Nowadays any small fuss can cause a run on the grocery stores. Even if there are half-inch snow food shelves of grocery stores can run out quickly. So we should know how and what food to store for any emergency.
And you’re probably wondering why should we stockpile food for an emergency when the grocery store is right around the corner?
So In this article, I’ll answer all the questions How much food to supply for 1 month? and Why should you store food for emergencies? So make sure to read till the end
The main reason to stock food for an emergency:
- Preparation will reduce Mental Stress
- Save you a lot of Money and Time
- You can Prepare for any emergency and financial crisis.
Preparation will reduce mental stress:
Having months of good healthy food supply can reduce a lot of stress on oneself and it’s family. If ever anything goes bad you’d be prepared for it. Preparation will save you from a last-minute run to the grocery store.
Save you a lot of money and time:
A good and healthy stock of food will always save you time and money. Most of the time last minute run can cause you a lot of money on your gas and overpriced food items. So it’s better to be prepared.
Prepare for any emergency and personal financial crisis
Stockpiling food for the short term is a good practice. Because most of the time natural disasters and emergency situations happen pretty suddenly.
These emergency situation can lead to situations like complete lockdown. And since most of the people rely solely on their day jobs.
So it’s hard to manage finances during these emergency situations. So it is better to be prepared than worry and regret.
Long term vs Short Term Food Supply
Let me explain the difference between a short-term supply of food and a long-term supply of food. Your long-term supply of food consists of basic food staples like wheat rice and beans.
These items are specially packaged to last a really long time typically 30 years or more. And these items are sitting there as a backup plan in case you need it.
Ideally, your long-term supply of food will last your family for a full year. In contrast, a one-month supply of food consists of food that is part of your normal everyday diet.
These food items are not specially packaged it’s just packaged the way you buy it at the grocery store. And unlike your long-term food storage plan which is sitting there as a backup.
Your one-month supply of food is something that you’re going to want to regularly rotate through to avoid spoilage. Ideally, your short-term supply of food will last your family for one month.
If I was to give you an analogy: Your long-term food supply is like rainy day savings account you don’t want to be making a withdrawal unless you really need it.
Your short-term food supply is like your checking account you’re constantly making withdrawals. You’re constantly making deposits and you want to maintain a sufficient balance.
One month of food supply List:
Food Item Amount Per Person Per month
| Food List | Quantity Per person Per Month |
| Rice | 32.5lbs |
| Beans | 5.8lbs |
| Canned meat | 1.6lbs |
| Canned Fruits | 27qts |
| Canned Vegetables | 27qts |
| Soup | 5.8lbs |
| Powdered Milk | 5lbs |
| Cereals | 5lbs |
| Oat Meals | 5lbs |
| Peanut Butter | 2lbs |
| Pancake Mix | 10lbs |
| Honey, Jam, Syrup | 5lbs |
| Pasta | 5lbs |
| Spaghetti sauce | 0.7lbs |
| Salt | 0.7lbs |
| Oil (Olive, vegetable oil) | 2lbs |
| Coffee, Tea | 1.5lbs |
| Spices, Sauce | 1lbs |
| Nuts | 5.8lbs |
| Package Meals | 5.8lbs |
| Water | 16Gallon |
| Bleach | 0.1 Gallon |
Choose these items according to your family preference. Most of the food mentioned above are easy to cook with low fuel consumption, are easy to store and provide ample nutrition.
One Month Food Supply For 4 People
I have assumed this is a family of 2 adults above 20 years and 2 children below 15.
| Total Grains | 114lbs |
| Wheat | 59lbs |
| Oats | 10lbs |
| Cornmeal | 10lbs |
| Pasta | 10lbs |
| Rice | 21lbs |
| Canned Dry Meat | 6lbs |
| Fats and oil | 8lbs |
| Vegetable oil | 8lbs |
| Salad dressing | 1qts |
| Peanut butter | 2lbs |
| Mayonaise | 1qts |
Beans and legumes
| Dry bean | 12lbs |
| Soybean | 3lbs |
| Lima beans | 2lbs |
| Split peas | 2lbs |
| Lentils | 2lbs |
| Dry Soup Mix | 2lbs |
Milk and Dairy 26lbs
| Dry Milk | 22lbs |
| Cans of Evaporated Milk | 5 Cans |
| Extra/Other dairies | 5lbs |
Sugar 18lbs
| Sugar | 12lbs |
| Brown sugar | 1lbs |
| Honey | 1lbs |
| Jam | 1lbs |
| Corn Syrup | 1lbs |
| Molasses | 1lbs |
| Powdered Juice Mix | 2lbs |
| Jello Mix | 1lbs |
Cooking Essential
| Salt | 2lbs |
| Baking Powder | 1lbs |
| Baking Soda | 1lbs |
| Yeast | 1lbs |
| Vinegar | 1 Gallon |
| Total Dried Fruits and Vegetable | 27lbs |
| Total Canned fruits and Vegetable | 94qts |
| Water Storage | 54 Gallon |
| Bleach | 0.3gallon |
Food Grade Plastic For Keeping Your Food Safe:
The first step you should follow is to identify Food Grade plastic For stockpiling Food. Below are the types of food-grade plastic:
If you are going to stockpile food for the long term food storage, you definitely need lots of containers. The most common type of food storage that is being used today is mainly glass and plastic.
Both of these materials offer good food safety and do not change the chemistry of your food. While choosing glass containers for food is not a problem.
But when it comes to choosing a plastic container you have to have a good knowledge of specific food-grade plastic containers.
With the increase in different forms of plastic Food and Drugs Administration(FDA) has set some standards. To make sure that the plastic that is being used for food storage and packaging is safe.
These are the best and safest food-grade plastics:
- PETE Or PET (Polyethylene terephthalate)
- HDPE (High-density polyethylene)
- PVC (Vinyl or polyvinyl chloride)
- LDPE (Low-density polyethylene)
- PP (Polypropylene)
- PS (Polystyrene)
Non-food item to store for an emergency:
- First Aid Kit
- Sanitization Supplies
- Toilet Paper
- Flashlight
- An extra power source
- Supplement (Vitamins)
- Medicine
- Self-defense Items
- Cooking Stove and Pot with extra gas
- Warm Clothing
You can also check How long can you store water
Conclusion
Preparing is much much better than regretting and suffering. Please do prepare for emergency situations. Especially in a time like this. So keep yourself and your family safe. Good luck !!!