Who Needs an Emergency Food Supply?
Having emergency provisions readily available can prove advantageous for both individuals and households during unexpected events. Nonetheless, the ideal approach to food preparedness may vary depending on individual circumstances and risk anticipation.
The suitability of each food preservation technique is partly determined by the type of environment you reside in: urban, suburban, or rural. Emergency requirements vary between inhabitants of densely populated cities and those residing on secluded ranches.
It is essential to match your emergency food storage plan with the potential hazards in your circumstances. Different situations, such as social upheaval, shortages, or natural calamities, have varying requirements. The decision to evacuate or remain in place also impacts the type and quantity of provisions you should prepare.
When creating your emergency food supply, consider the climate of your area as it may affect what foods and other items are accessible at certain times of the year. Review the following emergency food storage approaches to find the one that best fits your surroundings and potential hazards.
Prepackaged, Long-Term Emergency Food Storage
In order to survive, humans require sustenance in the form of food and water. When facing a prolonged emergency, it is essential to store these provisions appropriately in order to ensure their longevity throughout the duration of the crisis.
There are multiple servings sizes available in the ReadyWise Emergency Food Supply for extended situations. This includes options such as a breakfast bucket with 120 servings, a 60 serving entree bucket, and a prepper pack bucket with 52 servings. Additionally, these products have a shelf life of 25 years and are securely sealed in Metallyte pouches for preservation.
MRE (Meals Ready-to-Eat) Food Packs are an alternative choice that provides entire meals with extended, consistent shelf lives. If kept at room temperature, these meals can remain good for around five years and may survive further if placed in chilled areas. During the times of war, MREs are a significant source of endurance and nourishment relied on by military officials.
Investing in Emergency Food Ration Bars could be a wise decision. These ration bars are designed to enhance survival capacity during water-restricted periods, as they contain high-energy nutrients that do not induce thirst. Additionally, they are portable and can be conveniently stored in your emergency preparedness kit.
During a sudden emergency, prepackaged foods provide a convenient and effortless option for you and your family to keep yourselves nourished. On the other hand, canning, farming, or gardening require extensive planning and practice to provide sustenance. By investing in long-term food storage and pre-made packages, you can conveniently purchase these items and store them for future use while figuring out the next steps for survival.
DIY Food Storage
If purchasing pre-packaged long-term food rations isn’t your preference, you can craft your own survival food reserve. Although this DIY alternative may be less expensive, it calls for more exertion. We’ve previously discussed the utilization of the FIFO food storage system to guarantee enough food supply. Here, we’ll elaborate on a few additional techniques for food storage.
Canning Food
To preserve food through canning, it is essential to heat the contents in cans or jars to a specific temperature that can eradicate microorganisms and neutralize enzymes that may be harmful to human health. This process can be accomplished through either of two canning methods: pressure canning and boiling.
To ensure the destruction of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which can potentially produce a harmful toxin, low-acid foods such as meats, fish, poultry, and vegetables must be heated to a temperature of 240°F or higher during the pressure canning process, which is considered the safest preservation method.
Water-bath canning, also known as boiling water canning, is ideal for preserving acidic foods such as fruit preserves, tomato sauces, salsas, berries, and pickled vegetables. The process entails submerging jars filled with prepared food in a pot of vigorously boiling water for approximately 10 minutes, depending on the type of food being preserved. The water needs to be preheated to 140°F for raw-packed foods and 180°F for hot-packed foods.
Both methods require you to heat the cans and then cool them. During cooling, the canned food contracts and creates an airtight seal that can preserve the food for up to one year. Comparatively, commercially-canned foods typically expire between two and five years after manufacture .
Vacuum-Sealing Food and Freezing
Vacuum-sealing is a common way for individuals to safeguard their edibles against dehydration and the possibility of getting freezer burn. Nonetheless, in times of crisis, vacuum-sealing can also be useful in conserving food. Efficient vacuum sealers create a hermetically sealed environment that restricts the growth of mold and bacteria by depriving the food of oxygen.
When food items are vacuum-sealed, they can last significantly longer, approximately three to five times longer compared to if they were stored in plastic containers or bags. Additionally, frozen food items which have been vacuum-sealed have an average shelf life of two to three years.
By vacuum sealing your food, it retains moisture which keeps it fresh and delicious for extended periods. Additionally, vacuum sealing enables you to purchase food items such as meat in large quantities at reduced rates and store them for future use by portioning and sealing for freshness. This could ultimately result in substantial savings.
Pickling
Conserving food in a solution of vinegar, salt, or acid is the process of pickling. Commonly pickled items are fruits and vegetables, such as cucumbers, cabbage, green olives, garlic, and onions. The term curing is used when this technique is applied to meat.
When refrigerated, pickled fruits and vegetables can endure for roughly five to six months in a jar. Considering that pickled foods necessitate refrigeration, pickling may not be an advisable choice if you anticipate experiencing a power outage during an emergency.
Dehydrating
Preserving food is possible through dehydration, and nearly all types of food can be dehydrated. Jerky and fruit are the most common foods to dehydrate and serve as popular snacks. Additionally, individuals often dehydrate herbs and spices for usage in cooking.
Typically, home-dehydrated foods do not have the same longevity as those dehydrated commercially. When dehydrating food at home, fruits should last for roughly one year, vegetables between eight to ten years, jerky for only one or two months, and herbs for six months to three years.
