Smart Food Storage for Emergency Preparation
Food Storage can save you money & be prepared for emergencies!
If stored properly, grains can be stored 20-30 years. Nuts are better kept in the freezer.
Food Storage is a good habit. You can save money buying in bulk. It is also smart to have emergency preparedness in your home. My husband was an Emergency Manager for the State of Minnesota for 20 years, so we have been practicing emergency preparedness since before the H1N1 flu. We live in a world where anything is possible.
I think it is smart to have a minimum of 4-6 months of food supplies at all times. Fortunately, grocery stores will be open, even under quarantine, but limiting the number of times you go would be wise. When you do go - wash your hands well before & after, wash down the shopping cart handle and wear gloves. Don’t go if you’re sick.
Take actions to keep your immune system healthy. Keeping your body healthy and your immune system strong is critical for a pandemic. Think about what foods will help keep you healthy. I have observed people buying lots of food right now but not necessarily the best choices. People are worried about the corona virus but foods for optimal health and a strong immune system will also help you be prepared for the annual flu season and lifetime health. This is an opportunity for everyone to have better health habits that can keep you healthier for years to come.
Stored properly many foods can actually be stored 20-30 years. Invest in a food dryer & vacuum sealer. These are good to extend the life of your foods anyway.
Even if you don’t have a pantry or a freezer you can still do food storage. Instead of buying a bunch of frozen pizzas, which are not nutrient dense, save the space for frozen vegetables, fruits, and quality proteins. You can always use space under your bed for canned and dry goods.
Think of a healthy diet. Ideally ½ your plate is fruits & vegetables, all different colors. It also includes lean proteins or legumes and whole grains. Prebiotic & probiotic foods are essential for a healthy gut. Kim chi, raw sauerkraut, plain yogurt, onion, garlic, mushrooms, seaweed and Ningxia Red are examples of pre & probiotic foods. Having a healthy gut biome is critical for a healthy immune system. Now, how can I select foods to store with this in mind?
Here are some ideas for more nutrient dense food storage:
Proteins
Legumes such as dried lentils and beans have an extremely long shelf life if they are in air tight containers especially if use oxygen absorbers. Break up large bags into smaller and freeze pack them. Canned beans are good for at least 2-3 years. Date them and replace them with newer ones as you use them.
Beans & corn are a complete protein. If you have freezer space, you can use frozen corn but need to use within 6 months – 1 year (Again freeze pack them to last longer). Canned corn is an option or corn meal which can be stored longer if sealed properly.
Lean meats are great if you have a freezer and can store 1-2 years. Date them and freeze pack. If don’t have much freezer space, making jerky is a great idea. Fish is a healthy protein. Freeze pack it but be aware it doesn’t last as long as meats.
Canned Sardines & Salmon are great choices. They are good protein and are high in both calcium and Omega fats. Highly recommend having these in your food storage.
Tofu is a good quality protein. Buy organic.and in aseptic packaging for a good shelf life. Tofu is bland but takes on the flavors of your recipes.
Whole grains are better for your health. They don’t have as long as a shelf life as white flour but stored properly they can easily last 20 years. White flour & sugar cause inflammation in your body so are not good for your health. People tend to buy a lot of macaroni for food stores. I think there are better choices for more nutrient dense foods if you store them properly. Don't try to store unprotected flours longer than a year. Hermetically sealed in the absence of oxygen, plan on a storage life of 5 years at a stable temperature of 70 degrees F. They should keep proportionately longer if stored at cooler temperatures.
Pasta will store longer than flour if kept dry. Hermetically sealed in the absence of oxygen, plan on a storage life of 8 - 10 years at a stable temperature of 70 degrees F. Pasta should keep proportionately longer if stored at cooler temperatures.
White rice isn't nearly as good for you as brown rice, but will store longer. Sealed in the absence of oxygen, plan on a storage life for white rice of 8-10 years at a stable temperature of 70 degrees F. It will keep proportionately longer if stored at cooler temperatures. Stored in the absence of oxygen, brown rice will last longer than if it was stored in air. Plan on 1 to 2 years. It is very important to store brown rice as cool as possible, for if you can get the temperature down another ten degrees, it will double the storage life again. If you can, keep in the refrigerator. Again, date your packages and just keep replacing them.
Vegetables & Fruits – You can have some canned but consider drying bananas, apples and berries because they’re so good for your health & gut. You can buy dry cranberries and fruits. Costco is probably the cheapest. Think of a variety of colors. Also dry some carrots and other vegetables that you can hydrate and throw into soups or stir fries. These will be more nutrient dense.
Mushrooms - Are very good for your immune system. You can buy frozen mushrooms. Shitake are great for your immune system. You only need to eat a couple/day for their health benefits so I highly recommend them. You can dry your own or buy dried. They keep well. Just add water & let sit 10 minutes..
Bone Broth – Bone broth is chock full of minerals and great to help prevent illness and to help if ill. It is easy to make and can. Start saving your bones.
Sprouting Seed – Sprouting seeds is easy to do in your home & are very nutrient dense. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHp45rZQ_IM. Seeds are hibernating tiny living plants that only need moisture and warmth to sprout. Heating a seed will kill life within it but a seed can withstand cold temperatures very well. Temperature is the big deciding factor in length of storage so keep them cold if you can. . Plan on a storage life of 4 years at a stable temperature of 70 degrees F. They will store proportionately longer if stored at cooler temperatures. https://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/sprouting/how-to-sprout-seeds-jar/. . You could also grow some microgreens in pots in your windows.
Spices - Spices are great for your health and you want a variety of flavors if you end up eating the same thing for a while. Unfortunately, they do not have a good shelf life. You can keep them in the freezer or vacuum pack to extend life. I recommend also have Young Living’s Vitality essential oils for flavoring because they are good for your immune system and you don’t have to worry about spoilage. Remember no more than a drop. They are Strong!
Here are some links on how to store grains and foods long term: https://www.wisefoodstorage.com/blog/how-to-properly-store-grains-long-term/ . https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/topics/food-storage/longer-term-food-supply?lang=eng.
Bon Appetit!