What comes to mind when you think of prepping for a disaster?
Well, most people will first think of stockpiling food and supplies. It is important to have food security in a disaster. You always want to have emergency food ready to go at a moment’s notice. What would happen if the power goes out or major grocery stores close, what do you eat then? You most likely do not want to live on canned goods forever, which is why we are going to address some easy, cheap, and healthy food prepping ideas for disasters. Let’s get started!
Food prepping for a disaster
There are many reasons why people prepare emergency food. It can be from the fear of an apocalyptic event, economic collapse/recession, or a natural disaster. The list goes on and on, what is important is that you start now. We all know the most important things to survive to live are food and water.
This doesn’t mean you have to have your entire life consumed by stockpiling food and water by any means. It is more in line with the peace of mind that prepping for an emergency brings. I would recommend having a few different situations related to different disasters and what food you will need to make it through those.
If we think that food prices will become too expensive because of inflation, economic collapse, virus, or anything like that then it’s best to start as soon as possible.
It can be overwhelming
It can easily become overwhelming at the amount of food needed to sustain yourself let alone a family. It’s also a great thing to do on a practical basis if things are tight financially. Stockpiling on essential foods will give you the security that you have the food supplies to get you through tough times.
If something were to happen in this unpredictable world that we live in, you would feel so much better in an emergency. There would not be the fear of “not having enough” but the opposite. Yes, you could still go get what else you needed if possible, but you wouldn’t need to worry if that was not possible.
Emotions
When a disaster happens of any kind, people panic. When people panic they do not think rationally. This then leads to bad decisions by people who normally would not do so. This is why you do not want to fall into this category, as going down a destructive path is not to help the situation. The problem that comes about when we let our emotions get the better of us is that we are no longer in control of our minds. This should not happen or at least to the same degree if you have been prepping.
Rioting and Looting
This is the bi-product of what happens in a crisis. When things are breaking down on different levels, in a disaster or on a societal level. This is why having the food you need already in place will help you in hunkering down and not going outside where it can be very dangerous.
When you think of a crisis/disaster I want you to think of how long at least two of them would last. Then I would estimate how much food I would need to stock up on. You want to make sure your food supplies will last at least two weeks at the bare minimum. That being said, many things could happen where you would want to have months if not a year’s worth of food supplies ready to go.
In my opinion, if you have a little more of something, it won’t hurt. I would prefer to have it and not need it. Then not have it and need it.
Storing food in Small Spaces
A good friend of mine asked me this very question. How can I start prepping when I live in a small apartment? If you live in an apartment you can start prepping. Whatever the situation you are in, you can start taking the steps to protect yourself and your family. You just have to start doing it.
So when it comes to food storage, you want to ensure that it going to be kept in a safe place. The two main things to keep in mind are cool and dry. If you can do these two things you are on the right track to making sure your emergency food shelf life is extended.
Store in a Cool, Dry Place
This was mentioned above but has to be said because of how important it is. When food is exposed to too much heat or humidity it will spoil, and then all your prepping will not be worth it. I would focus on a place in your house that is cool and dry.
So do not put this outside! Only if it’s in a root cellar, I might add.
Keeping Food Supplies Out Of Sunlight
The sun can significantly reduce the shelf life of your food supplies incredibly. The same way any form of heat or humidity can. I would make sure that there are no obvious cracks where the sun is hitting your prepping food. The sun can easily cause a lot of different reactions to our food. One possible reaction could be the growth of bacteria, which will be the end of your food. It will then spoil and then you are out of luck. So if you realize the three elements of storing your food properly you will be in a good direction. The things to avoid are the following: Heat, humidity, and sunlight.
Canned Food
Yes, I know I said that you do not want to be eating canned food for the foreseeable future! I get that 100%. That being said, canned foods only make up one aspect of your food prep. You may have bad memories from your childhood when it comes to canned food or maybe not. Canned foods make up an important part of any preppers pantry that should not be discounted.
They are an easy and convenient food supply to use in a time of emergency, especially after a disaster. It comes down to the fact that they are so easy to store. You can store so much food in a relatively small space, and last a long time. They can add a lot to any dish and should be added to your food prepping.
Canned food tends to be relatively cheap and is a great way to start stocking up on food when on budget. Their shelf life is why they are always a great part of a prepper’s pantry. If you keep them in a cool, dry, and sunlight-free place, they can last for many years. The downside to canned food would be that they typically are higher in sodium which would not be the best for people with diabetes. Yes, you could use canned food in combination with something else, to level out the sodium intake.
There are many different types of canned foods you should: chili, tuna, beef,beans, green beans, chickpeas, lentils, and so on.
