Emergency preparedness and food storage go hand in hand, but trying to begin a home food supply for a year or more all at once is overwhelming. By taking it one step at a time anyone is capable of establishing long term emergency food storage, all with minimal cost and stress.
Start Storing Food in Small Increments
Whether the goal is to store enough food for a few months or a year or more, the key is starting small. Don't worry at first about whether it's possible to reach that goal. The worst thing to do is to feel so overwhelmed that nothing ends up getting done. Remember that a two-day supply of food is better than nothing, and get going.
If long term storage seems to demanding, break it up into more manageable chunks. First concentrate on stockpiling enough food for a few days, then a few weeks, and so on. Work into it gradually; trying to do it all at once will be nothing but stressful, expensive, and frustrating.
Buy Usable Items for Food Storage at Home
It's silly for a lactose intolerant person to stock up on powdered milk, and equally silly for someone who gags at the sight of boxed macaroni and cheese to buy cases and cases of it for storage just because it's cheap and stores well. All food storage should be usable and easy to rotate into daily meals.
At the grocery store, start by noticing what goes into the shopping cart. Every time a shelf-stable item goes in, buy three or four extras (or more, if personal finances allow.) If this simple food storage tip is done consistently, it will add up to a significant supply in no time. Just make sure to rotate and use items regularly to prevent wasting anything.
Check Out Long Shelf Life Foods
Store bought canned goods typically last 1-2 years, so they are sufficient for a several month's supply of emergency survival food (provided that they are rotated and used efficiently.) Some families with long term food storage also use alternative canning methods to stretch their food supply even further.
Dry pack canning is a popular method for long term food storage because of the long shelf life it provides. While all foods are not suitable for this type of canning, using it can result in foods that will be good for 5, 8 or even 20 years.
Deciding to begin a long term food supply for emergency preparedness is a step in the right direction, but even the most well-intentioned people encounter obstacles in building their supply. Don't get overwhelmed by the long term goal; just focus on the first few weeks or months. By gradually stocking up at the store and possibly looking into long shelf life canning, it's not actually that hard to begin food storage at home.
Other related articles on disaster preparedness:
- Starting Home Water Storage - in the event of a disaster, water is even more important to a person's survival than food. For emergencies big and small, a generous home water storage is critical.
Jenny Evans - Jenny Evans is a freelance writer and editor specializing in parenting and the family. She is also the Mormonism Topic Editor for ...
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