rye does contain gluten, though less than wheat. Rye is also susceptible to a fungal infection (ergot) that causes ergotism in humans. Ergotism causes, among other things, hallucinations and is believed to have played a role in the Salem Witch Trials.
  
• Triticale. Triticale is a hybrid of rye and wheat. It utilizes the best of the two grains, but should not be eaten by anyone who cannot eat wheat or rye.
• Barley. Barley is grown primarily as an animal crop, but is used for humans as a health food, to create barley malt flavoring and in the making of alcoholic drinks. Boiled, it is added to soups and stews, especially in Eastern Europe. Barley is considered a frequent cousin to wheat-intolerances. Barley can be used as flour, as grits, processed for use in stews & soups, or rolled as a cereal.
• Amaranth. Amarinth is another grain that has nearly a complete protein, usable to humans. It is high in dietary fiber, provides a variety of healthful minerals, including iron and magnesium. Amaranth can also be popped, similar to popped corn. It can also be made into a confection.
  
• Spelt. Spelt is another variety or subspecies of wheat. Some people with wheat allergies can tolerate spelt, but it is NOT suitable for those with celiac disease. Like wheat, spelt is relatively high in protein and rich in dietary fiber.
  
• Buckwheat. Though it sounds like it should be, buckwheat is NOT a variety of wheat. Buckwheat can be rolled into groats and cooked like porridge, ground into flour or boiled like rice. Buckwheat pancakes are a hearty dish that utilizes yeast. Nutritionally, buckwheat is high in fiber and a good source of protein. Buckwheat noodles are common in Japan, Korea and northern Italy. Buckwheat does not contain gluten. It does contain rutin, a medicinal chemical that has been found to help those with high blood pressure and venous insufficiency.
  
• Kamut. Kamut is a variety of wheat! Recent food recalls included products containing kamut that were not labeled as containing wheat.

Tapioca, corn starch, dry beans and potato starch are also used as alternatives to wheat flour. For families with allergies, it might be wise to add at least a small amount to your food storage plan. The greatest baking success usually comes from mixing a variety of the ‘alternative flours’, adding xanthum gum to help them form a cohesive dough.

Linda suggests mixing all of the grains you have on hand to produce a delicious, slow cooked cereal. She prepares her’s overnight in the oven. She also utilizes the grains in a vegetable soup, with or without beef. Additionally, she cooks a single or mixed grains in her rice cooker.

Explore the great wide world of grains available us today as you enrich your family’s diet, broaden your culinary horizons and provide great variety to your food storage!

Many thanks, Linda!

It is that time of year—Jack Frost is on a rampage bringing with him snowstorms, ice, and colder temperatures. Winter time brings with it special preparedness considerations, which may not only keep your more comfortable but prevent injuries, illness and even death.

Our friends at FEMA suggest the following ways to prepare yourself NOW: (I’ve added a few extra tips to FEMA’s—the most important one being that if a storm is announced STAY HOME!!)

Add the following supplies to your disaster supplies kit:

• Rock salt to melt ice on walkways
• Sand to improve traction
• Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.

Prepare your home and family

• Prepare for possible isolation in your home by having sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off. For example, store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove. (Don’t forget your food, medical and hygiene needs! Store medication, candles, water, batteries, flashlights and all of those other things we have talked about. Make certain your children know where to go if they are sent home early and you aren’t home. This is also true of children that go to a caregiver’s home—does the caregiver have an alternate safe place for them to go?)
• Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic. Have your gutters cleaned so that melting snow has a place to go.
• Winterize your house, barn, shed or any other structure that may provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock or equipment. Clear rain gutters; repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structure during a storm.
• Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing.
• Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.
• Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).
• Know ahead of time what you should do to help elderly or disabled friends, neighbors or employees.
• Hire a contractor to check the structural ability of the roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow - or water, if drains on flat roofs do not work.

• Prepare to have a ‘warm room’. If you lose power and thus heat, is there a room in your home that has an alternate heat source adequate for that room? Think through which room would work best, how you can isolate that room and what you would need to be safe and comfortable in that room.

