The end of the world could be closer than you think: a prepper's shopping list

The Covid-19 pandemic left behind a disturbing lesson: the threat of the end of the world could be just one contagion away. This scenario has intensified the number of people who were already preparing for a possible apocalypse, increasing the amount of people that consider these preparations necessary.

In this sense, a group that seems to be years ahead of the rest of the population in this area are the 'preppers', who emerged in the mid-20th century in the United States, in the midst of the Cold War.

Since then, events such as the Y2K, 9/11, avian flu, Ebola, the pandemic, the nuclear threat or global warming have served to reinforce their idea of the advent of an end of the world that, whatever it may be, continues to be delayed event after event.

However, if something can be learned from preppers, it is their organizational skills, their methodology and, above all, their shopping list for the end of the world.

To ordinary mortals, the weekly shopping list already seems like an ordeal, in which no matter how few products there are, some are always forgotten.

It goes without saying that with a shopping list to face the apocalypse, it is more than certain that some product essential for survival would be left pending.

Moreover, everyone remembers that, in the midst of a pandemic and with the world blocked and paralyzed, the obsession of millions of people around the planet was to buy toilet paper that, to this day, some have not used up.

This being the case, it doesn't hurt to take ideas from a group that has been preparing for the end of the world for more than 60 years and copy a shopping list that they have not only been updating and adapting to our days, but in many cases items they have purchased and stored in underground bunkers.

Obviously, the first thing we think about when making the end-of-the-world shopping list is storing canned goods and it's not a bad option, but what kind?

In this case, preppers recommend highly processed foods that provide nutrients and calories, that is, the opposite of what we would eat if we were on a diet, something that would really matter little in a post-apocalyptic situation.

These ultra-processed foods are preserved for a long time without the need for cold, they can be stacked, they take up little space and they are a tremendous source of energy. Perfect for living in an environment similar to that of 'Mad Max'. Legumes, cereals, fish or vegetables are the most advisable.

However, much better than cans are freeze-dried foods. They allow personalized portions, can be heated without electricity and take up less space than cans. Highly recommended.

Carbohydrates are essential for your survival, so rice, cereals, sugar, energy bars should also be present in your underground pantry.

Another item that cannot be missing from the end of the world shopping list are cookies, jams, spreads, chocolates and the like. Easy to store and long lasting.

Nuts and toasted bread are two foods that also last a long time without losing too many properties and that should have a place on your post-apocalypse shopping list.

Photo: Unsplash - Nacho Fernández

Food supplements like those taken by gym rats should not be missing from your shopping basket either. Vitamins, minerals, soy and whey protein isolates are some examples.

Photo: Unsplash - Aleksander Saks

The big problem that any post-apocalyptic scenario is access to drinking water. For this reason, water purification tablets are essential.

Along with water, it is also advisable to store milk that provides hydration to the body but also other types of nutrients. And the same goes for oil, which should not be missing in your bunker.

Cheeses, especially cured ones, are also a good option, since their nutrients are highly concentrated and their format allows for prolonged conservation over time.

Photo: Unsplash - Katrin Leinfellner

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