This week our food storage focus is powdered fruit drink mix.
STEP 1: 3-Month Supply (per adult) – 24 oz. or 1/4 #10 can powder fruit drink mix or Tang
Why?: Useful everyday beverage and for power outage emergencies. Adds flavor to off-tasting water. Contains many vitamins and 100% of vitamin C. You could substitute a sugar-free drink mix, but you give up the added vitamins so you would want to stock up on vitamins.
Tip: It always pays to compare prices.
Shopping & Shelf Life: At the LDS Home Storage Center/Cannery you may can a 6.10 lb. can of fruit drink mix for $8.50 which has a 2 year shelf life. Sam’s Club in Utah has a 4.5 lb. Tang for about $7.00.
STEP 2: Drinking Water – 14 gallons (FEMA) or about 4×24 ct. cases of bottled water
Skip this if you’ve already got it.
Tip: Stock up this month! It’s everywhere today, but it may not be tomorrow. Buy more to replenish what you have used.
Shelf Life: see Still Tasty.com
STEP 3: Financial Reserve (per person) – $2.00 +/- per week
Skip this if you’ve already accumulated your goal.
Tip: Start your fund this month! Use only for emergencies. Keep some in the bank and some cash at home.
STEP 4: Longer-Term Supply (per adult) – Even the fruit drink mix is not a long-term (20-30 year shelf life) storage item, you could keep a year’s supply of it. However, if you don’t think you will use it often, then store a 3-month supply.
Home Storage: Toiletries Group 1 (per adult) – Shampoo 3 ea.
Tip: Use your best judgement to figure out how much to stock up on for your family. A 3-month or 12 -month supply may be affordable for some families, but a 1 month supply may work for others.
Preparedness Goal – Organize the freezer
Tip: Group like items on each shelf and hang an inventory sheet on your door. Check out some great organizational ideas on my Pinterest board. Don’t pack items too tightly. Air needs to circulate for greatest efficiency. It functions best if there is some air space between items. You can find freezer storage tips at this post.
Equipment Goal – Food storage shelves
Tip: If you must get some shelves, look at ideas on my Pinterest board. You may already have room in your kitchen cupboards or under a bed for your 3-month supply. Check the classifieds for used shelves. Bookshelves work well too. Spend money on food, and less on shelves.
Weekly Inventory – Freezer
Tip: Even though freezer foods are not shelf-stable, we all use them. As you clean out your freezer this week, take an inventory count of the items you have stored. Throw away items with freezer burn. Freezer foods do NOT store indefinitely. Hang an inventory sheet on the freezer door so you can see what you need. See StillTasty.com for shelf life.
Good luck on your weekly goals. You CAN do it! Here is the printout of the January 2013 Food Storage list.
Instructions:
Each week, I post various food storage and emergency items to gather. By stocking up year round, you build up your supplies economically, use some, leave some on the shelf, and buy some more. Cycling keeps your items fresh and integrated into your everyday diet. I’ve incorporated the LDS 4-Step Approach to Home Storage, but with my suggested items to gather.
Work on STEP 1, 2 and 3, before moving to STEP 4: Long-Term Food Supply. It may take you awhile to gather your 3-Month Supply, water and a financial reserve. As long as you are moving forward, that’s what matters most. Only gather what you can afford, will eat, and choose goals you have time for. Substitute other foods that work for your family.
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