One of the most overlooked and vital survival tools are some of the most common things that you have at home: salt and pepper.

Most of the prepared and packaged foods that you eat are pre-seasoned and loaded with salt. It may be a shock to your system when you find that squirrel that you're roasting on a stick tastes really bland. And stone soup would be so much tastier with a little oregano.

You need to eat to survive, but bland or unpalatable food can make it hard to eat enough to survive the next day.

My solution: spice it up!

Salt was once so prized and hard to come by that it was like money. A worker could be rated "worth his salt." A few spices won't take up much room in your pack but they may make a world of difference.

Here's what I recommend acquiring:

1. Salt
2. Black pepper, ground
3. Oregano (dried)
4. Dried chili pepper

Pick up and carry your personal favorites, but those four spices will make a big difference.