Food Storage: Getting Started

Starting a supply of food does not have to be a budget breaker.  Think like a squirrel gathering a little bit at a time.  Start with a short term supply and then compliment that with a longer term supply of food.

Comparative shopping at the large volume supermarkets typically has better deals than at the smaller stores.  Finding local ads from the large supermarket store websites can save on gas money as well as on shopping time.  Even the Dollar stores carry canned goods and food products that would be good for short term/long term food supplies.  Look for sales at the stores and buy as much of the item as your budget will allow.

There are a few things to consider besides the price of the cans.  While at the store, take a few moments to consider:

• Expiration Dates
• Find Items On Sale
• “In Season” Vegetables Are Typically Cheaper
• See If Larger Canned Food Items Have Better Deals

Find a shelving unit and begin shelving your supplies in any unused space in your home (coat closet, bedroom closet, basements, etc).  There are other supplies one would need such as medical supplies, radios, stoves, sleeping bags, warm clothing, etc.  This blog will concentrate on what to store and how to store the foods that you will need.

I love this video that the Deschamps Family made.  They used a bathroom for their food storage.  This is really making good use of space.  It’s obvious in the video they have a longer-term food supply, but you can see that you start out buying staple foods and add on.

Grocery List for Survival Supplies

Short Term Supply

It is good to have a well rounded short term supply to compliment your long term food stuffs.  A properly stocked pantry will help supplement your long term food stuffs.  Short Term Supplies and Long Term Supplies go hand in hand in order for your preparations to last longer.

• Water
• Canned Goods (meat, veggies, soup)
• Vitamins
• Food Condiments, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Mustard, Ketchup, BBQ Sauce, etc.
• Drink Mixes/Tea/Coffee
• Flour, Sugar, Salt, baking powder
• Spices
• Oil
• Pre-packaged foods – beans, dried peas, rice, noodles, oats, grains
• Ramen Noodles
• Self Canned Goods – Self canned goods adds variety to diet.  Find vegetables that have high nutreint such as pumpkin, etc.
• First Aid Supply – Iodine, Pain Medication (Asprin, Tylenol, etc), Bandanges, Antibiotic Ointment
• Antibacterial Wipes or Hand Disinfectant
• MRE’s
• Ramen Noodles
• Infant Formula – call me crazy, but this has a huge amount of vitamins and nutrients and could help for immune boosts.
• Powdered Milk
• Matches and Other Fire Starting Equipment
• Paper Plates, Plastic Eating Utensils – You dont want to waste water on washing dishes.
• Bleach
• Freeze Dried Foods
• Personal Hygiene (Paper Towels, Toilet Paper, Soap, Shaving Cream, Toothpaste).
• Food For Pets
• Gasoline and Other Fuels (Kerosene, Lamp Oil)
• Candles (Camping Candles Burn Longer)
• Ziploc Bags
• Garbage Bags
• Batteries for Flashlights, etc.
• Weapons – Just in Case

Long Term Supplies

Higher levels of food are needed to last 3+ years.  Keep buying some of the Short Term Items To Compliment the Long Term

• Water
• Larger Amounts of Short Term Supplies
• Vitamins
• Longer Term First Aid Supply
• MRE’s – susceptible for temperature and storage problems.  good for more short term problems.
• Canned Goods – find some on sale and make sure of the expiration date.  Most last 1-3 years.
• Drink Mixes/Teas/Coffee
• Oil
• #10 cans – Freeze Dried foods can last for  20-30 year shelf life.  Buckets of mylar packaging material.
• Seeds of all kinds – Heirloom and Non-GMO seeds are better. Some to grow, and some to be used for sprouts (pumpkin, alfalfa, broccoli, lentil).
• Mylared Packaged Goods or Super pails of Goods – grains, rice, beans, oats, legumes, flour, corn meal, powdered milk, sugar, salt, baking powder.
• Spices
• Large Storage Containers
• Tools – Axes Shovels, Wrenches, Hammers, Multi Use Pliers, Farming Tools
• Wood – pre chopped
• Matches and Other Fire Starting Equipment
• Paper Plates, Plastic Eating Utensils – You dont want to waste water on washing dishes.
• Matches and Other Fire Starting Equipment
• Paper Plates, Plastic Eating Utensils – You dont want to waste water on washing dishes.
• Bleach
• Freeze Dried Foods
• Personal Hygiene (Paper, Towels, Toilet Paper, Soap, Deodorant, Toothpaste)
• Clothing (Lots of Warm Clothing, and Items to Layer Under)
• Food For Pets
• Gasoline and Other Fuels (Keronsene, Lamp Oil)
• Candles (Camping Candles Burn Longer)
• Ziploc Bags
• Garbage Bags
• Batteries
• Weapons – Just in Case