These are some of the comments I hear when teaching classes on food storage.
"Where do I start? I don't have extra money for this".
"It is so confusing.....there's just too much to learn".
"I've started my food storage, but don't know how to use it".
Have seen the 'get food storage for $5 a week' lists, many times online, and though getting anything might help, I want to offer a real plan NOW of not only getting food storage, but also how to use it and rotate it. Making it a part of meals NOW. Long term storage that can be integrated with shorter term storage and daily foods, made into meals. You do not have to eat a food storage meal every single day, but developing ways to use basics is the wisest use of the food you buy with your hard-earned money.....make the best of it. Our family has done this for over 40 years with amazing results (more good news on that later).
To start off, I want to give you a real list of items to actually make menus and meals happen with food storage and integrating it into meals. I'll do a 52 week list, but ask you to view it as something flexible that you can change to fit into your personal needs, tastes, and budget. So as you read through the list, if you think hmmm "I won't do that, but I'd do this" then have a pen n' paper ready.....you are on your way to YOUR personal food storage plan NOW.
My goal with food storage is to not only integrate it, use it now, rotate it, but to choose foods that store well for a long time.
Also.....keep an open mind as to trying new things and tastes. For example: I recently made a one bowl dinner that didn't look the greatest as far as eye appeal, but the taste was amazing [stuffed bell pepper stew with brown rice (which couldn't even be detected) topped with grated cheddar cheese]. It was so much easier than making baked stuffed bell peppers. Everyone enjoyed it.
Remember.......tastes can be trained and changed if you just choose to become willing.
My '52' WEEK LIST
Quick oatmeal
Rice (white long grain)
Wheat
Unbleached flour (or white flour)
Popcorn or cornmeal
Macaroni
Spaghetti noodles
Ramen or other pasta shapes
Boxed mac n' cheese
Eggs and powdered whole eggs
Nonfat dry milk
Yogurt starter / advil or aspirin
Dried parmesan cheese and pepperoni
Freeze-dried grated cheese
Black beans
Pinto beans
Red beans
White beans such as great northern
Brown or green lentils
Red lentils
Peanut butter
Freeze-dried broccoli
Dried carrots
Dried celery
Freeze-dried corn
Freeze-dried bell peppers
Dried chopped onions
Freeze-dried peas
Potato flakes
Dried potato slices
Canned tuna in water
Canned ham chunks
Canned chicken chunks
Bacon bits
Freeze-dried ground beef
Tomato sauce (8 oz. cans)
Crushed tomatoes (15 oz. cans)
Green beans, regular cut or french cut (15 oz. cans)
Applesauce and dried apple slices
Raisins and other dried fruit such as craisins
Yeast and Vital wheat gluten
Baking powder, Baking soda, Cornstarch
Butter / margarine
Olive oil
Cooking oil (vegetable, corn, canola, etc.)
Shortening
Sugar and powdered sugar
Jam / jelly
Honey
Pancake syrup / molasses
Multi vitamins / Vitamin C / advil or aspirin / medicinal herbs
Salt and pepper (we buy sea salt, personal preference) / spices / herbs / flavorings, etc.
Let's get started NOW!!!
Food Storage Made Easy has good information, especially baby steps on storing!
http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/
I could plan out each week for you and what to buy when, but instead I want to ask you to go over the....... following list. Check off what items you already have in your food supply. Right now it does not matter if you have a little or a lot, just do this first. [Copy/print off the list if you wish].
You have now either begun your food storage planner or are continuing your food storage journey!! Kudos to you! The best way to know the next step is to frequently evaluate your current supplies and what recipes are working for you/yours.
I have found that using basic storage items saves us money on our food bill, thus opening up a way to buy food storage.
__Quick oatmeal
__Rice (white long grain)
__Wheat
__Unbleached flour (or white flour)
__Popcorn
__or cornmeal
__Macaroni
__Spaghetti noodles
__Ramen
__or other pasta shapes
__Boxed mac n' cheese
__Eggs
__and powdered whole eggs
__Nonfat dry milk
__Yogurt starter
__Dried parmesan cheese
__and pepperoni
__Freeze-dried grated cheese
__Black beans
__Pinto beans
__Red beans
__White beans such as great northern
__Brown or green lentils
__Red lentils
__Peanut butter
__Freeze-dried broccoli
__Dried carrots
__Dried celery
__Freeze-dried corn
__freeze dried bell peppers
__Dried chopped onions
__Freeze-dried peas
__Potato flakes (instant mashed potatoes, not potato pearls)
__Dried potato slices
__Canned tuna in water
__Canned ham chunks
__Canned chicken chunks
__Bacon bits
__Freeze-dried ground beef
__Tomato sauce (8 oz. cans)
__Crushed tomatoes (15 oz. cans)
__Green beans, regular cut or french cut (15 oz. cans)
__Applesauce
__and dried apple slices
__Raisins
__and other dried fruit such as craisins
__Yeast
__and Vital wheat gluten
__Baking powder
__Baking soda
__and Cornstarch
__Salt (we use sea salt, personal preference)
__and pepper
__Butter / margarine
__Olive oil
__Cooking oil (vegetable, corn, canola, etc.)
__Shortening or Spectrum shortening
__Sugar and powdered sugar
__Jam / jelly
__Honey
__Pancake syrup
__Molasses
__Multi vitamins
__and Vitamin C
__advil or aspirin / medicinal herbs
__spices / herbs / flavorings, etc......detailed list in a later post
Basic Storage For ONE person, for one year
Water (2 weeks) 14 gallons (2-week emergency reserve)
Grains 400 lbs (wheat, rice, corn, oats)
Legumes 60 lbs (dry beans and lentils)
Dry Milk 16 lbs (nonfat dry milk, not instant)
Fats & Oils 10 quarts (olive oil, vegetable oil, shortening)
Sugars 60 lbs (sugar, honey, molasses)
Sea Salt 8 lbs
