Food Storage | Page 2 of 2 | Outdoor Survival Gear And Preparedness

It takes some planning and calculation to build a year’s supply of food. The main point to remember is just to begin. Most people freeze when they start thinking about the calorie counts and nutrient ratios they need to include in their food storage and never get started. If thinking about exact caloric quantities is slowing you down, it might be better to simplify and follow a few simple rules. It’s best to break up the building of your storage into simple, small steps. Start by building up a week’s supply of food and then move up from there. Scout out case lot sales and shop at big box stores (like Costco) to buy in bulk and save money. Choose Foods You Already Eat First of all, store food that you and your family like to eat. Thirty pounds of hard, red wheat might keep you alive, but it could also make you feel pretty depressed if that's all you're eating and you don't even know what to do with it. It’s ok in the beginning and actually recommended, to stock convenient foods that are easy to prepare. It’s true, they’re more processed and less healthy—but they’ll provide the nutrition needed to get you through a year of hardship. Items like canned beans, rice, chili, and stew make great food storage items. Quite often, dried beans and rice can be stored for decades when handled properly. Freeze-dried foods are also a wonderful option—they can be stored for many years and only need water to be reconstituted. When building your emergency storage, keep in mind that a freezer full of meat or produce is good food storage only if you’re planning on having power during your emergency. It’s not a bad idea to freeze foods for storage—frozen food works great for emergencies like sudden unemployment or another financial issue—but make sure you also incorporate a lot of dried and canned goods in your storage, just in case the emergency you're facing affects your power. Build a Variety of Emergency Foods True, you will want to buy large amounts of the same foods in bulk to save money, but keep in mind that if you actually get stuck surviving only on what you have stored up for the year, you are going to get awfully sick of whatever item you chose to buy a ton of. You’ve got a whole year to fill up, so buy large amounts of many types of food. Don’t forget to include fruits and vegetables in the plan. It’s also a good idea to include a little dessert or treats here and there. Keeping a variety of foods in your storage will ensure your body gets the different nutrients it needs to stay healthy, but can go a long way for your mental health during an emergency as well. Store Your Emergency Food In a Cool, Dark, and Dry Place This is important for keeping your hard-earned food storage from deteriorating. Many dried or bottled goods lose proteins and vitamins when stored in the light. Keeping your food in a cool place (like in a basement) will also help to keep the nutrients from breaking down and prevent the introduction of bacteria. Keeping your canned foods dry will also keep the cans from rusting and deteriorating. Doing this should keep mold away from your food storage area and ensure that your food will last as long as it possibly can without going bad.