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Living and Surviving on Food Storage

Food Storage Living.

WHAT DO I NEED?

• Nutrition: Proteins, fats, vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals, amino acids, trace elements, fiber, etc. Use the Food Guide Pyramid as a guide.
• Variety: There is no perfect food or complete nutrition pill. Variety fills in nutrition gaps.
• Make a List: Consider your needs, wants, abilities, resources and budget.

WHY FOOD STORAGE?

Eating food from our food storage.

• Promotes rotation and prohibits waste.
• Allows digestive systems to become accustomed to the food.
• Saves money.
• Opportunity to learn how to use your storage supplies in a non-stressful situation.
• Can learn what foods and recipes you and your family like.

WHAT FOOD SHOULD I STORE?

Store the foods you eat.

• Don’t waste shelf space on items you won’t ever eat.
• Don’t buy food for storage just because it’s on sale.
• Consider your Special Needs: Allergies, Special Diets. The elderly, infants, children & nursing mothers may need special consideration. Include food and other needs for your pets.

BASICS: These are the minimums that should be in a food storage supply. They cover nutrition and basic food preparation requirements.

• Grains, flours, and rices.
• Legumes.
• Fats & Oils.
• Milk.
• Sugars.
• Salt.
• Leavening's.
• Spices & Seasonings.
• Vitamin C, D3, Multiple.

BASICS PLUS.

• Dehydrated & Freeze Dried Food.
• Eggs.
• Fruits & Vegetables.
• Pasta.
• Meats.
• T.V.P., Textured Vegetable Protein.
• Pre-Mixes & Powders.
• Etc.

HOW MUCH DO I NEED?

The bare minimum is one month’s full supply. Food storage for 6 months to a year is recommended. Store what you have room and resources for 1 Pound of Food equals approximately 1600 Calories Minimum nutrition is approximately 1 pound of food per person per day.

• 1 Adult for 1 Month needs:
  • 25 Pounds Grain
  • 5 Pounds Dry Beans.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?

These figures assume quality storage, flushed with Nitrogen, & Oxy Absorbers added.

• Grains: 30+ Years.
• Legumes: 30 Years.
• Fats & Oils: 1-2 Years.
• Dry Milk: 20 Years.
• Sugar: 30+ Years.
• Salt: Indefinite.
• Leavening's: 10 Years.
• Spices: 30 Years.
• Dry Fruit & Veg.: 30 Years.
• Freeze Dry: 30 Years.
• Brown Rice: 2 years.
• White Rices: 30 years.

HOW AND WHERE DO I STORE IT?

Understand the Enemies of Food Storage.

• Oxygen.
• Moisture.
• Light.
• Temperature.
• Insects & Rodents.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MY FOOD?

From Oxygen

• Store Pre-sealed Cans
• Use Air Tight Buckets & Lids.
• Use Mylar Bags.
• Use Oxygen Absorbers or Dry Ice.
• Use Nitrogen flush of Bags/Buckets.

From Moisture

• Only store DRY foods.
• Store away from floors & walls.
• Store whole kernels of grains instead of ground.

From Light?

• Store it in a Dark Room.
• Use Solid Colored Containers.
• Wrap in Paper or Plastic Bags.

From Temperature Changes?

• Keep your storage room a Constant temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees.
• Store food Indoors.
• Keep it Low: basement or lower shelves.
• Insulate Room to keep a cooler constant temperature.

From Insects & Rodents?

• Remove Oxygen
• Freeze flours for 3 days then thaw to room temp.
• Remove Infested Foods.
• Use Traps & Poisons with caution.

Things that DON’T Work with Food Storage

• Freezing, but not cold enough or long enough.
• Bug bombs and fumigants.
• Tape or wax seals.
• Chewing gum, bags of salt, newspaper, 10 penny nails and bay leaves.

WHEN HAS FOOD SPOILED OR GONE BAD?

Discard any canned food that is:

• Bulging
• Leaking.
• Smelling bad.
• Squirts fluid when opened.
• Was frozen (fractures seals).
• Has milky appearance to the liquid.
• show any signs of rust or other corrosion on the inside of the can or on the seam.
• Has obvious mold growth.

HOW SHOULD I ORGANIZE MY FOOD STORAGE AREA?

• Think Rotation: organize with a plan to rotate, from left to right, or use automatic rotating shelves.
• Keep Like Items Together.
• Label Date: date foods added to your storage, use oldest dates.
• Make a Restocking List when items are used, so you know what needs to be replaced.

Gather Food Storage Responsibly

• Don’t go into DEBT!
• Take advantage of Sales, Bulk & Case Lots.
• Focus on the BASICS First.
• Build in Increments Accomplish your goal for a month, then three months, six months and a year.

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