When it comes to food, prep what you eat. And rotate through it. If you want to store some MREs or dehydrated stuff—test it first. Some of that stuff could mess up your system if you just “start eating it.”
Honestly, I just started buying what was on sale and sticking it away. My 3 Costco toilet papers packages used to get me laughed at. During COVID, I wads a hero!
Think about what you are prepping for. Snow? Hurricane? End of Days? Then make your plan around that.
First Aid is a great start. Having the basic stuff is easy to put together. Getting into antibiotics and what not takes some “effort.”
Communications is important. Ham radio license is easy to get and having a small radio is inexpensive and it will keep you in touch. With digital radios you can get quite a distance and exchange a ton of vital information. If you have a bit of the nerd in you…you will learn it and it will be fun.
If you are where it’s going to be cold…how are you going to stay warm?
The biggest thing with “prepping” is to have a plan, build it out. And practice. You do not want to be figuring out how a little generator works in the middle of the night in a blizzard. Or having the propane heater for your house…but no propane.
A lot of people make it way, way more complicated than it needs to be.
(And I am assuming you probably have firearms. You will also need a modest cash stash, and maybe some “junk silver” that could be liquidated if you need it.)
Or include more fiber in your diet ..
as MRE's lack fiber, and could tend to 'plug you up' without intestinal preparation