Top 10 Foods To Store For A Food Crisis

A food crisis is something many people today never prepare for. And why should they? We are living in modern-day America! The United States is a global power when it comes to food production. We lead the world in producing the 10 major crops that include food staples such as corn, rice, wheat, barley and oats. Food has always been plenty in the U.S., so a food shortage is never going to happen; besides, we have the most advanced technology when it comes to food production, processing and distribution. Right?

Though it is right that we are a global leader in food production and we have the technology to keep it that way for years to come, it is wrong to stay indifferent, believing that a food crisis is not going to happen here.

A food shortage of a major scale could happen to the United States as demonstrated by past natural disasters. Remember when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, a lot of stranded people in New Orleans endured hunger, little water and limited emergency supplies for days.

What happened to the people of New Orleans during Katrina could also happen on a wider scale, that means most if not all the nation could be affected. A huge natural disaster isn’t the only possible cause of a wide scale food crisis but also things like acts of terrorism and an economic collapse.

So you see, it’s crucial to start storing food in preparation for a food crisis.

Here are the top 10 foods to store for a food crisis:

When storing food for a crisis, you don’t have to consider only the essentials, but also food your family actually likes to eat.

1. Rice and Pasta– you can buy rice and pasta cheaper in bulk and they have really long shelf lives. Rice when sealed and stored properly in cool, dry place away from mold, can last for 30 years without losing its nutrients and flavor. Store pastas – egg noodles, lasagna, spaghetti – in air tight jars or plastic containers.
2. Beans- kidney beans, garbanzo beans, black beans, pinto beans, navy beans, lentils, split peas, and other types of beans can add variety to your meals. They are also easy to store and don’t take up much space. They can last long in storage and still be tasty when cooked.
3. Flour and whole grains– grains are the cheapest items one can buy on a per-pound basis. Like beans, they are also easy to store and can last long.
4. Cereal– you can store commercial cereal but you have to make sure to rotate these on a quarterly basis to make sure your stock stays fresh. You can also store grits, quinoa and whole rolled oats which are dry grains used for making hot cereal or gruel.
5. Vegetables– contain many necessary nutrients and help keep your digestion healthy. Store canned, dried or freeze dried vegetables.
6. Meat– you need a good source of protein and you get that from meat products such as beef and chicken. You can buy cans of freeze-dried meats that last years. Jerky can be stored easily and doesn’t require power but needs to be regularly rotated.
7. Fish– you would also need essential fatty acids to keep your immune system strong. Store dried fish, canned or frozen fish. Do not store too many frozen products though because in the event of power failure during crisis, the bulk of your survival food might spoil.
8. Fruits– store canned, jarred, preserved or dried fruits to ensure you still get the necessary nutrients and vitamins they provide. Having fruits in your storage can also ensure variety in your meals and snacks during crisis.
9. Dairy products and powdered milk– butter, cheese, yogurt and milk are also food essentials you can add to your store that can allow you to have more variety when preparing food. Powdered milk when stored correctly can last 2 years. To ensure longer shelf life, store dried yogurt culture for making yogurt, buttermilk powder, and dehydrated or freeze dried butter and cheeses.

10. Salt, sweeteners, and vinegar– you might also want to add sweeteners in your stock. The best sweetener to store is honey as it can last for decades without spoiling. Properly stored sugar can also serve you well. Salt and vinegar can help preserve your food in a time of crisis.

This list should help get you started with building your food store. Be sure to rotate your stock so as to make sure you will always have fresh food in there. Keep a note of the dates when each food product has been stored, their expected shelf life or expiration date. You should also start learning how to preserve your own food. Aside from the top 10 foods to store for a food crisis, you should also start storing water.