"Wildman" Steve Brill has alot of edible plant info on the linked website. He also has a book with more info. He markets with much humor, but I find his info is seriously correct. As you read about wild edibles you will find conflicting info. I trust Steve's. Try wild plants out before an emergency so you can carefully learn IDs and how you react to new foods. Tom Brown has survival books out, also, with good wild edible and survival suggestions. Two older ones are: Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants, and Tom Brown's Guide to Nature and Survival for Children. Don't reject the second one just because it's for "children". I don't agree with some of his philosophy, but I trust his edible plants and medicinal plant expertise. Also be aware that in some emergencies (nuclear fallout, volcanic dust, etc.) outdoor foods might be more contaminated than indoor stored foods and seeds you might sprout indoors. Adjust your plants to match the "emergencies" for which you are preparing. Here is a link that might be useful: Foraging with Wildman

Hi Seaweed: So glad to hear from an experienced rose-grower with 160+ roses like you. Thank you for reminding to be gentle & diluted with new-band ... tiny roots are sensitive to fertilizer damage. The bone meal I used for that Gallica-rose-band was Encap brand, with NPK 6-9-0. I checked their website, and the instruction was, "For Potted Plants: Apply 1 to 1 1/2 tbsp. per pot." I used more than that .. thus the phosphorus burn. The advantage of organics like horse manure NPK 0.44 - 0.17 - 0.35 , and corn meal NPK of 1.6 - 0.65 - 0.4 are: they are balanced, plus low-dose, won't burn plants. Some info. from the below link: "phosphorus is as fertilizer, but it is also used in weapons, the herbicide glyphosate (aka Round Up), baking powder and detergent among other things. A review of scientific literature reveals that most, as in 75 - 95%, of the phosphorus fertilizer applied to crops is not taken up by the plants. It will mostly stay in the soil. However, significant amounts are washed or eroded away into adjacent streams where they wreck havoc with aquatic systems causing large algae blooms killing lakes. Phosphorus Fertilizer Bans - In an effort to reduce the damage caused by phosphate runoff and resulting algae blooms in lakes, a number of local, state and provincial governments have banned phosphorus fertilizer for lawns. A series of random soil tests in WI showed phosphorus levels were always adequate for lawns with a average P level two and half times that needed for healthy lawns. Restrictions exist in Manitoba, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Maine, New Jersey, New York, and Florida. Phosphorus is an extremely reactive element ... The phosphorus ions used in fertilizers are negatively charged. The first thing phosphorus does when it hits the soil is draw positively charged ions to it. These turn into new insoluble compounds, and these compounds do not move in the soil. They sit there, insoluble and out of reach of plant roots. Plants may be surrounded by reserves of phosphorus, but these reserves are either inaccessible or insoluble so not suitable for plants to uptake." http://www.the-compost-gardener.com/phosphorus-fertilizer.html More info. on phosphorus: "High Available Phosphate Reduces Root Colonization - Interestingly, research has also shown that, when soils contain high levels of available phosphate, the degree of root colonization by mycorrhizal fungi diminishes. This effect only applies to available phosphates. Insoluble phosphates are unavailable, and do not affect mycorrhizal development. " Paul of Fine Gardening Magazine said it well, see link below: "Professor Chalker-Scott goes on to say this: “I believe this is what has happened in many landscapes that feature roses. Well-intentioned, yet misguided, homeowners over apply phosphate and other fertilizers, insecticides, and fungicides until the soil system is so impacted that it becomes non-functional. Without the beneficial soil organisms, roses become more susceptible to nutrient deficiencies and opportunistic diseases, causing rose aficionados to add even more of these chemicals.” One more reason to just treat roses like any other plant. After all Roses Are Plants, Too. Happy Roseing - Paul. Here is a link that might be useful: Roses and the myth of 1 cup of bone meal

The there's the pretty-much-opposite approach to the usual pyramid: plenty of protein and fat. I know you said you're not interested in the paleo diet, but so many people tell me they feel better on it, and have much more energy. I could sure use that, but I don't think this diet would be for me, because I love carbohydrates and wouldn't be happy without them. But. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law are back east to visit, and I just heard a whole lot about how much better this works and why. She has a degree in food science and actually researches the stuff in the footnotes of all the books. I myself don't want to think that much about my food, but it is kind of impressive to listen to all the stuff she says has been studied. At dinner they were pouring cream on everything while she told me she lost 20 pounds without trying.

High water content fruits like watermelon and cantaloupe help to get water into them. My mother also really liked the protein fortified milk that I found - Shamrock Farms I think was the brand. She was always a milk drinker anyway, and she seemed to have declining ability to taste other than sweet, so this was a hit (along with ice cream - which can be bought in single serving cups). She did not like the taste nor the texture of nutrition shakes like Ensure, or most protein powders, but I did find an acceptable powder that I could add to instant pudding mix. I had to do the same as you, because if a regular plate of food was set in front of her, even with much smaller servings she would push it away: "It's too much, I don't want it". I would also cut up cheese and cooked meats into cubes and package them into just a few bites (5 or less).