Tips for Eating during a Power Outage

Now that might sound like a strange title to appear on an alpaca site--but as many of you know we went ten days without power after a storm hit the Oregon coast early last December. And many of our friends throughout the country have gone through similar experiences. In our case, the dynamics of dealing with the storm for the 36 hours it ravaged our area was just the beginning of our ordeal. Once the storm was over and we realized that humans and critters were all well we had to deal with the damage that it left in its path and the inconvenience of no utilities. In the most recent newsletter from Peggy's alma mater--The Ohio State University--there is an article entitled "Power Eating". It seemed like a good article to share as the horrible storms throughout the country the past few years demonstrates that any time of the year can be storm season and can leave us with out power.

Be prepared before the storms hit--print these reports out and put them in your pantry or wherever you will be able to find them when the occasion arises. Check with a local electrician to secure a generator system to run at least a portion of your home so you can make it through the outage with the basics. For many of us keeping our food frozen is just a part of our concern--we also need to consider our plasma and colostrum supplies as well as the other factors which can affect our critters.

Power Eating
The wind storms that ravaged the state last month left many Ohioans without power for days. Among the difficulties: What to eat without a freezer, fridge, or oven?

Ohio State University Extension has tips that could help you prepare for another outage. An "Emergency Food Pyramid" includes three days of menus that don't require refrigeration or cooking. OSU Extension also has information on which freezer items are safe after a long outage.

http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~news/story.php?id=4829

Media Advisory: Food Safety, Nutrition Information During Power Outages
Writer: Martha Filipic filipic.3@cfaes.osu.edu (614) 292-9833

Ohio State University Extension has information about food safety for consumers who continue to experience power outages. Although consumers who don't have power won't be able to download these items, media might find the information valuable to share:

• A six-page fact sheet, "Eating Nutritiously When the Lights are Out" contains an "Emergency Food Pyramid" and includes three days of menus of food that doesn't need refrigeration and that can be prepared without heating. http://fcs.osu.edu/hn/dowloads/emergency_food_pyramid.pdf

• Another fact sheet, "Attention Freezer Owners: In case of power outage DO NOT OPEN!!!" is available at http://ohioline.osu.edu/home/freezer.html. It contains information on freezer storage during power outages and guidelines for safely refreezing thawed food.

For additional information or interviews, contact:Julie Kennel Shertzer, registered dietitian and program specialist with Ohio State University Extension in the Department of Human Nutrition Shertzer.6@osu.edu 614-292-3538

Just some food for thought!