Mushrooms as a survival food.

[demented dale]

I was a bit disappointed recently to read that mushrooms were of little value in a survival situation. I thought "I'm not having that" and researched further. I read several sources that confirmed this. I was a bit fed up as I know many species that make up my foraging c.v. It now appears they are not be as good as I once believed. Some do taste decent and that would certainly be a morale booster. What does anyone else think about it.

 

[Pattree]

I used to take my children to Forest School on Saturdays when they were small.
We were looking at a fungus and one of the children asked “can you eat it?”

The instructor said “That means three different things”

Will it poison you?

Does it taste nice?

Will it feed you?

He said that the answer to number three is almost always “No.”

 

[Toddy]

Mushrooms, the edible ones, add a bit of character to dinner.
They're part of the seasonal round, something to look forward to, to wander to find and forage, occasionally surprising when come across unexpectedly, such as a sudden eruption of chicken of the woods or chanterelles, or puffball.
Some grow so long on the tree until it's gone that it's like a buffet, always something there, like the jelly ears or the oysters.

Not a bad thing to know what you're looking at, and that it's safe to eat

 

[Athos]

They offer very little from a nutritional standpoint. Low in calories, very little protein, zero fat and low carb too.

They’ll fill an empty stomach, but you won’t be surviving on them if you’re running a calorie deficit.

 

[Kadushu]

Something is better than nothing if you're really up against the wall and can trust your identification skills. I'm now allergic to fungi which makes decisions very simple.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Where is that “Reality of food in the bush” article when you want it?

What I have heard from the folk that have made in depth studies of this subject is that nothing is better than something if something is low calorie. ”Something“ will stop the digestion system shut down and the body switch to burning body fat In starvation mode.
carbs and fat might be worth eating if you can get enough, but fungi are about the worst choice.

 

[SCOMAN]

Never knew that never really considered that probably because I'd have oil/butter with the mushrooms that wouldn't be available in a survival situation.

 

[demented dale]

Where is that “Reality of food in the bush” article when you want it?

What I have heard from the folk that have made in depth studies of this subject is that nothing is better than something if something is low calorie. ”Something“ will stop the digestion system shut down and the body switch to burning body fat In starvation mode.
carbs and fat might be worth eating if you can get enough, but fungi are about the worst choice.

thats interesting. I have never heard that but it makes sense. Thanks,