Primal Primer 18 (Nutrition)
Ancient hunters and gatherers developed various meal prep strategies based on needs to preserve, manage, and prepare food for periods of scarcity. Without modern tools or techniques, practical methods of ensuring food availability and survival at all times was imbibed into culture.
Hunting & Gathering Cycles – Certain times of the year provide abundant resources: ripened fruits, migrating animals, and spawning fish. During times of opulence, surplus is built; with a heavy reliance on being economical and miserly to combat waste.
Preservation Methods
Drying & Smoking – Meats, fruits, and plants were laid out in sun or near fire to dry. Smoking meat over fire preserves by drying slowly and infusing with smoke; which acts as natural preservative. Dried meat was often turned into jerky or pemmican (mixture of dried meat, fat and berries).
Salting – Covering perishable foods in salt helps prevent bacterial growth and extends edible life of meat and fish; also a key ingredient in later drying and smoking.
Fermenting – Fermentation allows for the preservation of fish, roots, vegetables, and grains, while also enhancing nutritional value.
Food Storage – Digging pits deep in earth and lining with grasses, leaves, or animal skins creates natural refrigeration systems for surplus storage.
Preparation Drives Outcome
Although we no mostly no longer struggle with keeping gathered foods from spoilage, creating conditions of surplus, and fueling convenience continues to be a challenge to most modern sapiens. Cooking bulk and storing plants & animals is the first step to avoiding irrational hunger based decisions. Healthy cave fire pre-prepped meals must be part of the plan. Meal prep eliminates time sinks of “going out to lunch” when at work, or fast casual eating situations where mystery ingredients infiltrate. Meal preparation indelibly saves time, encourages practical decision making, and is economical. Optimal fueling doesn’t happen from chance, it requires planning.
~Cave Implementation~
When Cave Fire Cooking, make more than you need, as increased volume takes little more time to prepare. Bulk ingredient buying is also both economical in time and cost. Lastly, invest in high quality glassware with securable tops that can be used for refrigerator storage and on the go consumption. Plastic containers and wraps should be avoided, especially if reheating.
Optimal Fueling Doesn’t Happen From Chance, It Requires Planning.
