Posted on 10/01/2012 12:20:57 PM PDT by djf
As food prices continue to skyrocket, having a bulk supply of food is a great investment. But it also provides security and peace of mind against potential emergencies.
By now most people should be aware that grocery stores only have about 3 days of food in stock when crises strike. So if anything was to disrupt the food supply chain for an extended period of time, there would be untold chaos in most communities.
Any number of events could trigger mass disruption to a fragile food system, many of which are well documented and even predicted. Even NASA has warned its staff to prepare for potential disasters with survival foods and other precautions with their "Family Preparedness Program."
Prepping for disasters can seem overwhelming with so many aspects to be considered. However, for those just beginning to recognize how perilous these times are and are new to prepping, you can find many great survival foods at your local grocery store.
There are many fancy freeze-dried food companies offering light-weight storable meals. These are cost effective and great for new preppers. But if you don't have $1000 laying around to by a large supply, it may be better to pick up a few key items each week at the supermarket to build up your food bank gradually. And by buying base foods at the store, you'll ultimately save money.
It's best to keep your survival food list simple, and concentrate on storing foods with the highest amount of calories and the longest shelf life. This list is geared toward foods that will help you survive a crisis that lasts for extended periods of time.
Here are the ten best and cheapest survival rations available at any store:
Rice: Every time you go to the store you should buy one 10-lb bag of rice. You can find them for around $5 at most supermarkets. Rice will stay in good condition for 10 years or more if stored properly. It offers high carbohydrates which is especially important if you are exerting a lot of physical energy during a crisis.
Beans: Beans are known to be one of the best all-round survival foods. They're high in protein, and if sealed in food-grade buckets with a small amount of dried ice, they'll stay for up to ten years. Make sure to store them in a cool, dry, dark location. Buy a 4-5 lb bags of dried beans every time you go to the store. All dry beans are good to store; black beans, red beans, pinto beans, lentils, etc.
Cornmeal: All-purpose flours are good to store, but cornmeal may be the best overall. Cornmeal is packed with dense carbohydrates and contains oils that helps extend its shelf life. Additionally, if the power grid is down during a mega disaster, it is much easier to make good corn breads and tortillas with cornmeal in a simple skillet or solar oven, where refined flour will need yeast and oil to make decent bread or biscuits. Get a 5-lb bag of cornmeal ($10-$15) at each grocery visit. Seal and store the same way as beans (buckets, salt and dry ice), and it will safely keep 8 months to 2 years.
Lard: If you're a health-conscious reader, hydrogenated lard does not sound very appetizing, but in a survival situation you can't afford to be picky. Animal lard or vegetable shortening both offer much-needed calories during times of crisis, cooking oil for multiple uses, and it will keep longer than cooking oils because of the hydrogenation. Buy a 6-lb can ($12) and store in a cool, dry, and dark place and it will stay good for 2-3 years or longer.
Salt: Salt is one of the most useful survival food items. It's used for storing food, curing beef, and flavoring most meals. Salt will stay forever, so always buy extra when you're shopping.
Canned Fruit & Vegetables: These are another obvious survival food, but not as practical as many would think. They're heavy and somewhat costly for the calories they deliver. Additionally, acidic fruits and any cans with tomatoes will not keep as long as most people think. But most canned food is good for 5+ years. Buy green vegetables and fruits like peaches and pears for long-term storage, but more importantly, buy what you already eat in case you need to rotate them into your diet before they go bad.
Canned Meat: Canned meats like ham, tuna, and chicken are excellent to store. They typically will keep for 6-10 years and they're an excellent source of protein. However, if the grid is down for a long time (apocalyptic), hunting and fishing will likely provide most meats. Therefore, it may be sufficient to buy extra canned meats every other time you go shopping.
Sugar: Brown and white sugar will add much-needed flavor and calories to a survival diet and they'll keep for ten years or more if stored properly. Honey is also excellent as it will store forever. Make sure to buy extra every other time you go grocery shopping. You won't need too much, but they'll be well worth having if a crisis strikes.
Pasta: Pasta is a good light-weight storable food that is also a great source of carbohydrates. Pasta will not keep as long as rice, but it can stay for around 5 years in good conditions. Pasta is also very inexpensive and extra should be bought at each trip to the store. It will take up more space in your food bank that rice, beans and cornmeal, so plan your space the best you can.
Peanut Butter: Peanut butter is a terrific source of protein, fat, and calories. Plus, it's just a great treat to have on hand. Peanut butter can last up to five years in root cellar conditions. Stock up whenever there are good deals at your grocery store. You'll be happy you did if the SHTF.
