I can do this!!!!
The idea of getting your food storage in order can feel very overwhelming (believe me, I've been there many times). Often you just don't know where to begin so we don't ever start. In these times of uncertainty, we can begin to prepare our families by taking small steps. I have assembled some easy steps to getting your 3 month supply on its way.
STEP 1
Inventory what you have in your food supply. This may take some time to accurately assess what you have but it will help you figure out what you need.
Last month many of you participated in the Self-Reliance Challenges. One of these challenges included taking an inventory of what you have in your pantry, cupboards, freezer, refrigerator, etc. We provided a few inventory sheets for you to use as well as a FHE lesson to involve your family. If you have not taken this opportunity...it's not too late.
STEP 2
Choose a plan that works for your family. We discussed recently at our Relief Society Meeting three different plans to accumulate your 3 month food supply. Use the link to review each of the different plans and begin.
Plan A Pick up a few extra at the store each time
Plan B Use your family recipes that your family loves already
Plan C Ready made meals
One of the helps from the Self-Reliant Challenges may help you.
Using food from your Food Storage...now!
This is helpful because it gives ideas on how to use your food storage in yummy recipes that we've used in the past in our newsletters and the food storage sampling night we had last year. Most of these recipes are centered around foods you can purchase at the cannery. Since these are foods that we may have already or we may purchase in the future...it's important to know how to use what you have. An emergency situation is not the time to figure out what your family likes or learn how to cook your food.
STEP 3
Planning your Meals (this is already done if you chose one of the websites from Plan C). This may be something you are already doing or it might be a new concept. If you meal plan already...great! Just take those recipes from your past 1-4 weeks and use them to create a 1 month meal plan. You can swap out any of the recipes for easier ones if you choose.
If you haven't meal planned before, then now is the time. Find recipes that your family enjoys for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 1-4 weeks. These can be easy to prepare foods that you can have on hand and you plan on keeping them stocked up. Take your 1 month plan and multiply it by 3 and you have a 3 month plan. Easy! Now you have a plan that will feed your family for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 3 months (after you've gathered all the needed food and water).
Meal Planning List (from our Self-Reliant Challenges)
This can help you include those foods and recipes that you make on a day to day basis. Find those recipes that you already use and include them in your food supply plan.
Examples of Meal Planners
Meal Planner #1 from A Matter of Preparedness (click on this link for more details)
MenuPlanner[1]
Meal Planner #2 from A Winding Road (click on this link for more details)
Meal Planner #3 from A Girl and a Glue Gun (click on this link for more details)
Meal Planner #4 from Self-Reliant Sisters (look for the blank forms) (click on this link for more details)
Use the link above to type in your own menus. Print them out when you are done.
Meal Planner #5 from Controlling my Chaos (click on this link for more details)
Meal Planner #6 from Brown Paper Packages (click on this link for more details)
STEP 4
Create your Grocery List. Now that you have the menus you will be using and you know what you have with your inventory...get what's left. Make a list of all the items you still need to complete these meals in a 3 month time period and keep this with you always when you go grocery shopping. You may choose to get all of one item at a time. You may also choose to stock up in your items when they are on sale. Do what works for you and your family. Another place to consider for some of your food items is the cannery (a.k.a. Home Storage Center). We'll talk more about the Home Storage Center at another time.
Get started! What are you waiting for?
