Guest post from Jacob of survivalbased.com…
Disasters happen, but the most important thing you can do is prepare a supply of food storage, to be used in case of an emergency situation. When looking for food to store away, you want to choose items that are easy to prepare, to store, don’t require a lot of water, and last being in storage until use. Many ready to eat meal solutions can be found in packages, cans, buckets or boxes.
Next time you are at your local grocery store, peruse the aisles for food that you can purchase for your family in case of emergency. Consider placing your food in boxes or containers marked for emergency use only. Make sure the food is easy to find by family members in the storage area, designated for a disaster in your home.
Canned goods, such as ready to eat soups, vegetables and fruits in water, are great choices. People need water to survive, and in the event that there is little to no safe drinking water available, you can intake the water that is within the stored canned food. Canned meats like tuna and spam, as well as freeze dried foods like jerky provide essential energy in a tiny area.
Select food such as trail mix, energy bars, and dried fruits and nuts. This type of food choice is convenient because it preserves well, provides a good amount of energy, and has health benefits. You can purchase freeze dried ready to eat meals in cans or pouches. They tend to be more expensive but are easy to store and are easy to prepare.
Spices and grains are another thing to have on hand, such as wheat, sugar, salt, and pepper for their addition of flavor and preserving qualities for foods. Choose storage containers for your food in glass or plastic. Make sure the storage containers are air tight, so that moisture and bacteria don’t get in. Self-sealing Mylar bags make great containers for small amounts of any of these items. Make sure your supplies are placed in storage areas that are not easily accessed by pets, or small children. Consider hidden storage in a backpack or bags, in case you need to grab your supplies quickly.
Choose storage for your food that is inexpensive, and easy to pack or carry. Ideal storage will contain daily amounts of needed food per person in your household for at least a few days or months with economic hardship. Storage that is cool and dry is best. Consider utilizing a closet, basement and attic space, or even under your bed.
Food is a necessity for individuals to live. Food brings people together and provides comfort. Storing your food provisions for your family in case of a disaster situation is critical. We live in an age where there are threats of war, disease, famine, and other natural and man-made problems in our world. Preparedness is not about fear, it is about being ready to face oncoming challenges seen and unseen. Protection for your family is about survival, and having stores on hand is one less thing to worry about when looking for stability in an unstable situation. Choose food that lasts long, offers as many health benefits as possible, and fits into your allocated budget.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jacob is an emergency preparedness writer for Survivalbased.
I don’t have an emergency food storage, but as the climate changes and disasters occur more and more I’m starting to consider it. With two kids it will be horrible if we don’t have food and we can’t buy any. So thanks for the useful information!