Having a month supply of food storage will protect your family when emergencies come. This month supply food storage list for a family of four will help get you started.
Over the weekend Derek and I made our very first serious purchase of food storage. It's something that we've really wanted to do our entire marriage, but always made excuses that we didn't have enough space, or enough money to invest in it, or we didn't have the time to sit down and think of everything we needed. It goes on and on. The reality is though, you can fit food storage almost anywhere. If you start slowly it doesn't have to be a huge investment. If you just purchase more of things you already use, you don't have to think too much about it.
Why do I need food Storage in my home?
The United States government recommends having food storage on hand. You need to have food storage in case there are natural disasters, illnesses, food shortages, etc... If there is ever any type of emergency, having food on hand guarantees that you'll be self sufficient for a certain period of time.How much food storage do I need?
This answer varies depending on what sources you read, but it's recommended that you have at the minimum, a three day supply of food in your home. The illusive goal is to have a year supply of food. Right now with what Derek and I purchased, we have enough food to last the four of us at least a month. I wouldn't let the quantity of food stress you out. Something is always better than nothing.
Where to store your food storage?
Storing your food storage will vary depending on the size and storage capacity of your home. We bought this $30 shelf from amazon several years ago and it has held up so well for us. We originally didn't have space anywhere in our home aside from our walk in closet.We now live in a bigger home and store it in our basement in a storage room. But get creative with the space you have. You can store food storage under beds, in the garage, or in a pantry if you have one.
What kinds of meals will you make with your food?
We bought lots of oats for breakfasts, and things to make plenty of bread and biscuits. We have lots of rice that we can add calories and flavor to with various canned soups, and have beans on hand for good sources of protein. We have fruit on hand to add some sweetness to meals, and veggies to round out our dinners. We also have pastas and mac n cheese for easy meals as well. In an emergency you're not going to want fancy gourmet meals, just quick and easy things that will work and serve its purpose: keeping you alive.
How much does food storage cost? Are case lot sales worth it?
It can be as cheap or expensive as you want to make it. We clearly did not purchase all organic, name brand items here. Everything for this one month supply cost us under $200. If you live in Utah, you know that case lot sales are all the rage, and are typically when everyone stocks up on food storage. While there might be some savings at those sales, I've seen very similar pricing at Walmart all year round. Our local store is doing canned veggies for 50 cents each during case lot, which is the same as my local Walmart all year long. Same with soups, beans, and fruits. Obviously price it out, but if you miss a case lot sale, it's not the end of the world.How to use your food storage:
Once you buy your food, don't let it sit on a shelf to go bad. We have all of this stored in our bedroom, but when we run out of something downstairs in the kitchen, we'll pull from these shelves in our room, and then repurchase the used items at the store the next time we shop. That way this food is getting used and being rotated so that it doesn't go bad and rot.
If you're interested in seeing what we purchased for our month supply of food storage for a family of four, here is our complete list!
Baking Supplies:
Canned Goods:
- 4 14oz Cans Mandarin Oranges
- 4 20oz Cans Pineapple
- 4 10oz Cans Tomato Soup
- 4 14oz Cans Chili
- 4 10oz Cans Cream of Chicken
- 4 10oz Cans Cream of Mushroom
- 4 10oz Cans Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup
- 4 14oz Cans Black Beans
- 4 14oz Cans Diced Tomatoes
- 4 14oz Cans Green Beans
- 4 14oz Cans Corn
- 4 14oz Cans Black Olives
- 4 Cans Tuna Fish
- 3 Jars Spaghetti Sauce
I do use case lot sales...mostly to get my years supply of basic canned goods that we use regularly. We spend $300 once a year to make our monthly budget go down slightly. It is totally worth it to my family. I do not go crazy and stock up on stuff we will never use, just try to stock up on basic foods that will keep my kids full. I also have a upright freezer we use to stock up on meat.
ReplyDeleteAnd I totally remember being a kid and having canned soup under my bed because that was where there was space to store it. :)
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ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome idea especially if you have the extra cash. And with Lord knows how many other viruses China may let out!
ReplyDelete8 gallons of water for 4 people for 1 month? Is that enough?
ReplyDeleteNot at all! That would definitely only be an emergency amount for a few days, maybe a week at best. I should edit to mention you may want to store one of those 55 gallon blue jugs at your home somewhere! This is more assuming we'd have access to water in our home, and the 8 gallons would be for back up if needed, but we should definitely prep and plan for more! Thanks for highlighting that for me!
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