Before the invention of farming somewhere around 800 BCE., Man lived in small, nomadic groups known as hunter/gatherers because they lived entirely on what they were able to forage from the land. Therefore, their very survival depended on an intimate knowledge of the land and the seasons as well as the plants and animals that were available to them. Consequently, if you know where to look and what to look for, Nature has provided us with a veritable bounty of edible plant species than can provide us with all of the nutrition we need to remain healthy.

In fact, in a survival situation, the need to find and consume food goes far beyond the need to satisfy your hunger. Therefore, simply finding enough food is only half of the survival equation because you also need to ingest a balanced diet to remain healthy. This, of course, requires that in addition to consuming enough food, you also consume the correct types of foods so that your body not only has enough calories (fuel) to continue functioning and to generate heat, you also gain the nutrition your body needs to remain healthy. Fortunately, Humans have evolved as omnivores (meaning that we can digest both plants and animal flesh) and thus, we can beneficially ingest almost any species in the plant or animal kingdoms. However, "man does not live by bread alone" as the old saying goes and thus, especially when we find ourselves in a survival situation, it is of paramount importance that we consume a variety of foods that provide us with fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, as well as essential vitamins and minerals if we are to remain healthy. Thus, you should also keep in mind the fact that the average person resting in a completely relaxed state requires 70 calories per hour just to maintain their basic, involuntary, bodily functions such as breathing and blood circulation and adding even simple activities such as standing up, sitting down, or walking short distances requires at least another 45 calories per hour. Therefore, without doing any sort of work whatsoever, the average human burns over 2,000 calories per day and adding even mild physical exertion can boost this requirement to upwards of 3,500 calories per day. Consequently, if you find yourself in a survival situation, it is of paramount importance that you keep calm, relax as much as possible, and conserve energy if food is scarce. Thus, plan your foraging missions accordingly.

Energy Needs

The average human requires a minimum caloric intake of 2,000 calories per day:

Fats - 1gr. produces 9 calories

Proteins - 1gr. produces 4 calories

Carbohydrates - 1gr. produces 4 calories

Nuts & Seeds - excellent source of fats and proteins

Fruits & Berries - excellent source of sugars (carbohydrates)

Roots, Tubers, & Bulbs - excellent source of sugars & starches (carbohydrates)

Leafy Vegetables - excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals

Fats -

Fats are molecules that are made by combining carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms and, like carbohydrates, they are a concentrated source of energy. However, it should be noted that fats provide twice the energy of carbohydrates and thus, they are an extremely important source of energy. Also, fats store vitamins and minerals and thus, they are imperative to a balanced hunter/gather diet. In addition, fats serve to heat and insulate the human body, protect organs, lubricate the alimentary tract, and build an energy reserve and they are found in animals, fish, eggs, milk, nuts, and some vegetables and fungi. However, fats are also insoluble in water and thus, they require a lengthy digestive process with an adequate intake of water before they can be absorbed by the human body.

Proteins -

Proteins are highly complex molecules made up of chemical structures known as amino acids combined in thousands of different ways and the human body uses proteins to generate new muscle tissues, heal abrasions and wounds, and repair other physical damage. Also, the main sources of proteins are meat, fish, eggs, milk, nuts, and fungi. However, it should be noted that while meat contains all of the amino acids the human body needs to remain healthy, plants do not unless a sufficient range is eaten. Also, in the event that carbohydrates are missing from the diet, protein is used by the human body to generate energy. But, it should be noted that this is done at the expense of other bodily needs and that it will cause the body to start consuming its own stored fats.

Carbohydrates -

Carbohydrates are molecules synthesized by plants by combining carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms and thus, they are easily converted into energy by the human body and they do not require a large intake of water to digest. Also, carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the human body and thus, they serve to supply the fuel needed for running the nervous system, maintaining internal functions, producing heat, and performing physical exertion. In addition, consuming carbohydrates prevents a condition known as Ketosis which consists of indigestion, nausea, and vomiting caused by the excessive breakdown of body fats during starvation. Furthermore, it should be noted that there are two different types of carbohydrates which consist of sugars that are found in fruits (and certain plants like Sugar Cane) and starches that are found in grains, roots, tubers, and bulbs. However, it should also be noted that carbohydrates lack vitamin B and that overconsumption may cause constipation.

Note: Starch granules are insoluble in cold water but, heat causes them to rupture and this is why roots, tubers, and bulbs are always cooked before consumption as a food source.