Survival food: what to eat if you're lost

There's nothing more despairing than getting lost somewhere with nothing to eat, right? It could be a trail, an accident, survivalism, or any situation that puts you in that position.

To survive, you need to know what to eat and what to avoid so you don't get sick or have any intestinal discomfort.

Therefore, we have prepared a guide on how to choose animals, foods, and insects that can be consumed.

If you want to know more about the subject, keep reading!

1. Hunting and fishing

If you are lost and without food, hunting can be an option to get food. However, if you don't have much skill in setting traps or actively hunting, it can be a bit frustrating — but don't give up!

• If possible, opt for birds and mammals, as the taste is similar to what you are already used to and they are rarely toxic;

• Reptiles like alligators and snakes are also great options. You might find the taste strange, but in extreme moments, it can save your life;

• Avoid amphibians like frogs and toads: if you don't know how to identify which ones are toxic, it's better not to risk it.

If you have doubts about what to bring for fishing, always have a rod, pocket knives, bait, line, among others.

If you don't have them at the time, try to improvise the materials. Fish are rarely poisonous and are easier to clean than other animals.

Traps

If you don't have great hunting skills, setting traps can help you, such as snares attached to branches and bird traps.

If you have hunting skills, a bow and arrow or spear can be great options for catching larger animals.

2. Fruits

If you are lost in an unknown place and don't know how to identify edible foods, a tip is to look at the items that animals consume, as they are generally not poisonous to us.

Even so, if you still have any doubts, cut a piece of the food with a tactical knife, place a piece of the food on your tongue for 5 minutes and check for any type of reaction.

If there is none, consume in small quantities and wait a few hours. If any reaction occurs, it will not be acute. As a general rule, milky, bitter, or hairy foods should not be ingested!

3. Seeds and roots

If you don't find animals or fruits, seeds and roots can be an option — but beware: always consume them with caution.

Start with known foods. If you don't know any, try to cook them well before eating them and discard the broth. Learn how to make primitive fire to protect yourself, boil water, and cook food.

4. Mushrooms

Avoid mushrooms — unless you are an expert and truly know which ones can be ingested! After all, shapes and colors can be confusing.

Even if you see an animal feeding on them, for us, the vast majority are toxic, so it's best not to consume them.

5. Insects

Insects are sources of protein, making them excellent options for eating in the jungle in emergencies. In many parts of the world, certain insects are considered delicacies and have high concentrations of nutrients.

See also: 4 biggest myths about jungle survival! Stay tuned!

There are some insects safe for consumption; we've selected the most abundant in Brazil, check them out:

Grasshoppers and crickets

Remove their heads, entrails, viscera, wings, and legs, then cook, fry, or roast them. Do not eat them raw, as they may have parasites. If they have vivid colors, do not consume them, they may be poisonous.

Ants

Place them in water to kill them and boil for about 5 minutes to remove any parasites or acid. This insect can be eaten raw, but make sure it's dead first.

Earthworms

Although not insects, they are edible in extreme situations. Remember to cook them to kill any parasites they might have.

Beyond the lack of food, learn more about camping tips to avoid unforeseen events.

Termites

As these insects live in wood, they carry fewer parasites. You can fry them in a pan until crispy.

Insects to avoid

Just like food, there are some insects that are easy to identify and avoid:

• Insects with bright colors — vivid coloration is a warning of toxicity;

• Hairy insects — hair can hide thorns;

• Insects with a strong smell — the bad smell can spread over long distances.

In addition to the type of food you can or cannot consume, learn about sun care to protect yourself.

How to get water in the forest?

More important than food, water is essential for human survival, as we cannot go more than 4 days without water. Meanwhile, we can survive without food for up to 90 days!

If you are near water sources, know that they may look clean, but they carry organisms that can make you sick, so you need to purify it!

If water locations are not so obvious, look for animal tracks, insect clusters, vivid green vegetation, or muddy areas. Avoid drinking saltwater, alcohol, urine, or blood.

Now that you know what to eat to survive when lost, keep browsing the site and find out what to bring on the trail: 15 essential items for the activity.