Lots of folks who are just getting familiar with the idea of being self-reliant get what I call “prepper overkill.” They finally understand what being prepared for anything means and why it’s important. But their next thoughts are quite contradictory – they either start buying every MRE, freeze-dried meal, and a pack of heirloom seeds they can get their hands on in Cabellas’, on the Internet or both; or they just get overwhelmed and take on a fatalistic attitude about it and don’t do anything.
I’m not kidding around, here. I’ve seen people go one direction or the other quite a few times. Now, I’m not condemning anybody for either reaction. Everybody’s got their own way of looking at things. At the same time, I don’t think either extreme is really necessary.
I talked about this sort of thing with those kinds of preppers who’ve got and bought so much stuff that they don’t know what they have anymore, don’t know how to use much of it, can’t remember where they put and will never be able to take it all with them when the times anyway. You might know one or two folks like that yourself; it’s pretty common from what I’ve seen over the years.
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Now, don’t think I’m knocking hardcore preppers ‘cause I’m not in any way, shape, or form doing that. Truth is, if you saw what I’ve got in my own barn and outbuildings, you’d probably think the same thing about me! I’m not kidding when I say I’ve got quite a bit of gear on the ranch. But remember, I’ve been given a lot of it over the years from friends and acquaintances who have either retired, moved away, or died. Sometimes, it’s been a combination of those events.
So even though I’m a well-stocked prepper, I don’t feel the need to take on the end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it mentality every hour of every day. Don’t get me wrong, here; I don’t like for one moment what’s going on in the country or what those fools in Washington D.C. are doing to our rights and liberties. There are no happy endings to the kind of government we have going right now.
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Nor do I condone the things the police are doing in various instances. Shooting and killing unarmed men who are not presenting a life-and-death threat to law enforcement is indefensible and un-American. Overall, these and other trends going on in the country don’t look good. I don’t have my blinders on; I’m just not prone to panic the way some folks are.
That said, if you want to take a first step in becoming self-reliant, your smartest move is to begin by acquiring several months’ food supply. It’s easy to do, doesn’t take much effort or money, and can be accomplished in about an hour. Best of all, you don’t have to go anywhere special. You can get your food supply right from your local supermarket or big box store. What could be easier than that? So what should your first food supply look like? What should you buy? Well, don’t worry, I’m gonna keep it simple and straightforward. We’re gonna look at 10 food items that you can store easily and for a long period of time and will go a long way in keeping the hunger away from your family in the event that food is scarce for a while. The food will be high in calories for energy and is easy to prepare and eat. Are you ready to get your first food supply? Good. Let’s get to it…
Bulk rice
The first thing you’re gonna buy is bulk rice. You can buy it in 10-pound bags at your supermarket, or in 25 or even 50-pound bags at a warehouse store. The cost will be anywhere from $4 or $5 up to $25 or more for the larger sizes and depending upon the type of rice you get.
I prefer the brown kinds, like Basmati, because it has a lot more nutritional value, but that’s up to you. Rice is easy to cook, has loads of carbohydrates for much-needed energy and will store well for up to 10 years or longer. Brown or white, get yourself stocked up on rice; it’s a slam dunk.
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beans
After rice, beans will be the next item to go into your shopping cart. Beans not only have truckloads of carbohydrates in them, but are filling, easy to prepare, and can be stored, like rice, for years and years. You can buy a variety of beans – both canned and dried. Even refried beans are economical and a quick way to fill a hungry belly.
Plus, beans can be paired with almost any other food or condiment. Pick up at least 5 pounds of dried beans and several cases of beans of different kinds – black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, red beans and lentils.
Canned meats
Canned meats are your next food supply item. You want to buy densely packed meats, like Spam, ham, tuna, and chicken, that will store easily and are easily prepared and eaten.
Canned meats are a great source of protein, which you will need in an emergency, and should last at least 6 years in the can. Plan for a 3-4-ounce piece of meat for each person every third or fourth day, or at least once per week.
canned veggies and fruits
After canned meats, you’re gonna pick up some canned veggies and fruits. Veggies and fruits are not as efficient of food as rice, beans, and meats, but they provide essential vitamins that you’ll need in an extended emergency situation. They’re more expensive by weight, but they will also provide some water within the can. Don’t waste that water, use it to boil rice in and provide additional flavor.
Get a variety of green veggies such as string beans, asparagus, and spinach, as well as carrots, corn, beets, and onions. For your fruits, get peaches, pears, sliced pineapples, cranberries and plums. Canned fruits and vegetables should be good for about 5 years or so if properly stored. I’d pick up two cans a week per person as a minimum.
flour
Next on your list is flour, whether it’s an all-purpose wheat flour, oat flour, or corn meal, which is what I recommend. You can get a 5-pound bag for about five bucks, and it stores easily for several up to two years.
Not only that but corn meal is jam-packed with carbs and is also easy to turn into tortillas; you just add a bit of water, flatten it out and cook it on a flat surface over a fire. No oil or yeast is necessary. You can also easily make cornbread biscuits or just cornbread. Added to canned meats and beans, you have a quick, easy, and satisfying meal. Get 4 or 5 bags for a family of five.
vegetable shortening or lard
The next item on the list is vegetable shortening or lard. Even though it ain’t the most healthy of substances, in an extended emergency situation, a 5-pound can of shortening goes a long way to help with food preparation.
Shortening and lard have a ton of calories, will have multiple uses and will last a lot longer the your typical vegetable oils due to the hydrogenation. Pick up 2-4 cans, you’ll be glad you did, and they will easily keep for 3 years or even longer.
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Salt
Salt is another multi-use item that is cheap, plentiful, easy to store and very necessary. You can buy a 10 or 15-pound bag for just a few dollars and salt stores easily in a cool, dry place.
Try to get sea salt or other salt where the natural minerals haven’t been stripped out of it. In an extended emergency situation, you may have to rely on hunting and fishing for your meat, and salt will come in very handy in preparing and preserving fish and game.
Honey or sugar
Along with salt, pick up a similar amount of sugar. Add honey in there, too. Both will store nicely forever and a day and will add a whole lot of calories and welcomed flavor to a survival meal. I would also recommend you pick up some brown sugar while you’re at it.
You can buy a lot of both brown and white sugar in 5-pound bags for a couple of dollars and just pack it away in a cool, dry place.
peanut butter
The next item to add to your food supply is peanut butter. Peanut butter is dense, and full of oil (fat), protein, and calories. It’s easy to eat and store and can mix with a spoonful of rice and a little bit of honey for a quick, calorie-rich, nutritious snack or mini-meal in any situation.
pasta
If left properly sealed and stored in a dark, cool place, peanut butter will keep for up to 5 years or longer.
Finally, I would also recommend you store plenty of pasta, preferably the most densely packed pasta, which is spaghetti or linguini. Pasta is packed with carbohydrates, is very inexpensive, stores up to 5 years or longer, is easily prepared, and doesn’t take much space.
Spaghetti makes for a nice change in your emergency diet over an extended period of time.
Are these the only 10 items you should buy? Not necessarily; but go out and get these items in the quantities discussed and you’ll be breathing easier knowing that you’ve gotten a jump on your food supply. Keep adding to your food supply every time you go to the grocery store and be sure to rotate your supply so none of it goes to waste. No reason to panic; just start with this basic list and build from there.
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