Section 4 — Food
Foraging, Rationing, Trapping, and Long‑Term Survival
How Long Can You Survive Without Food?
The human body can survive **3 weeks without food**, but performance drops fast after 48–72 hours. Your goal is not luxury — it’s **calories, nutrients, and energy** to keep moving, thinking, and staying warm.
Calorie Priorities
- Minimum survival: **1,200 calories/day**
- Optimal survival: **1,800–2,400 calories/day**
- High exertion: **3,000+ calories/day**
High‑Value Survival Foods
Top 10 Calorie‑Dense Foods
- Peanut butter
- Nuts & trail mix
- Energy bars
- Instant rice
- Oats
- Tuna packets
- Jerky
- Ramen
- Honey
- Hard cheese (short‑term)
Foods That Last 10+ Years
- White rice
- Dry beans
- Wheat berries
- Honey (indefinite shelf life)
- Salt
- Sugar
- Freeze‑dried meals
Foraging Basics
Foraging is high‑reward but high‑risk if you don’t know what you’re doing. Follow the **Universal Edibility Test** only in emergencies.
Safe, Common Edibles (North America)
- Dandelion (entire plant edible)
- Cattail (roots, shoots, pollen)
- Pine needles (vitamin C tea)
- Wild onion/garlic (must smell like onion)
- Acorns (leach tannins first)
Plants to Avoid
- Anything with a milky sap
- Plants with thorns (exceptions exist)
- Almond‑smelling plants (cyanide)
- Umbrella‑shaped flowers (hemlock family)
Trapping & Protein Sources
Small game provides the best return on energy investment.
Effective Traps
- Figure‑4 deadfall
- Snare traps
- Spring pole snare
- Fish traps (weirs, funnel traps)
High‑Value Protein Sources
- Fish (best return for effort)
- Squirrels
- Rabbits
- Insects (crickets, grasshoppers)
- Bird eggs (seasonal)
Cooking Without Modern Tools
- Boiling in metal cup or can
- Hot rock cooking
- Stick roasting
- Clay baking (protects meat)
- Solar cooking (slow but fuel‑free)
Food Safety Rules
- When in doubt, throw it out
- Cook all meat thoroughly
- Avoid scavenged meat
- Never eat mushrooms unless 100% certain
- Store food away from sleeping area
Rationing Strategy
- Eat small, frequent meals
- Prioritize fats and proteins
- Save high‑carb foods for movement days
- Never ration water to save food