Disaster Preparedness-Food Storage

[Chef on the coast]

[quote="Chef #871434"]The ability to have "must haves" is a great idea. That is actually a common response I have been getting. I am trying to figure out a way to accomplish that.

Thank you for your input, please post more suggestions![/quote]

Try this for an example. Say you want a year's supply of your family's favorite tuna sandwiches. Let's say you go through 3 6oz cans each time you make lunches. (I really have no idea on how many in your family. Just play along. ) Let's say you want a tuna sandwich 2x a week. That would be 6 cans of tuna. There are 52 weeks in a year. You would need 6 cans of tuna x 52 weeks in the year ...312 cans of tuna would supply your wants of tuna sandwiches. Now - lets say 1 32 oz container of mayo will last 1 month to make those tuna sandwiches. You would need 12 containers of mayo. You would also need bread or the knowhow on how to make your own. I hope that helps.

[Chef Carol Kay]

Yeah, I understand that , and I am doing that. I just wish I had something like that foodsaver. com that would let me input my own personell must haves. For example it has molasses as a must have. Now mind you I do alot of cooking from scratch and baking. I just don't really think for my family molasses is a must have. However, if tuna was a must have I can't add that. I like the chart that shows you how far you are to your goal, and the idea that I can reference what I have on hand on the computer, but that program just doesn't cover enough.

[Chef on the coast]

Chef Carol Kay wrote:
Yeah, I understand that , and I am doing that. I just wish I had something like that foodsaver. com that would let me input my own personell must haves. For example it has molasses as a must have. Now mind you I do alot of cooking from scratch and baking. I just don't really think for my family molasses is a must have. However, if tuna was a must have I can't add that. I like the chart that shows you how far you are to your goal, and the idea that I can reference what I have on hand on the computer, but that program just doesn't cover enough.

I am the same way. I am a from scratch/baking person too. Things that are must haves for my family I just have to go by trial and error for how much. We should make our own foodsaver program! We probably use a lot of the same stuff and don't realize it!

[Chef Carol Kay]

I bet we do too.

[winkki]

Chef Carol Kay wrote:
Now that I look at it, it has 20 pounds of sugar for 1 month for 6 adults. That is alot but I didn't think much of it, since between my baking and my son's need for really sugary kool aid we just might go through that

I don't think we ever get near the allotted amount for sugar, either, but it's always a good barter item.

[Chef on the coast]

bump

[Chef on the coast]

bump

[Chef #1210739]

I have been receiving many emails asking about what to include in a 72 hour kit
for infants & toddlers. For the last month or so I have been spending a lot of
time researching recommendations & companies.
Here are some suggestions & you can decide what fits your needs. Water
Of course for infants you will need formula & instant milk.
Children will need more energy foods than adults & snack foods are important.
There are fortified breads that you get where they sale M.R.E.'s. That have a
great shelf life.
Peanut butter & jelly.
Instant oatmeal
Dried fruits are important
Freeze dried vegetables
Candy
Beef Jerky (can be soaked in water to soften)
Protein bars

Visit www.beprepared.com for more ideas & great prices. I have nothing to do
with the company & they do not offer an affiliate plan. I wish they did.

Think of what nutrients your child is going to need. Also bandaids, peroxide,
neosporin, rain poncho & some toys, books & fun things for them. It will make it
easier on you if the kids are occupied having fun.

Nutrients
Protein (peanut butter, jerky, bars & freeze dried broccoli.)
Vitamin C (dried & freeze dried fruits, also instant fruit drinks)
Dont just run out & get some daily multi vitamin! Get as many vitamins as
you can through your food, I know it is difficult to eat enough foods
to get all you need but 90% of vitamins do not get digested & in your
system. Only get high quality vitamins. There is a survival pill multi
vitamin. It has all the Vitamins & minerals along with Iodine a human
needs to survive. They are called Lifecaps. You can live off of Lifecaps
& water alone. The nutrients are all natural & go into your system within
20-25 minutes of taking them. Great for children & add to your food supply
to make sure you & your children get all the nutrition they need.
I bought 100 bottles, 25 full price before I got a coupon code & got 75 more.
Anyway, you can learn about them at www.lifecaps.net, you can use the
coupon code "healthcaps" to get 30 % Off.

Make sure you have soaps, toothpaste & tooth brushes.
I heard a great idea of getting large sweats for the kids to grow into, just
in case you cannot get clothing & your kids grow out of evrything so fast.
I am looking into what kids can do about shoes.
I will let you kniow what I find.

