What is a prepper?
A prepper is someone who prepares for potential disruptions or emergencies by stockpiling food, water, and other supplies. Preppers aim to be self-reliant and build up reserves of necessities in case of events like natural disasters, economic collapse, civil unrest, or other crises. Having a stockpile of shelf-stable food is a key part of many preppers’ plans.
Why do preppers stockpile food?
Preppers stockpile food for a few key reasons:
- To have reserves in case normal supply chains are disrupted – Preppers want to be prepared in situations where stores run out of food or if they can’t leave home to shop normally.
- For self-reliance – Stockpiling food allows preppers to rely less on external systems and providers.
- For nutrition – Having a food stockpile helps ensure preppers have enough calories and nutrients during an emergency.
- For peace of mind – Having food reserves reduces stress and provides a sense of security for preppers.
Many preppers aim to have at least a 3-day supply, while some build stockpiles to last weeks or months. The goal is having enough to survive during whatever disruption preppers are preparing for.
Why consider ramen as a prepper food?
Instant ramen noodles have gained popularity among some preppers as a food stockpile item for the following reasons:
- Inexpensive – Ramen noodles are very cheap, often costing 25 cents or less per packet. Building a large ramen stockpile is affordable even on a limited budget.
- Shelf stability – Ramen can last 1-2 years or more before expiring if stored properly. The noodles don’t require refrigeration.
- Compact – Ramen packs flat and is lightweight. Cases take up little space compared to other disaster food options.
- Familiarity – Ramen is a known and familiar food for most people. The flavors and packaging are recognizable.
For preppers looking to build food reserves on a budget while maximizing shelf life and storage space, ramen appears to check a lot of boxes. The noodles are inexpensive, long-lasting, easy to store, and provide calories.
Nutritional profile of ramen
A standard 3 oz packet of ramen contains the following key nutrients:
| Calories | ~380 |
| Carbs | 63g |
| Protein | 7g |
| Fat | 9g |
| Fiber | 2g |
Ramen is high in carbohydrates, providing a substantial calorie source. It also contains a modest amount of protein. Ramen is low in fiber and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals though.
The included flavoring packet adds sodium, but otherwise does not provide extensive nutritional value.
Downsides of ramen as a prepper food
While ramen has some useful properties for prepping, it also has some significant drawbacks:
- Lack of nutrients – Ramen is very processed and lacks vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other important nutrients. It does not provide comprehensive nutrition.
- High sodium – The flavoring pack adds a large amount of sodium, up to 50% of the recommended daily value per package.
- Not very satiating – Ramen is high in refined carbs. The lack of protein, fat, and fiber means it does not provide lasting fullness.
- Risk of fatigue – If ramen makes up a major part of the diet, the lack of nutrition could lead to energy crashes, fatigue, and poor health over time.
- Water required – Ramen requires water for preparation. If water access is limited, the usability of ramen may be reduced.
- Lack of variety – Eating ramen alone, meal after meal, can cause taste fatigue and make appetites suffer over time.
While inexpensive and compact, ramen lacks comprehensive nutrition and is very high in sodium. Relying solely on ramen may lead to health issues long-term.
Ways to improve the nutritional value of ramen
If using ramen as a disaster food stockpile, the nutritional value can be improved in some ways:
- Drink the broth – The noodle water provides sodium but also some protein and hydration.
- Add veggies – Dehydrated or freeze-dried vegetables can add fiber, vitamins, minerals.
- Include protein – Canned fish, chicken, or other canned or foil-packed meats.
- Use part of seasoning pack – The full sodium packet may be too much, but some can add flavor.
- Combine with other foods – Beans, rice, oats, peanut butter, etc can complement ramen’s carb-rich calories.
- Take a multivitamin – A daily multi can help cover micronutrient gaps.
Adding supplements and combining ramen with more balanced foods can round out its nutritional profile. This requires stocking additional items though.
How long can you survive on ramen?
There is no single fixed time limit for how long someone can survive on a diet of just ramen noodles. However, there are some general guidelines:
– 2-3 weeks – Surviving on ramen alone will start becoming difficult due to insufficient nutrition. Signs like fatigue, headaches, weakness may begin appearing.
– 2-3 months – Continuing to eat only ramen for months will likely cause symptomatic nutritional deficiencies and increased risks of poor health. Weight loss and constant hunger are likely.
– 6 months to 1 year – Eating ramen as the sole food source for an extended period of over 6 months can become very hazardous. Deficiencies may become severe. Lasting health impacts become more likely.
While it’s possible to survive several months on ramen with no other foods, health will deteriorate over time. Lack of comprehensive nutrition makes ramen dangerous as a solo long-term survival food. Periodic breaks with balanced nutrition would be required for health.
Best practices for stockpiling ramen
If ramen is part of a prepper’s stockpile, here are some best practices for storage and optimization:
- Store in a cool, dry place to maximize shelf life.
- Separate flavor packets in a sealed bag or container to prevent drying.
- Organize by expiration date and rotate stock – use oldest first.
- Supplement with other survival foods to create balanced meals.
- Drink all broth for hydration and nutrients.
- Limit ramen-only periods to 1-2 weeks at most, with breaks between.
- Pair with affordable vitamins to provide micronutrients.
- Include other shelf-stable foods like rice, beans, canned fish, oats, etc.
Following best practices helps mitigate ramen’s risks and deficiencies as a survival food. A diverse stockpile with balanced nutrition is ideal for health.
Ramen prepper meal ideas
To make tasty, nutritious survival meals with ramen, combine with shelf-stable foods like:
Ramen fried rice:
- Ramen noodles
- Canned chicken
- Frozen or dehydrated veggies
- Rice
- Oil
- Soy sauce
Ramen peanut stir-fry:
- Ramen noodles
- Canned or foil-packed chicken
- Mixed frozen or dehydrated vegetables
- Peanut butter
- Red chili paste
Ramen minestrone soup:
- Ramen noodles
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Canned beans
- Dehydrated veggies
- Beef or chicken boullion
Pairing ramen with protein, additional veggies, seasonings, and pantry staples can make well-rounded, nutritious meals versus eating ramen plain.
Should ramen be part of a prepper stockpile?
Pros of stockpiling ramen
- Very inexpensive
- Long shelf life
- Compact, lightweight storage
- Provides calories
- Familiar and convenient
Cons of stockpiling ramen
- Not nutritionally complete
- High in sodium
- Risk of fatigue or deficiency if eaten long-term
- Need for water and heat source
- Lack of variety and satiation
Best practices
- Store properly to maximize shelf life
- Rotate stock and eat oldest first
- Supplement with other foods for balanced nutrition
- Drink broth for hydration
- Limit ramen-only periods to 1-2 weeks
Conclusion
Ramen can play a role in a prepper’s food stockpile thanks to being inexpensive, compact, and shelf-stable. However, it should not make up the entirety of a stockpile due to lack of comprehensive nutrition. Following best practices like rotating stock, combining with other foods, and taking breaks from ramen-only diets can mitigate the downsides. Ramen makes a good emergency food, but is best paired with a diverse stockpile and balanced diet for health. Preppers should include more nutritious shelf-stable foods like rice, beans, canned meat, oats, powdered milk, vitamins, and more to cover all nutritional needs, not just rely on ramen alone.