Best strategy in my experience, buy what you and your family normally eat (maybe a little heavier on the canned goods and canned meats, as without refrigeration, those will last longer) and build up a reserve.
Buy some extra. Add a week or two of supply on each trip to the store(s). When you have a year or so in reserve, stop adding.
Eat what's oldest, cycling through and replenishing.
This way you have a year of reserves. It's stuff you know you'll eat, and you don't have to worry about "expiration dates."
This is a better habit to get into, and it doesn't cost too much extra (or enrich people selling gloom and doom).
Just my opinion.
Canned goods have an expiration date. The one thing about this stuff is that it’s freeze dried. I don’t have any cause it’s way expensive. There are other alternatives for freeze dried.
How far ahead should you stock? I guess it depends on your view of the future. Stock at least 3 days, for short-term emergencies like blizzards, floods, or whatever is likely in your area. Stock for longer if you have a dim view of the future. Stocking for a year is probably about the maximum worth doing.
Any company spending advertising budgets on FoxNews during primetime Glen Beck slot is a scam.
You are trading quantity (and probably quality) of food for the convenience of the boob tube giving you the solution to a problem you think you might have.
Glenn Beck already got excoriated rightly for the gold coin scam he had running on commercials and he personally endorsed (for a large endorsement fee), after that fiasco you should have learned your lesson and not trust the predatory advertisers going after fat and lazy Beck followers.
IMHO.
One of the best websites for preparedness is http://survivalblog.com/ — very good information. Check the right sidebar and you’ll see other providers of stored foods.
Probably the best strategy for food storage is to find a discount-oriented grocery store with sales on canned goods. Some of the dehydrated foods suppliers have food with 5-10 year expiration dates, which is nice, but that would be for long-term storage. You first need to think about the shorter term 1-2 years of food — canned foods, powdered milk, powdered eggs, rice and beans, pasta, etc. After you have a year or two of food stocked away you can look more at the long-term nitrogen-packed specialty suppliers.
The key is to start where you are, with what you can afford. I’m up to about 2 months of food... I’m doing what I can. Any food stocks are good. Don’t dismiss putting aside a can or two each time you get groceries — they will add up. Food prices are rising so it’s a good investment, anyway.
eFoodsDirect "nutriversal" mixes are OK. Their bread mixes except the whole grain are good. A nice mix (literally) of long shelf life and taste. Their pancake mix and dried vegetables I haven't tried yet.
Most likely a Mormon owned company that meets the needs of the Mormon regulation about storing food.. thus Beck’s endorsement
I know people who have bought it. I think that it is the same stuff that is sold by COSTCO. It’s freeze dried food like camping food.
I heard Glen Beck say that he doesn’t use it. He uses a food rotation system, buying in large quantities, using and rotating canned goods. Costco also was selling the rotating racks for this type of food storage.
I've googled up "food insurance" and maybe there is a "food insurance review.
I want to be ready for Mr. hummingbird, my parents (in their 80's and not informed about need to stock up) foods and water.
I'm trying to get in-laws (on 5 acres of land) that it might be time to set up a "Victory Garden". Sister and her husband have land and I need to convince them to grown non-GMO foods just in case.
Sister-in-Law always says "we do you get that - your talk radio" (she asks disparagingly).
So, I feel like I need to prepare for them, too, but we don't have extra money even for ourselves right now.
I do have a FOODSAVER VAC 750 but I don't know how it works - I better get on it. Mr.hummingbird and I would start our own garden but the mosquito truck comes along quite often and we don't want mosquito stuff in foods. Also, I think stocking up at Costco and the other bulk store might be an idea to check out for canned foods.