Farming and Ranching
If your circumstances permit, cultivating crops and livestock can assist you in case of a crisis. The appropriate type and quantity of animals for your requirements are determined by the amount of land available, the amount of time you can dedicate to the animals, and the purpose for which you intend to use your livestock.
On average, each of the bigger livestock such as cows, goats, sheep, and pigs demand one acre of land. In regions that experience dry or arid climates, additional land may be needed to cater to their nutritional requirements during summer. For those with smaller plots of land, starting with chickens is recommended as they can help prevent waste buildup, provide food and help control insects.
Before investing in animals for your yard, ensure to verify with city ordinances or any HOAs if there are any rules against keeping livestock in the suburbs.
If you want to enhance your food storage preparation, consider beginning a vegetable garden in your lawn. Depending on the size of your space, you may choose to have a container garden, raised bed, or conventional row gardening with a tractor. If you have a small garden area, concentrate on cultivating vegetables that yield the highest rewards for your labor, such as tomatoes, root crops, and leafy greens.
Growing your own specialty lettuces or broccolini could potentially result in savings on more expensive food items.
To safeguard your garden, consider using planters that have a perforated base; this will prevent water buildup and decay while also improving nutrient absorption for the roots.
Worried about food storage and emergency preparedness? Avoid these 5 common mistakes
Mistake #1: Food that’s nutritionally incomplete and unhealthy
To effectively deal with any unexpected situation, it is ideal to have an optimum level of health and energy. However, numerous individuals stockpile food that lacks adequate nutrients.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes on their Public Health Matters Blog that the nutritional value of emergency kit foods should not be overlooked, as self-care during crises includes maintaining a healthy diet. They suggest opting for healthier food choices.
Incorporating nutrient-rich items free from artificial additions or added sugars is preferable. Even though carb-rich foods provide rapid energy, it may be alluring to replenish with them. Nevertheless, for prolonged well-being and vigor, your system necessitates adequate healthy fats and protein.
“Eating foods with a low glycemic index — whose sugars are absorbed slowly — may help you avoid the lag in energy that typically occurs after eating quickly absorbed sugars or refined starches,” states Harvard Health Publishing . “In general, high-carbohydrate foods have the highest glycemic indexes. Proteins and fats have glycemic indexes that are close to zero.”
To put it briefly, ensure that you aren’t solely consuming carbohydrates as your source of food. Your body requires vital protein amino acids and healthy fats’ essential fatty acids to operate at its best.
Mistake #2: Storing food you don’t currently use and enjoy
An effective method to assess your level of food and emergency readiness is to inspect your refrigerator and cupboard. Have you accumulated supplies that you seldom consume or have already expired?
Chances are high that both your long-term food storage and 72-hour kit suffer from a common issue. The fact that a particular item has several years of shelf life doesn’t guarantee that you will feel excited to consume it when the need arises. During an actual emergency, it is crucial to stockpile food your family enjoys.
According to an article from the CDC that emphasizes the importance of having nutritious food in your emergency kit, it is crucial to ensure that you are familiar with the preparation process and actually willing to consume the food you store.
As previously stated, an optimal meal is one that contains a significant amount of protein and beneficial fats, providing ample nutrition.
Mistake #3: Impractical, inconvenient or bulky food
In addition to the disagreeable cuisine, conventional emergency planning presents another difficulty in terms of packaging. Despite being more cost-effective to manufacture, large and space-consuming cans are cumbersome, weighty, and usually non-resealable. Lightweight, compact, and sealable packaging is the optimal choice for maintaining nutrient-packed sustenance.
Mistake #4: Spending too much on food storage
If you’re considering the likelihood of encountering an emergency in the future, it’s simple to allow your fear to overtake you (and your finances). Refrain from incurring debt by buying massive quantities of emergency food storage all at once.
Groups advocating for food storage, including religious organizations and Facebook preparedness groups, advise against extreme measures when it comes to storing emergency food supplies. Rather than purchasing large quantities of items and potentially incurring debt, they advise gradually building up the supply over time to avoid any financial strain.
It is crucial to remember to rotate stored food. To prevent waste, it is advisable to store the food you consume frequently, ensuring that your stock remains fresh and current.
Mistake #5: Food that’s difficult to prepare
When it comes to food and overall health, good intentions are often thwarted by busy schedules and the need for convenience. When faced with an emergency, the last thing you want to worry about is preparing complicated meals. This is why the CDC recommends storing foods that require no cooking or special preparation, with the emphasis on choosing options that are easy and provide complete nutrition.
Cracking the code for emergency preparedness and food storage
Embarking on a quest for better health can be daunting, as few individuals possess the resources such as time, expertise, self-control, or finances to meticulously devise, acquire, and cook entirely nutritious meals. Consequently, individuals often resort to swift and expedient food choices, which can swiftly derail their health objectives.
In case you are not receiving adequate nourishment from your regular diet, your emergency food stock is likely to be deficient as well. Fortunately, there is a straightforward and cost-effective answer that you may not be aware of.
HLTH Code Complete Meal is crafted with precision to support healthy weight management, gut health, brain health, as well as promoting healthy hair, skin and nails. The formula of each HLTH Code shake is optimized with a science-based combination of protein, collagen, healthy fats, apple cider vinegar, probiotics, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and is free from added sugar and artificial ingredients.