[foust1012]

You are right in thinking that Potable water is your primary concern. Not only is water important for drinking, but for cooking as well. I solved my emergency water needs by purchasing a Berky Water Purifier. I did my homework and decided to buy from www.berkeyproducts.com. That site was very informative and priced competitively. And I got my purifier quickly! Now instead of having to store water, I can produce more than 6,000 gallons of water form sources like, lakes, streams, rivers, stagnant ponds, and even mud puddles if I needed. I know it sounds gross, but this system has been around for a long time and has proven itself to be the best there is. I bought the Berkey light, which is a plastic model, I wanted the Crown Berkey which is a large stainless steel model, but they were out because they sent so many to Haiti during the earthquake disaster. They said they would have more in July, but I am very happy with my Berkey Light. Check out their website for more information.

[foust1012]

You are right in thinking that Potable water is your primary concern. Not only is water important for drinking, but for cooking as well. I solved my emergency water needs by purchasing a Berky Water Purifier. I did my homework and decided to buy from www.berkeyproducts.com. That site was very informative and priced competitively. And I got my purifier quickly! Now instead of having to store water, I can produce more than 6,000 gallons of water form sources like, lakes, streams, rivers, stagnant ponds, and even mud puddles if I needed. I know it sounds gross, but this system has been around for a long time and has proven itself to be the best there is. I bought the Berkey light, which is a plastic model, I wanted the Crown Berkey which is a large stainless steel model, but they were out because they sent so many to Haiti during the earthquake disaster. They said they would have more in July, but I am very happy with my Berkey Light. Check out their website for more information.

[tenfairytoes]

We have been preparing we have a blog www.thrivetosurvive.biz it's scary what will happen. We live in a neighborhood so when power goes we're screwed. We are in Colorado so not much water so we are trying to get out of here, but in the meantime we have been ordering food and now we are consultants because we don't have a ton of money to just go buy everything. We are able to stock up a good 3x faster than if we were just straight purchasing. It's been a blessing! Plus the food is healthy there isn't anything added so I feel good giving it to my kids and they LOVE it.

[Montana Bill]

Food storage is a subject I am passonate about. I think everyone that possibly can should have from 6 months to a year's supply of food. Personally I have quite a few can goods, lots of beans and rice, corn meal, flour, sugar and salt. I also have whole wheat and shelled corn. I have my own grinder so I can make more flower and meal if needed. I have a few milk goats and some chickens. I do not plan on bugging out anywhere. I am in a rural area and I will just continue life here if the worst happens. Most of my neighbors are Amish so I don't know where I can go that would be better than where I am now. My advice to anyone with survival in mind is get to a rural area and start preparing now. If you can't move now, try and buy a small acreage and start stock piling food and survival tools now, then when the time is right grab your family and gear and head to your country retreat. I picked the place I live 7 years ago and I have been preparing for self sufficient living ever since. Remember storing food is just like buying insurance to protect your future!

[Chef #551983]

I'm in hurricane area- always keep house papers and at least one other form of ddress for re-entry if you do eveacuate. Also-medication list,M.D names and heaven for bid in case of emergency #'s and living will

[Montana Bill]

Food storage is so important for more than one type of desaster. Natural disasters, man made disasters, and economic disasters are just a few that come to mind. If you are not prepared survival is extremely difficult if not impossible. We all buy insurance for every imaginable incident that could possibly happen to our cars, boats and motorcycles, but when it comes to food that sustanes our lives we just take it for granted.

Preparing is not difficult. It just takes a little orginizing and planning. Have a storage of food and have it in containers where you can move with it quickly if you do not plan to stay where you are. For those of you who would have to bug out because of being in a flood zone or what ever, freeze dried food would work best. If you plan to stay put then bags of beans, grains and some can goods will do fine. Also the above post is right. You need to have all your important documents handy and be sure and take them with you.

Personally my plan is to stay put. I bought my farm with survival in mind, so I don't know where I would go to survive better.

My personal fear is more of a concern for man made disaster or an economic collapse. Preparing for one type of desaster automatically makes you prepared for the others.

[tenfairytoes]

You know food storage can be overwhelming and lots of people don't know where to start. I though it was simple. I know what we normally make for meals and so I ordered food that I would normally use to make those meals. There are food calculators too. My hubs is all into that. I just go off what I know my kids will eat and what is a well rounded meal. PLUS I have to be careful with food storage because of allergies! That's why I do buy:http://www.thrivetosurvive.shelfreliance.com/thrivetosurvive

I like this blog too:
http://thrivetosurvive.biz/?p=275
If you e-mail him first you will get a discount, trust me you want the discount