Survival Food Stockpiling

Survival food stockpiling means preparing for catastrophe regardless of the form it takes. One of the most important considerations when talking about catastrophes is making sure food is available. People who live in areas that are prone to earthquakes or hurricanes always have their survival food supply in storage. In fact, three of the most popular reasons for keeping survival food supplies on hand are:

1. Disaster preparedness: This can range from something as simple as a power outage caused by falling trees, vandalism or natural disasters such as floods, tornadoes or hurricanes.
2. In the event of financial crisis: Some people like having a supply of food on hand as a "just in case" measure. Money may become scare due to job loss or even ill health, so making sure food is available, even when funds are limited, makes sense.
3. For religious reasons: Some people's religions restrict shopping for anything on holy days, so they take the step of having essential food items in store.

What to Know About Survival Food Stockpiling

Proper preparation when it comes to foods for survival is just as important as having the food on hand. Preparation for the collection of the food for survival calls for the following:

• Making a checklist of what types of foodstuff are suitable.
• Noting the quantity of survival foods to store: Some people store food that can last for up to 12 months, others just for 3 days or a month. This is dependent on a number of factors, such as funds available, size of the family and available storage space.
• Having adequate space: Some people have no shortage of space in which to keep their survival food supplies. Others need to put thought into where to store items as well as how much to keep. Serious planners must store items in different locations such as in a grab and go bag, in their cars, in a cellar and in an emergency kit. The best areas to store foodstuff for long periods of time are in cool, dark places. Luckily, many people have cellars that are ideal for this purpose. The storage area should also be free of moisture, and food in boxes or bags should be stored in rodent- and bug-proof containers.

Survival Food Stockpiling List of Must Haves

The ideal type of foods for survival should include the following items:

• Bottled water
• Freeze-dried foods
• Dehydrated food
• Canned foods such as soups, tuna, fruits, vegetables
• Beans, rice and pasta
• Condiments such as salt and black pepper
• Special treats such as cereal bars, coffee and tea
• Dried milk and sugar

When it comes to survival food stockpiling, couponing can be a great way to add to your stock. For people who are avid "couponers" or those who use this as a way to supplement their shopping dollars, many items can be obtained in this way. Look out for sales of canned or dried foods and buy as much as you can, using your coupons to help defray costs.

Keeping Survival Food Supplies Safe

Safety of survival foods is important since the foodstuff should not have passed their expiration dates or been contaminated due to storage methods. Some people have a list of the expiration date on each item in their survival food supply. They will rotate these foods by using those close to expiring and replenishing their stock. It makes no sense having all the survival foods and not being able to use them because they are no longer safe for consumption. Those items chosen should not need cooking or, if they do, they should take minimal preparation.

Finally, the age, health and tastes of your family members are important considerations when planning your survival food stockpiling checklist. This is an important consideration especially if some members are young children and babies, the elderly or those with specific food needs due to health conditions. Treats are also a great addition to your survival food supply, as these can help calm a distressed child and may help an adult focus and handle stress better during a crisis.

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