Prepare: For the love of Sardines

Preppers love to talk about canned meat. I think preppers keep Hormel in business with the purchase of Spam, Vienna Sausages, and canned tamales (yuck). Canned meat is a hedge fund against a meatless dystopian future. Canned meats augment the survival garden and stacks of bagged rice and wheat.

But canned meats have a problem. Most are full of fat and cholesterol. You might as well spread some crisco or lard on a piece of bread.

But all is not lost. Preppers not only stock canned meat, they also include canned fish. While the tuna gets most of the credit, there are plenty of canned fish alternatives out there. And for today, we can show our love for the lowly sardine.

Sardines have been canned and sold for years. A tiny fish, sardines are found throughout the world's oceans and once were considered a delicacy. As modern fishing improved and simultaneously, canning, the sardine became a staple in the working man's lunch.

Here's what better - sardines are good for you. They are packed with miracle nutrient Omega-3. People pay $20.00 for a bottle of Omega-3 capsules when they can get the same effect from a can of sardines. And there's protein and sulphor and lots of other nutrients. Fats? Sure, but they are healthy fats, not cholesterol laden gunk.

Here's another. Sardines are lightweight. You can pack a half dozen cans in a bag and not even notice them. And sardines come in those cool cans which are square rather than round.

Here's the kicker. Sardines last a lonnng time. A can may last as long as ten years and there are actually collectors of old sardines out there who enjoy the flavor of an older can over a newer sardine.

Sardines are packed with energy. They are a favorite of backpackers and hikers because of their light weight, longevity and nutrient content.

Sadly, the last sardine cannery in the US may be closing soon. There is hope it will stay open, but if not, our sardines, like so many other things, may come from overseas. It's not the same.

But the ride was great. Here's praise for the ultimate prepper food - the sardine.