If you consistently buy these items 3-4 times per month, you'll quickly acquire a year's supply of survival rations for your whole family.
How to store it?
A really basic way to store the rice, beans, cornmeal, sugar and pastas is to buy several 5-gallon seal-able paint buckets or food-grade buckets from your local hardware store. Put a cup or so of salt into a sandwich baggie (opened) at the bottom of the buckets. Then fill it with food stuffs and add a couple of ounces of dried ice (found at large grocery stores) which will remove the oxygen from the bucket after it's sealed. Finally, label each bucket with its contents and the date, and place it in your cellar.
Please let us know what other food items you think will be useful for new preppers....
>> “ Michelle Obama food storage mentality” <<
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Really?
Karto, you can survive on a very small amount of food if all of it is real food, that will not harm your body.
During severe conditions it is all the more imperative that you not do yourself harm so that you can remain healthy and unimpaired to handle what promise to be difficult tasks.
The “any old crap will get me by” approach is counter productive. A case of greens mix, a case of whey protein, and a reliable supply of water could keep you alive and functional for a long time.
>> “I would have access to my car where there is a backpack...” <<
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I pray that you are that fortunate.
>> “Just wondering if there was a way to make it potable.” <<
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Depending on the construction of your cistern, it may already be potable.
Screens on sheltered air vents could be all it takes.
Just be sure that you can draw from a point above the bottom so the sediments remain undisturbed.
Something I like to point out to people, in a SHTF scenario, if the grid is down, that means alot of things:
less or non-existent heating
more walking, digging, planting, moving things by hand
a much higher level of physical activity in general
A persons appetite under those conditions can easily double!
“I would have access to my car where there is a backpack...” “I pray that you are that fortunate.”
Plus, I ALWAYS WITHOUT FAIL, have a bottle of water in my hand or in my purse, ALWAYS.
Hey, my appetite can double at a moment’s notice without all that!
Most everything I know, I learned on my grandparents’ farm.
Hmm, wonder who it was.
“The “any old crap will get me by” approach is counter productive. A case of greens mix, a case of whey protein, and a reliable supply of water could keep you alive and functional for a long time.”
You are out of line. Kartographer is a survival expert including food provisions and you are just a trouble maker.
Eat whatever you want, no one cares. I’m finished with you.
Just buy this:
http://purebulk.com/caffeine-powder-synthetic-c-470
100g caffeine powder + chicory will make, at equivalent caffeine content, over 1000 cups of “coffee” for $9. (that’s assuming 100mg per cup). Plus, you can store it forever.
Opinions, everyone has them, just like a certain usually unseen portion of the anatomy.
>> “Plus, I ALWAYS WITHOUT FAIL, have a bottle of water in my hand or in my purse, ALWAYS.” <<
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Understood!
My wife and I are in the habit of carrying a bottle of crystal geyser with us wherever. Lots of people do it now. One has to be on the lookout for where the next bottle will be.
Nah, I think I’ll pass on this one. I just love to listen to the coffee brewing in the AM. The smell is great too. LOL.
Well, I wish I could remember all of it. I’ve forgotten so much more than I remember. As I have been reading up on various things, all of a sudden I’ll have an “oh yeh we did that too” moment.LOL.
You may live into your 90’s, even to 100. No way to plan for those sorts of things. MIL thought she was going to kick the bucket at 72; lived to going on 89. So - buck up.
LOL. If I live to be ninety, then that will exceed all the women and men in my family for the last 5 generations. LOL. Only one exception, Great Uncle John lived to age Ninety.
Lentils (the brown kind of dried lentils); cook fast and good protein, add a few sliced carrots, diced potatoes, a little bacon and they make good soup. - Also, Crosse & Blackwell makes good plum pudding that keeps good, None Such mincemeat pie filling (both dense foods). - Mainly, do sensible preps; and cast all your cares on the Lord and don’t worry overmuch.
Thanks for information on re-use of veggie water and soaking beans
***** “Aside from SHTF, the plan is to be able to become self sufficient as possible since we anticipate inflation to make food totally unaffordable on our fixed income.” *****
Great attitude and you are doing everything just about right... only thing is “fixed income” ... but you may already have planned for that.
I wish (prefer) to be as ready as you guys... water is what I am working on, water purification, toilet paper and the basic hygiene stuff you can’t buy at Walmart... ie the “Out House”. (I’m thinking an extra shovel and a couple bags of Lime) now long term might be a bit more difficult.
TT
There are several places on the internet that describe it. It is called oven canning or dry canning.
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