My Food Storage Deals

A QUESTION WORTH DISCUSSING:

"I can understand stocking up on food when you get a good deal. I even understand having enough food in case of an emergency. But, to keep a year’s worth of canned and boxed food seems extreme.I’ve become increasingly aware of eating well and living a healthy lifestyle. I eat much more fresh foods than canned and boxed. The FDA agrees that the food we eat today doesn’t have all the nutrition we need. A lot of that is processed out, especially in things like white flour and sugar.Wouldn’t it be healthier to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, cut back on the processed foods and chemicals, and take a better vitamins?"~Marilyn

MY REPLY:

You have some great points! A year supply is an individual/families decision and should be thoughtfully discussed and prayed about—it may not feel right or even be an option for some people to store a year suply. However, a year supply is NOT an excessive amount of food. It seems like it would be, but it really isn't when you have it. It really is just an economical way to live and eat. By storing the items your family eats on a regular basis, and buying them when they are on sale, you are saving SO much money, as well as preparing for an emergency or hard time that may come to your family. Whether you are obtaining a year supply of food for spiritual reasons, or just to save money, you will find it is the smart way to live. Items generally only go on sale one to two times a year. If you stock up when they do, and buy enough to get you through until they go on sale again, you are saving money & time.

So what do we store? I agree with you on the processed foods. I buy VERY little preprocessed foods. Food storage does not need to be only items in a can or box, this is a common myth! The items I have in my storage are the basics..wheat, grains, barley, oats, dry beans, flour, honey, sugar, powdered milk, pastas, baking items, fruit (low sugar), vegetables, olive oil, salt, canola oil, dried fruit, I bottle my own fruit and meat as well to cut back on chemicals and processed items. These are basic, healthy food storage items, and that is what we have been asked to store (along with any other items your family eats on a regular basis). It is also important, like you said, to also eat what is in season. Definitely eating lots of fruits and vegetables is an important part of your diet. When you eat what is in season (which is usually on sale, and those foods you can grow in your own backyard) you do get added vitamins and nutrients that your body needs. Not all families can eat this way, but for me I have found that making nearly everything from scratch (from items in my food storage and freezer) and supplementing with fresh fruits and vegetables, it not only saves money, but helps my family eat and live more healthy.

In a world where life can be so busy and overwhelming, it is easy to see though why families have navigated to eating more of the quick and easy meals, along with the processed foods. It does take time and patience to find what will work for your individual family. With a little preperation and perhaps a few good recipes, you too can begin to live a more simplified and healthy life. I know I could use more of that, and am grateful we are not asked to be perfect, but are just asked to do our best! ;)