I hope you enjoyed your new beginning last week and you are ready to roll up our sleeves and move on to Weekly Preparedness Challenge – Week 2. There’s a lot to be done. But you CAN do it!
Let me remind you that you can get these challenges done any time you want. I haven’t started them on Monday, because many of you work. So, I want to give you the weekend if you need it. And most of you were still putting away Christmas.
This week we’ll be cleaning out your food shelves, buying some 3-month beverages and a 1-month supply of toiletries for normal use.
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| Yes, that’s mine. I tried these foods past their expiration date, and…yuck! |
1. Clean Out Your Food
- Take all food out of your kitchen cupboards and put it on the table.
- Wipe those shelves clean.
- Throw away expired foods, damaged food or food you don’t eat anymore and toss it. Yes, food does go bad. Tomato based products usually have a 2-year shelf life because they are acidic. Long-term food doesn’t last forever except sugar and honey. Canned flour has a limited shelf life of 8 to 10 years. When in doubt, toss it. Or you can try it and then toss it. 😕 Don’t work on your refrigerator or freezer at the same time.
- Organize the shelves by grouping like items together in categories: fruits, vegetables, tomatoes, beans, meats, pasta/rice/potatoes, baking items, breakfast items, etc. Grouping items makes it easier to see what you need to buy.
- PRINT OUT the Basic Food Storage Inventory Page.pdf or Basic Food Storage Inventory Page.xls.
- Write the shelf stable items you have at home on the form under the matching category.
- Put the inventory list in My Home Storage binder under the HOME INV tab.
- Send me pictures of your results!
2. Buy a 3-Month Supply of Beverages
- PRINT OUT All Is Safely Gathered In: Home Storage by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Study it. Then put it in My Home Storage binder under Challenges. It’s good to review every so often to remind you what you are working towards.
- Buy nutritious beverages for your 3-month food storage supply. Your goal is to try it and then buy a 3-month supply if you can afford it.
- Purchase a pouch of LDS Nonfat Dry Milk, LDS Hot cocoa drink mix and LDS Fortified Berry drink mix (provides vitamin C). If you like them, than get a 3-month supply for your family. If you can’t tolerate any of these products, buy something you can tolerate like vegetable juice or a store brand cocoa mix, or Tang. If you want to buy from another food storage company, go for it! It will probably cost more.
LDS Nonfat Dry Milk great tasting dry milk for calcium and protein beverage or cooking.
- Comes in a 28 oz. resealable pouch or 29 servings.
- Costs $4.00 (2019).
- Also comes in a case box of 12 for $48.00.
- It is available online.
- GREAT taste! It’s been reformulated so it’s not what came in the big cans.
- Has a 20-year shelf life unopened if stored in a cool, dry place.
- Considered a long-term food. However, it’s very economical to use everyday.
- Has about a 3-month shelf life opened.
- Eventually you’ll want a year’s supply per person: 28 pouches (49 lbs.).
- Figure out how much you want to store for a 3-month supply.
LDS Hot Cocoa Drink Mix is a great tasting drink.
- Comes in a 32.5 oz. pouch or 26 servings.
- Costs $4.25 (2019), but it’s on sale in January for $3.75.
- Has a 2-year shelf life. ð
- Useful to warm you up during the cold winters and especially helpful after a winter disaster.
- Has provides calcium and protein.
- Currently not sold online.
NOTE: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sells food storage products in their Home Storage Centers (HSC) and online. Most are at a significant discount since they own and operate their own farms and ranches. The online prices include shipping. You don’t have to be a member of the LDS Church to purchase items in store or online. Here is the link to HSC locations.
TIP: Keep a pouch each of beverage mixes in a kitchen cupboard so you will use them. You can store other pouches in a basement, closet, under a bed, etc. But not in a garage where temperatures are too high.
What’s a 3-Month Food Supply?
- It’s shelf-stable food you keep on your shelf that doesn’t require refrigeration until opened.
- It’s normal food you eat it and replenish.
- It’s foods like peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, pasta, flour, sugar, oil, oatmeal, breakfast cereal, tuna fish, canned corn, canned soup, etc.
- It will be unique for every person or family depending on preferences and medical needs.
- It’s what you will most likely eat after a disaster.
- Having a supply will help you if suddenly lose your job.
- It’s not freeze-dried foods, unless you eat freeze-dried foods regularly.
- It typically has a shelf life of 3-months to 3-years. But some can last longer.
- It’s a goal you work towards.
- If you live in an apartment, you may need to store less. That’s okay! Store what fits and what you can afford.
- It’s part of the four LDS Church home storage goals.
3. Buy a 1-Month Supply of Toiletries
- Buy a 1-month supply of toiletries for home use: Toilet paper, Soap/body wash, Shampoo/conditioner, Deodorant and a small unscented bleach (in case you need to purify water). I’ll share more toiletries with you another week. Just focus on this list and gather enough for your family.
- Keeping supplies on your shelf will help you if you are between jobs. And it’s what you will most likely use after a disaster.