Food Storage Simplified
Hurricanes. Flooding. Tornadoes. Volcanic eruptions. Earthquakes. Landslides. Tsunamis. What do all of these things have in common? They’re all catastrophes that Mormons are prepared for.
The members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have truly made a name for themselves when it comes to food storage and disaster preparedness. But sometimes members can have a difficult time getting started and maintaining the food storage they’ve already obtained. Whether you’re a Mormon or a non-member, you will find that this article covers a few of the basics that will help alleviate some of the stresses you may face when a disaster strikes.
Food Storage Essentials
There’s no doubt that most people on Earth like food. Perhaps even love it. But when it comes to a serious disaster, you’ll want to make sure that you have not only instant noodles and macaroni and cheese. So first things first: Have a balance.
Balance out your food storage as you would your meals during the day. Make sure to include fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, sugars, and a sufficient amount of protein. A good place to start would be with:
-Canned peaches, pears, corn, green beans, mandarin oranges, black beans, artichoke hearts, yams, peas, water chestnuts, etc.
-Freeze-dried blueberries, strawberries, grapes, pineapple, raspberries, and bananas.
-Dried banana, pineapple, apples, coconut, mango, raisins, and apricots.
-Beef Jerky
-Freeze-dried beef, turkey, and chicken
-Canned meat
-Dried noodles
-Baking goods: yeast, flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, corn syrup, canola and olive oil, brown sugar, and salt
-Dried seasonings and herbs
-Soy/almond milk
-Canned nuts/trail mix
The more variety you have, the less tired of certain foods you’ll become when it’s time to use your food storage. Harvard’s School for Public Health recommends 2 cups of fruit and 2.5 cups of vegetables per day, a balance between the carbohydrates and proteins you may consume, and lower amounts of sugars. And don’t use this list as your only resource. Be creative; try different things. Oh, and…
