Happy Friday, penny pinchers! This is Sara Hanks from Shelf Reliance, and I’m here for our second weekly post. Today, I’ll be introducing some new food storage products available at ShelfReliance.com and discussing how you can add some much-needed protein to your emergency supply.

There are many great protein sources out there, including beans, peanut butter, and soy. If you’re like me, you get a lot of your body’s protein from meat, poultry, and fish. Sadly, these tasty, nutritious parts of our diets haven’t traditionally been great for long-term storage. Meat tends to spoil pretty quickly; even canned meats, such as tuna and chicken, can only last about three years under the best conditions. This has made it difficult to include meat in the average food storage supply.

For many years, one solution to this problem has come in the form of TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein), a soy-based meat replacement that packs in the protein with a taste and texture that’s pretty similar to real meat.

TVP can be seasoned to taste like chicken, beef, bacon, or any other kind of meat. Many people enjoy the taste and incorporate it into everyday meals, like the vegan fajita shown above. Most restaurants use TVP in their dishes, so you’ve probably eaten it before without even noticing! Shelf Reliance offers seven varieties of TVP that can last about 10 years in your food storage pantry.

Recently, another protein option has become available. Shelf Reliance now offers freeze dried meats, including Sausage Crumbles, Roast Beef, and Diced Turkey. These meats are pre-cooked and put through a state-of-the-art freeze drying process that removes almost all of the moisture. That’s what makes our freeze dried meats capable of lasting as long as 25 years in your food storage!

Both TVP and Freeze Dried Meats are great sources of protein. TVP is generally more affordable, and it’s also great for vegetarians or those who are trying to decrease the fat in their diets. Of course, anything freeze dried will have a great shelf life, as well as superior taste and nutrition. Both are ready to eat or use in recipes with the addition of hot liquid, such as water, chicken stock, and beef stock.

No matter how you choose to do it, be sure to make some protein available in your food storage. Protein is essential for fighting off illness and aiding in recovery. A variety of beans and meats are available through ShelfReliance.com, as well as Whole Egg Powder that you can use in omelets and all sorts of baked goods. You can browse through different options and get everything you need by visiting www.shelfreliance.com.

Thanks for reading today, and I hope to see you back here next Friday! Please share your own advice for implementing protein in your food storage, as well as any suggestions for future topics, in the comments section.