Food storage forms an essential aspect of being prepared for natural disasters and emergencies. Families and individuals can eliminate worry, stress, and inconveniences by being proactive and planning for their emergency food needs. Planning for short-term emergencies could be as simple as boosting the quantities of the non-perishable and staple foods normally stored in the house.
1. Always be prepared
Even when there’s no looming emergency, there’s no harm in stocking up on non-perishable food items as a precautionary measure. You never know when that buffer stock will come handy. Besides storing foods that are normally eaten in your household, consider adding a few treats to tide the family over the tough times. You may want to consider the special dietary needs in the family, and don’t forget your pets.
2. The quantity needed
The key strategy should be to compile a list of all the important food items you want in the pantry. It will be counterproductive to add items that your family never uses. The items you include should be the favorite foods that you use regularly. Remember, your family will be eating out of the pantry for days.
Implementing basic food prepper planning will depend on several factors. These include the size of your household, family preferences, special dietary considerations, location, available storage space, and the family’s ability to use emergency foods. Once you’ve identified the foods you want to be included in your pantry, determine how much or the quantity of each item will be required.
3. The food ingredients
Carefully consider the specific ingredients that go into the food you’re thinking of stocking up. Avoid foods high in salt content as that increases thirst when refrigeration space is limited because of the extra supplies. Canned foods will stay fresh as long as the cans aren’t damaged. However, for the best nutritional value, replace your canned items every year. Always use the older canned foods first and replace them with new items.
4. The source of food items
Camping and military supply stores are excellent sources for food prepping supplies. They sell well-preserved, compact foods that are handy for emergency preparedness. You may also want to go for a group of foods called Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs), for they require little or zero preparation. Freeze-dried or dehydrated foods are lightweight and take up little room, although they may force you to plan for more water to rehydrate them before use.
5. Food safety
If you plan to include canned foods in your short-term food prepper list, periodically inspect them to ensure they don’t have leaky, bulging containers, or broken seals. Dents near can ends or seams can break the seals. Remember to store emergency food supplies where pests, rodents, and possible flooding can’t reach.
Conclusion
A little planning ensures your food security in the event of an emergency. Remember that basic food prepper for short-term emergencies needs to emphasize energy, hydration, and survival without compromising your health. Daily multivitamins are another component to stock up, as they can always supplement the missing nutrients from your emergency rations.