Pasta
I am a big lover of pasta, as I enjoy high-intensity sports such as soccer. That being said, pasta is cheap to store and lasts for many years if stored correctly.
Rice
I would add this to any person wanting to have emergency food storage because of the number of calories you can get from a 20-pound bag of rice. Rice is great in combination with other foods such as beans, chickpeas, and lentils … You can’t go wrong with rice!
Flour
Flour is one of my favorites as it is easy to store, has a long shelf life, and can be used to create so many things.
Dried Fruit
They are great to add with oatmeal!
Oatmeal
Another great food prep for food security as it is extremely healthy and nutrient-dense. All of these foods have long shelf lives.
Check Expiration Dates
This is something that can be forgotten once you have a large amount of food ready to go. It is such a simple way to make sure everything you are eating is ready for consumption. The great thing about most of the foods you will be prepping with will have long shelf lives.
If you are dealing with anything fresh then checking expiration dates is key. You do not want to eat something that gets you sick when you are in the middle of a disaster situation. That can easily magnify the problems that are already going on around you. I would highly recommend checking expiration dates when dealing with anything meat-related.
I go through my canned goods every year. Sometimes I will donate some of my older canned goods and then replace them with newer ones. This ensures that my canned goods are the freshest they can be. You do not need to do this but at the very least, I would rotate them every year.
The importance of Canning
Canning is a great and easy way to preserve food. Canning can be done anywhere and allows you to preserve foods that you love for years. This is something that you should look into if you want to take that extra step to make sure you have exactly what you want. It’s also a great skill to have!
Think of your favorite fruit, vegetable items, soups, and so on that you can preserve. It enables you to make a dish that you love and ensure that it will last years later. I love canning and think it’s a great thing to know how to do when it comes to prepping. It preserves large quantities of food that would otherwise go bad before the next harvest season hits. But don’t worry!
You don’t need any fancy equipment or expensive materials. All you need are some jars and lids, a pot big enough to fit them all in (you’ll want one that is made from either steel or aluminum), water, your recipe ingredients, and spices—and most importantly: time.
Basic Water Storage
How much water should you store in an emergency? It is recommended that you have at least one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking, cooking, and washing.
What would happen if your tap water runs out or the public supply becomes contaminated? You may need more than that.
In a disaster, you may need water more than you need food. The body can survive for weeks without food, but only days without water. So it is important to have a good supply of water on hand, in case of an emergency.
There are several ways to store water. You can buy bottled water, fill up clean containers with tap water, or even collect rainwater. Whatever method you choose, make sure you have enough water to last your family for at least a few days. Remember, it is always better to be prepared than to be caught unaware in an emergency.
To store drinking water safely:
To keep your drinking water fresh and safe, store it in a food-grade plastic container such as those made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The seal on these bottles has to be tight enough so that no air can get inside when you store them upside down for long periods or else there may be mold growth at opening later. You should only use screw tops because they are darker than other types of closure does; otherwise, UV rays will degrade some compounds.
Gallon Water Jugs, Bottled Water
Long Term Water Storage
If you are looking for a longer-term water solution look for water storage containers. They can hold hundreds of gallons of water. One water storage container can take up a lot of space, but it is worth it for the amount of water you are storing. Think of how many gallon water jugs you would need to have to equal a water storage container that stores 300 gallons of water.
I think having bottled water and gallon water jugs is great in addition to longer-term storage options. You should make sure to properly prepare your water for long-term storage(treating the water). It is recommended to pour out old water and fill up fresh water every 6 months to a year. Either way having at least one way to store water for the long term will put you in a better situation for whatever happens.
Powdered Milk
Powdered milk is such an essential ingredient in any prepper’s pantry. Think of how important milk is in general, especially in banking. It can easily be added to your favorite cereal or as an additive for coffee. If you want to make sure your family has access to this nutritious beverage during a disaster scenario, you need to store powdered milk in your food storage supply.
Powdered milk is just what it sounds like milk that’s been dehydrated into powder form. This allows it to last a lot longer without refrigeration. If your power goes down during a disaster scenario then you’ll need another way of keeping your powdered milk fresh so it doesn’t spoil too quickly!
Food prepping for disaster can be a lot to take in
Once you start, things become much easier. This applies to many things in life. The first step is always the hardest. Food prepping doesn’t need to be stressful but can be easily done. When you go shopping buy an extra item that has a long shelf life for example. Food prepping can be down slowly over time and doesn’t need to break the bank. It will end up giving you peace of mind that you have food stored for whatever rough times are ahead.
I would look into dehydrators if you want another way of preserving food as well. Whatever you decide to do, just start and you will be amazed at how much food you have by the end of the year.