Prepare your car

• Check or have a mechanic check the following items on your car:
  • Antifreeze levels - ensure they are sufficient to avoid freezing.
  • Battery and ignition system - should be in top condition and battery terminals should be clean.
  • Brakes - check for wear and fluid levels.
  • Exhaust system - check for leaks and crimped pipes andrepair or replace as necessary. Carbon monoxide is deadly and usually gives no warning.
  • Fuel and air filters - replace and keep water out of the system by using additives and maintaining a full tank of gas.
  • Heater and defroster - ensure they work properly.
  • Lights and flashing hazard lights - check for serviceability.
  • Oil - check for level and weight. Heavier oils congeal more at low temperatures and do not lubricate as well.
  • Thermostat - ensure it works properly.
  • Windshield wiper equipment - repair any problems and maintain proper washer fluid level.
• Install good winter tires. Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions. However, some jurisdictions require that to drive on their roads, vehicles must be equipped with chains or snow tires with studs.
• Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season.
• Drive cautiously. No matter how excellent your driving skills are, others around you may not be as attentive or as skilled. Drive defensively, stay off the cell phone and pay attention!
• Place a winter emergency kit in each car that includes:
  • a shovel
  • windshield scraper and small broom
  • flashlight
  • battery powered radio
  • extra batteries
  • water
  • snack food
  • matches
  • extra hats, socks and mittens
  • First aid kit with pocket knife
  • Necessary medications
  • blanket(s)
  • tow chain or rope
  • road salt and sand
  • booster cables
  • emergency flares
  • fluorescent distress flag

Dress for the Weather (You might consider storing a spare hat & mittens in each child’s school backpack)

• Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.
• Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves.
• Wear a hat.  The majority of heat loss occurs through your head!
  
• Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

Listen Up!

• Pay attention to weather alerts, local news and consider signing up for any of the ‘instant’ alert systems your local jurisdiction offers.

• Heed warnings about staying home, avoiding certain roads, etc.

Stay Well

• Avoid sick people. Winter is also flu season, cold season and increased infection season.
• Wash your hands. Washing hands is the number one way to prevent the spread of illness. Wash your hands diligently before you eat, after using anything in a bathroom, when you get home and before, during and after preparing food.
• Stay hydrated. Though you may not feel as thirsty during cold weather months, your body may actually require more fluid than other times. Drink plenty of water every day!
• Eat well. Eat a variety of foods that are safely prepared!
• Maintain an exercise schedule. Climb the stairs at work, do vigorous house cleaning, visit an indoor pool–whatever you do, keep moving.
• Be cautious. Be very careful walking on slippery surfaces. Ice is incredibly hard and will break your body if you aren’t careful. If you must walk on the ice, consider investing in bands that you can attach to your shoes that aid in traction.
• Clear your sidewalks and porches. As soon as possible after a storm, clear your driveway, sidewalk and porch. If you are not healthy enough to do this safely, hire someone to do it for you.

Take just a little bit of time to prepare and you’ll find yourself laughing in the face of that bad old Jack Frost!

Most of us do not want to live in a museum-like home where everything is perfectly on display all of the time. We have families, demands, stresses and things we all love to do instead of constantly cleaning, straightening and organizing. We want to live in our homes! That is how it should be. However, there is a level of organization in your home that is necessary if you want to succeed at overcoming every level of the unexpected from the ‘speed bumps’ to the ‘Mount Everests’ of life. We all have them and by maintaining a home that fits the scriptural admonition “organize yourselves, prepare every needful thing,” we will find ourselves if not sailing past those challenges, at least not compounding them.

Give yourself the following quiz and see if there aren’t areas that you could improve on:

1. Can everyone in your home locate their shoes, basic clothing, coats, hats and     gloves within 60 seconds?

2. Does everyone except for the youngest children know where the 72 hour kits are?

3. Can you quickly locate important documents, phone numbers, financial information and your “What If” notebook?

4. Can you traverse your house in the dark without tripping over toys, shoes and assorted ‘stuff’ left in pathways?

5. Are your fire and carbon monoxide detectors working? Do you replace batteries when daylight savings time begins and ends? General Conference is also a good weekend to do this.

6. Can those with licenses old locate a spare set of keys for every car you own?

7. Can everyone above 5 locate a healthy snack or meal without cooking? Do you keep quick to prepare meals on hand?

8. Do you replace staples like milk, bread and eggs before you run out?

9. Do you know who your home teachers are? Your visiting teachers?

10. Are medications and other potentially hazardous items out of the reach of children?

11. Do you refill your prescriptions before they run out?

12. Do you have regular check ups? Do your children?

13. Do you have emergency numbers including poison control posted?

14. Do you maintain a first aid kid and basic over the counter remedies?

15. Do you keep the laundry caught up enough that everyone has at least 3 clean changes of clothing?

16. Do you perform regular maintenance on your home and car?

17. Are your stairways free from clutter?

18. Do you maintain supplies of paper goods, toilet paper, sanitary needs, diapers and other daily necessities?

There is much more that could be covered. The list is probably endless, but the goal is the same: Be Prepared!