How Prepared Are You? How to Evaluate Your of Food and Supplies Stockpile

Are you well-stocked as part of your emergency preparedness strategy? The key for preppers is having a good supply of food, water, and other essentials on-hand in the event a catastrophic event presents itself. Do you have what you need?

Do you have food that is both nutritious and easy to work with?
When you’re doing your inventory, be sure that you have a mixture of foods that are flavorful and easy to work with. Check the nutritional facts to be sure they contain a variety of essential nutrients. Choose foods that don’t require extensive or special preparation.

  • White or brown rice is filling and full of vitamins and calories.
  • Items like beans, sugar, salt, flour, and oats are good base ingredients that make the foundation of a variety of dishes.
  • Canned goods like fruit and vegetables have a long shelf life and don’t require extensive preparation.
  • Peanut butter is full of protein and calories. It can also double as a sweet sugary treat.
  • Powdered drink mixes and multivitamins are easy ways to make sure you’re getting required nutrition in a quick form.

Do you have enough food for your specific needs?
It’s not enough to just have food stored away. You’ll need a plan and a menu for distributing foods equally and making it last over a period of at least 2 weeks. Take some time to consider who may be with you and their unique nutritional needs.

  • Store items like beans, rice and flour in large quantities, probably over 5 pounds of each. They last a long time, but are used for many things.
  • Canned goods are perishable once they’re opened. Have enough to use each can as a one-time meal.
  • Test your inventory by doing a trial run. Try to spend a weekend cooking only from your storage. You’ll notice the small things you probably forgot.

Do you have emergency supplies that fit your needs?
There are some supplies that are universal. Most you can find in the sporting goods section of a big department store. Take care to go with quality items, even though you’ll (hopefully) never need them. You’ll be glad you have top-quality goods when the time comes.

  • 5 gallon water containers. When you get home, fill it with tap water.
  • Buy a minimum of 250 rounds of ammunition for your main defense weapon. Add a cleaning kit to keep the firearm functioning properly and to battle degradation over time.
  • Pick up a good quality LED flashlight for your emergency preparedness inventory. Throw in some extra batteries and a bulb. In addition to that, get two boxes of wooden matches and several multi-purpose lighters. Be certain to date, use, and rotate. It’s a first in, first out process.

You’ll find these to be useful tools in aiding you to be prepared for the unexpected. Evaluate your inventory and do trial runs regularly to be sure everything is in order and up-to-date.

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