Why Having An Emergency Food Supply is a Good Idea

A majority of people are aware that obesity in America has reached epidemic proportions. Therefore discussing possible food shortages in this context might seem out of place. However, there is a collosal economic crisis brewing beneath the surface, which most Americans have yet to come to grips with. With crumbling national economies, volatile international crises, and possible civil unrest in the US, we must reconsider the blind confidence we have in what most think to be an uninterruptible and unlimited supply of food.

It comes as no surprise that most people can't fathom how delicate and sensitive to external factors the system of food production and food distribution really is. There are plenty vulnerable points within the vast food network that could fail, and result in major foods disruptions. For example, if trucks are not able to deliver the food for any conceivable reason, such as an an ongoing energy crisis, the food on the shelves and food stocks will be depleted within a matter of days.

In general, most people have between 1 to 4 weeks of stored perishable food in their homes. You can begin to store food with a high shelf life (meaning they last a lot longer, usually between 10-30 years) by buying pre-packaged food items. At present, there are several available options for purchasing food storage. Canned goods, dehydrated foods, and freeze dried foods are the most cost effective options for preparing your food storage. On the other hand, MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat) is a more expensive alternative, and offers less food for your money. The advantage to MREs is that they can easily be carried in go-bags, and backpacks. Personally, I stock up on a combination of the mentioned different food types in preparation for different crisis scenarios.

Considerations For Your Food Storage

-- Daily caloric consumption is between 1500 to 2000 calories per person/per day. Make sure to have enough for member of the family for at least 4 weeks. Three month supply of food storage, 6 month supply of food storage, and a year supply of food storage are also available. Use your money on food that has a long shelf life (10-30 years), and which requires minimal preparation.

-- Enhance storage space by purchasing in substantial quantities and utilizing food types that allow a person to stack more food in less space: Freeze dried foods, dehydrated foods and canned foods.

-- Are there members of the family that have special dietary requirements or health issues? If so, stock up on long term foods that answer their specific needs.

-- A portion of your food can be in the form of MREs, giving you mobility in the event you need to evacuate.

Even though each individual will have varying things to consider when planning for long term food storage, such as family budget, location, available free space, having food with a long shelf life stored in the house will help you keep your family nourished and healthy in the event of a crisis.