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Meredith at Like Merchant Ships raises a great question at this post: “I worry about disaster supplies. I need to find a way to balance food storage and health. I’m all for fresh, but what if I had to go a week (months?) without a trip to the grocery? What if we lost power for a week or two?”
I’ve stumbled across Internet sites, even blogs, devoted entirely to creating an emergency food supply. They’re a bit over the top for me – I never was one to go buy a generator to prepare for Y2K – but they’re interesting anyway. I am definitely thinking about food supply this week in the midst of this swine flu thing. I don’t want to buy produce from Mexico right now. I wonder what I would do if a confirmed case was found in my city. I don’t think I’d go to library storytime, and I might not even want to go grocery shopping for a few weeks. Could my household survive? Is this a temptation to buy canned and processed food?
The question is similar when donating food to the needy – most places only accept “non-perishables”, which often translates into canned goods. I hate the idea of giving someone who needs nutrition something that is not nutritious! However, you can find non-perishables that are plenty nutritious. Read on…
If I had to go a few weeks without shopping or without power, here are the items my house would supply:
- Dry beans
- Rice, barley
- Oatmeal
- Flour/yeast
- Butter
- Coconut and olive oils
- Pasta
- Canned tomatoes and sauces
- Pumpkin
- Dried fruit (raisins, etc.)
- Tuna
- Some crackers and canned fruit
- More?
We’d be low on animal protein, to be sure, just a few cans of tuna, and vegetables would be certainly low – beans and tomatoes. But we could survive on rice and beans with tomato sauce and tuna sandwiches! Spaghetti with pinto beans, anyone?
If I only had to skip the shopping, my trusty freezer would feed us no problem, probably for at least a month! How about you? Is your house ready for a mini-emergency?
This post is part of Fight Back Fridays, dedicated to going against the flow of cultural food and big industry, and Finer Things Fridays, honoring faith, simplicity, motherhood, small towns and good ol’ homemade cooking.
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As long as I had electricity and could stay home, we could eat for a long, long time. I’d run out of fruits and veggies first, of course. Good things to think about!
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I’m with Amy. If I had electricity to run my freezer, we’d be good for a year! (I just bought all our beef, chicken, and pork for the year, as well as our bulk grains.)
That said, we’d run out of fresh fruits & veggies fairly fast. And if the electricity were to cut out thanks to some natural disaster or supply problem, then we’d be in for it. I’d like to think that won’t happen!
Thanks for sharing this in today’s Fight Back Fridays carnival.
Cheers,
KristenM
(AKA FoodRenegade)
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I was having this same conversation w/my dh this morning. If the power stays on, then we’re ok for a month to two months. If there’s no power OR if the water supply is compromised, then we’re in trouble.
I had begun to stock my pantry w/healthy foods a few weeks ago, so I’ll continue with it. This was just a wake up call for me.
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This is something we have been thinking about for awhile. I love your thoughts on this! It helped give me some direction
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Great ideas! I am about to start compiling my family’s first hurricane survival kit, and this list will be very useful in prioritizing what to buy. Unfortunately, the advice we have gotten is to buy with no electricity in mind, since that is usually the case in Miami with hurricanes – no electricity for a month! Thanks for getting me started, friend.
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Thanks for sharing your advice with me!
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Fight Back Fridays May 1st | Food Renegade // May 8, 2009 at 12:27 am
[...] President? 20. Moms for Safe Food – GE Crops Failure to Yeild21. Zachary Cohen Farms Come To You22. Kitchen Stewardship (Canned Foods Necessary for Emergencies?)23. Completely Edible – I know my farmer.24. No GMO Challenge (Win $100 Gift Certificate from US [...]
i’d add in some peanut butter or other nut butters for non-perishable protein
Carrie´s last blog ..How to Make a Meal Plan
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If you’re going to store so much in the freezer, veggies and meat. I’d highly suggest owning a pressure CANNER, jars, lids and rings and learn how to can the meat and veggies.
I have a bunch in my freezer but also have shelf stable hamburger and chicken that I’ve canned in pint jars using a pressure CANNER (not cooker).
You can check out my blog on how to do that. http://storageskills.blogspot.com/2008/11/canning-chicken-lets-begin.html
There are a bunch of separate posts on the step-by-step process of canning chicken. Ground beef is done the same way.
Along with the canner and jars, you’ll need to have a way to process the meat and veggies. I own an outdoor camp stove, Camp Chef. It’s not necessarily recommended to can on, but in an emergency….that’s where I’m headed with my meats and veggies so I don’t lose them. Plus, you’d be able to share with the neighborhood is necessary. Oh, and don’t forget the propane.
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