Why have food storage?

America is the land of plenty; a place of security and shelter for its citizens. Would we ever really need to use food storage here? Besides, I live in an area where we would never have a disaster where I would need to use Food Storage, Right? These are thought-provoking questions. Research shows that the average American household has less than a week’s supply of food on hand. This same statistic applies to most American supermarkets. Without being paranoid or panicked, there are many valid reasons to put extra food away that you might not have thought about. We are all somewhat vulnerable to events beyond our control. But most situations are probably closer to home: loss of power, unexpected or unplanned interruptions of life such as unemployment, loss of income due to illness or injury, or high medical bills due to an accident. Food storage is a form of insurance protecting your family from the unexpected.

Why is Food Storage a Wise Investment?

Food storage becomes a wise investment for future stability and an even wiser investment if you practice storing what you use and using what you store. No one knows when some type of emergency will happen, whether it be man-made or natural. However, when these emergencies strike, the time to prepare has passed. Making food storage a life-style food storage, rather than a make-do food storage will help you maintain your investment. Food storage that matches your family’s lifestyle is food that more likely will be used. Using and rotating your food storage on a regular basis maintains the original investment and prevents it from being wasted.
Because Food Storage is an Investment, our goal at YourFoodStorage.com is to make Food Storage Affordable for everyone! To that end we have a Financing program that will allow you to buy today and make small monthly payments. To take advantage of our Financing Program today or read more information about how it works, click here.

The Basics

Always start with storing the basics. Grains, legumes, dehydrated milk, sugar, salt, oil, and garden seeds have come to be known as the "basics." Do not underestimate the power these foods have, as they have been shown throughout history to sustain life. It is important to know how to prepare and use the basics, especially ways that your family will enjoy. If you are familiar with the food you have stored, you will be better prepared to use it during times of emergency.

Confidence and Security

Having your food storage can help you have a greater degree of confidence and security. It is important to do your best to prepare your family to be able to eat no matter what happens to the national economy or your job in particular. This confidence in times of crisis can be a most precious commodity. An adequate food supply for your family is a major part of economic security, and possibly the key to survival.

Self-Reliance and Interdependence

Food storage helps you become self-reliant as in the case of the first three days of an emergency or providing for your family when you lose your employment. It also helps you to be interdependent with others as you share during a crisis. Communities weather storms best when they share and work together. With food storage you are better prepared to endure times of adversity without becoming dependent upon the government. Your family’s way of life may be preserved with proper preparation. Self-reliance is often contingent upon a willingness to work. Work can become a source of happiness, and self-esteem, as well as prosperity. Storing, using and knowing how to produce and prepare food and other items that are essential for life create security and stability for you and your family. If a disaster does occur, and you were forced to temporarily change your normal life style, you could do so with minimum discomfort.

Relief Organizations

Some people are apathetic about preparedness, often because they aren’t sure what to do or where to begin. They may become overwhelmed at the prospect of a crisis and the responsibility of self-reliance and become discouraged before they begin. Others are frustrated by contradictory advice, not sure whose ideas to follow. Still others do nothing, figuring that if trouble comes, an emergency disaster organization will rush to their rescue. A common misconception that can be refuted is that the government will immediately come to the rescue. Federal and state organizations perform marvelous service, but when a large population is relying solely upon them, it is virtually impossible to provide for specific or individual needs of everyone. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) advises, "If a disaster threatens your community, local government and disaster-relief organizations will try to help you. But you need to be prepared as well. Local officials may be overwhelmed after a major disaster, and emergency response personnel may not be able to reach you right away. What you do to prepare can make a difference."
Most local relief organizations will take approximately three days (72 hours) to get back on their feet to be able to help you. An emergency kit is a big step in the right direction. Doing your part by having food, water, and supplies for three days will help alleviate the pressure on relief agencies as well as minimize your own discomfort.
Preparedness is everyone's job. Not just government agencies, but all sectors of society--service providers, businesses, civic and volunteer groups, industry associations and neighborhood associations, as well as every individual citizen--should plan ahead for disasters.
Being prepared for the unexpected is wise. It provides confidence knowing your family is better prepared to be safe and secure. Families who are prepared can reduce fear, inconvenience, and losses that surround a family crisis or a natural disaster.
Eat what you store, store what you eat"--it seems like such a simple concept, but when planning your food storage, it’s difficult to remember this, and even more difficult to apply it on a day-to-day basis.

Eat What You Store

Having food storage is one thing, but using it is a completely different aspect. It’s easy to put food away in your cupboards and storage rooms, but the question is, can you use it? Do you know how to grind wheat into flour? Do you know how much Textured Vegetable Protein to use as a substitute for meat? Do you know how to incorporate dehydrated carrots into your favorite recipes? Do you know when to use whole egg mix or scrambled egg mix in your cooking? These are all questions we must learn the answers to by reading, asking people who have experience, and practice, practice, practice! You don’t want to wait until an emergency arises to learn how to use your food storage.
Rotation is the key to a successful food storage program. There are several reasons you want to rotate your food storage:

1. To prevent food spoiling.
2. To minimize the deterioration of nutritive value and quality.
3. To make the most of your money.
4. To learn how to use your stored food so the lack of knowledge does not add to a stressful situation during an emergency.
5. To adapt your body to your food storage.

A common misconception about food storage is that it will last forever. Just like any other food, food storage will lose nutritional value over time. It is a waste of money and food if you never use it. When you make a conscious effort to use your food storage, it will eventually become a habit to incorporate your food storage into your daily meals and you will not be wasting your food or money.
All foods are subject to deterioration as time passes especially if they are subjected to heat. Chemical changes occur and cause foods to alter in texture, color, taste, and have a loss of vitamins and minerals. This is why it is so important to rotate regularly. All food is best used in five years. Minerals and carbohydrates can last indefinitely and can have crucial value in an emergency. Therefore, never throw old food storage out unless you have something to replace it.
If you buy food storage and do not intend to use it except during an emergency, you may not be using your money wisely. When you use your food storage it becomes an economical and practical way to grocery shop. Buying in bulk is less expensive than buying smaller quantities. For example, buying a 25 pound bag of sugar versus a 5 pound bag is cheaper per pound. Another way food storage is more economical is by buying wheat. Wheat is substantially less expensive than flour, and will store much longer.
Using your food storage takes knowledge and practice. You will want to learn what recipes work, which ones taste better, and work on making them before an emergency occurs. Challenge yourself to use your food storage weekly or daily. The more you use it, the more skilled you will become.

Store What You Eat

It is important to store the types of foods your family eats on a regular basis and the types of foods they enjoy. But maybe your family really enjoys lasagna or spaghetti so you may want to buy a lot of tomato powder. If your family likes to eat treats regularly you will want to be sure to store things such as baking chocolate, pudding, cake or brownie mixes, jello, and dried fruit so their diet will be normal when you have to exclusively use your food storage. On the other hand, if your family does not eat a lot of treats, you do not have to worry about storing as many of these things.
Food storage "technology" has come a long way. Now we enjoy scrambled eggs with bacon, that taste just like the real thing, and food storage can become enjoyable to eat and even easy to prepare. Just remember to always keep in mind the age-old philosophy "eat what you store, store what you eat" and your food storage will not only taste good in a crisis, but everyday too.
Make a list of the meals your family enjoys and purchase the freeze dried products that you will use to make those meals. For example, if your family eats potatoes regularly then you may want to prepare them as a potato casserole that is made with your food storage. Another, say your family likes cheese and broccoli, again periodically try a recipe (cheesy broccoli soup) using your food storage

This article is from FoodStorage.com  I hope it helps to show the importance of having food storage.
Have a good week!