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When thinking of emergency preparedness perhaps one of the last things that comes to mind is food. We may first think of an evacuation plan and flashlights, but what happens when hunger strikes? A disaster may be an unlikely event, but being fully prepared with food and water is relieving.

When it comes to shelf-stable food, healthy is not necessarily included. Try to purchase things like nuts, oats, and dried fruit. Canned vegetables, tuna packed in water, and beef jerky are also great options. Try not to get too caught up in “deals” such as ten boxes of fruit snacks or sugary cereal for ten dollars. That may seem like a good deal, but is not a healthful option for your family nor will it keep them satisfied. Additionally, teach your family to love all types of food. This will help them to eat food that you have stored without worrying about them refusing to eat. Cook from scratch as often as possible so that if an emergency situation occurs and you have the ability to prepare food, you know how.

Hopefully these tips will help you get started building your food storage and preparing for an emergency.

Freeze Dried Food

Pre-made freeze dried meals are a great option for families. Some people actually eat them on a daily basis because they provide a well balanced, nutritious diet. They also taste great. When reconstituted, freeze dried food storage tastes gourmet. It gains back all of its original tastes, flavors, aromas, and nutritional value. It is also a great option because it can be stored at room temperature.

Buy In Bulk

Buying in bulk will not only save you money, it will also help you create your food storage supply faster. You can find lots of coupons that will get you even more money off when you buy large quantities of a product.

Start Small

Many people put off starting a food storage supply because they feel like they have to buy everything at once. But you do not have to break the bank to start a food storage supply. You can start out by buying small quantities until you reach your food storage goals.

You can find food and quantity suggestions online. Many websites actually have downloadable spreadsheets that you can use as checklists.

Here are some other tips from couponshoebox.com:

While you don’t need a year’s worth of food storage to be successful, even a month or two can be helpful. Consider how much space you have in your home, and what sorts of items it is feasible for you to store. You need to be careful as you build your food storage, and go about it in planned fashion. Here are some tips for establishing home food storage:

  1. Don’t buy everything all at once: It can be expensive to purchase everything at once. However, you can build up your food storage a little bit at a time. Buy one or two extra food items each week when you go to the grocery store. Get an extra bag of flour, or three or four extra cans of corn, each trip. By spending an extra $5 to $10 at the store each week, you can begin building food storage.
  2. Shop case lot sales: Another idea is to shop case lot sales. Many stores have them. You can buy items in bulk at these sales, and for good prices. Many stores have case lot sales twice a year. Figure out the schedule, and set aside a little bit of money so that you can buy items during this times. Keep an eye out for coupons that can work to lower the per- unit cost even further.
  3. Buy things that you will actually eat: Food storage is no good if you won’t eat the food. Consider buying things that you can use to make foods that you know and enjoy. Also, consider the types of food that your body can eat. For example, storing wheat is a great idea since it lasts so long. However, if your body isn’t used to digesting the food, there can be problems if you suddenly start eating it out of your food storage. Make sure you incorporate the foods that you store into your diet, so that if you have to use your food storage your body can comfortably digest it.
  4. Rotate your food storage items: Realize that there are some things that you shouldn’t buy in bulk, since they will go bad before you use them. Check expiration dates, and use items from your food storage. You can set up a regular rotation so that you use items that are close to expiration, replacing them with items that are still good for longer. Get in the habit of using your food storage items in order and you will keep items from going to waste.