Now is the time for deliberate, rational thought and planning for becoming more self-sufficient by creating a survival and preparedness plan. This is particularly important in today’s world where we are so dependent upon others for food and much less self-sufficient than we used to be. This is obviously a smart thing to do, considering the importance of food and the consequences that come from the lack of it.
True
preparedness is all about balance. Having
500 cans of freeze-dried meals but no extra stored water, for example, is a
recipe for disaster since the food requires water for preparation and not
everyone has a 100% reliable water source.
Firearms and ammo are also part of a well thought out survival and
preparedness plan but shouldn’t take the top spot.
Food
storage is one of the first things that people begin to consider when starting
their survival and preparedness plans, however, a lot of people being to get
overwhelmed when thinking about how to get started and what to do first. They have no game plan and only see it as a
mountain of a project. But it really is
a simple thing to do, when you take it one step at a time.
First
of all, start with the basic food that you eat on a daily basis. These would be canned goods, basic staples
(sugar, flour, cereal, etc.), bottled water and other things you keep stocked
in the pantry. Every time you go to the
grocery store to purchase something you’ll be using that week, buy two or more
instead of just one of that item (remember, we’re talking about pantry goods,
not things that need kept in the refrigerator).
By doing this, you will slowly begin to increase the food you have and
use; you want to aim for a three-month supply of food. You must also remember to put the new cans in
the back and use the older cans first.
This will ensure you are always rotating your food and minimize waste.
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Here
is a quick list of the top foods to stock up on...
Water --- You can never have enough water!
Wheat
--- Once ground, it’s the building block for varieties of bread, tortillas,
flat bread, pizza crust and more.
Rice
--- On its’ own, it’s a side dish. Mixed
with herbs and a vegetable or two, it’s a simple main dish. It’s a great meal-stretcher when topped with,
or served alongside, main dishes such as a stir fry. {Note:
brown rice contains oils which will become rancid after six months or
so.}
Dried
Milk --- Without electricity, fresh milk will go bad in hours. In an emergency situation, fresh milk will be
difficult to come by unless you own a cow or a goat. Dried milk provides not only milk to drink,
but milk to use as an ingredient in other dishes.
Salt
--- Stock up on table salt at your local Costco. It’s inexpensive and has multiple uses.
Beans
--- Buy canned beans and dry beans in different varieties. They are versatile, economical and a good
source of fiber.
Tomatoes
--- Canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, tomato puree, etc. Watch for them on sale and then grab a few
dozen cans. They’re the basis for
salsas, soups, stews, and sauces.
Other
Canned Veggies and Fruits --- These will help provide important nutrients,
variety to your recipes, and have a very long shelf life. If you can’t stomach canned veggies, try
dehydrating your own or purchasing freeze-dried.
Peanut
Butter --- High in protein, whether it’s by the spoonful or on a piece of
bread.
Oil
--- Without oil, you’re pretty much stuck with boiling your meat and veggies, unless of course you want to cook your food on a spit over an open fire.
Dried
Pasta --- Another meal stretcher and a kid-pleasing dish any day of the week.
Sugar
(white) and Honey --- I’ve known women who were ready to kill when deprived of
sugar for too long (me included)!
Water
--- Whether you buy bottled water or try canning your own water, this is a must
for any kind of survival situation.
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Here is a more indepth (but still a barebones) list for food storage...
There are categories along with the weight in food you need. Under each category are the basics this weight should be distributed into. It is up to you how you distribute it. In the space provided before each item write the amount in pounds you have of each item. {Note: This is for one averave adult male. For an average adult woman multiply the amounts by 0.75. For children ages 1-3 multiply it by 0.3. For children 4-6 multiply it by 0.5. For Children 7-9 multiply it by 0.75.}
Grains—400 lbs
___ Barley ___ Multigrain ___ Sprouting Seeds___ Cereal ___ Oats, Rolled Quick ___ Wheat
___ Cornmeal ___ Oats, Rolled Regular ___White Rice
___ Flour ___ Popcorn ___ Pasta Noodles
Milk/Dairy—75 lbs
___ Canned Milk ___ Condensed Milk ___ Powdered Milk___ Dried Eggs ___ Canned Sour Cream ___ Powdered Sour Cream
___ Dried Cheese ___ Cheese Spreads ___ Powdered Cheese
___ Infant Formula (If Applicable)
Juices/Beverages—25 lbs
___ Apple Juice ___ Cranberry Juice ___ Grape Juice___ Baby Stained Juice ___ Dried Juice Mix ___ Tomato Juice
___ Cocoa Drink Mix ___ Kool Aid
Fats/Oils—20 lbs
___ Canned Butter ___ Mayonnaise ___ Powdered Butter___ Cooking Oil ___ Olive Oil ___ Salad Dressing
___ Margarine ___ Peanut Butter ___ Shortening
Meats (Canned, Dehydrated or Freeze Dried)—20 lbs
___ Beef ___ Beef Jerkey ___ Fish (tuna, crab, shrimp)___ Ham ___ Pork ___ Chicken
___ Pepperoni
Fruits and Veggies—90 lbs Dried, 370 qts Canned
___ Apple Chips ___ Pineapple ___ Carrots___ Applesauce ___ Raisins ___ Onions
___ Appricots ___ Tomatoes ___ Mushrooms
___ Peaches ___ Celery ___ Peppers
___ Berries ___ Potatoes ___ Pickles
___ Fruit Cocktail ___ Corn ___ Asparagus
___ Olives ___ Peas ___ Yams
___ Pears ___ Spinach
Beans & Legumes—90 lbs
___ Pinto ___ White ___ Nuts___ Pink ___ Kidney ___ Sprouting Seeds
Sugars—60 lbs
___ Corn Syrup ___ Syrup ___ White Sugar___ Honey ___ Brown Sugar ___ Powdered Sugar
Auxiliary Foods—As Needed
___ Baking Powder ___ Crackers ___ Pancake Mix___ Baking Soda ___ Cream of Tartar ___ Pectin
___ Cake Mixes ___ Roll/Bread Mixes ___ Pie Fillings
___ Vitamins ___ Instant Breakfast ___ Gelatin
___ Cookies ___ Instant Yeast ___ Salt
___ Cornstarch ___ Muffin Mixes ___ Survival Bars
Spices & Condiments—As Needed
(any spices and condiments you regulary use)
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Here are a few pictures of some food storage pantries...
