Across the nation, the crisis is escalating as employers begin enforcement of vaccine measures. Many of us don’t know if we’ll have a paycheck next week or the week after. For nearly 80 million Americans, the most pressing issue is, “What do we do when our W2 income stops?” One thing I can guarantee is that no matter what happens, we all need to eat, so let’s keep calm and take mitigating actions.
The purpose of this particular blog is to hopefully impress upon everyone the importance of establishing a minimum level of food security during these uncertain times. For starters, at least 30 days of food for everyone in the household. When we get terminated from work (plan for the worst, hope for the best), the last thing we want is to worry about food shopping for the family while trying to secure a new source of income. A good idea is to have a detailed, rationed meal plan established as an immediate response to termination or unpaid administrative leave. This will immediately place the household food spending into conservation mode while we get the income issue squared away.
I recommend purchasing copious amounts of all your favorite spices and seasonings. We may not always have access to our preferred foods, but whatever we have, a good spice kit can definitely spruce it up. Bouillon cubes are great to have on hand and can dress up plain white rice. It’s also a good idea to have at least 25 pounds of salt on hand. Salt is a very useful, multipurpose product. The brand “Morton” sells iodized salt conveniently packaged in 25-pound bags.
Have powdered milk, powdered eggs, and powdered butter on hand. These items can give us the flexibility to prepare many of the “grid up” everyday meals we eat now, but they are difficult to store long-term in their natural state. The brand “Bob’s Red Mill” sells a 12-ounce bag of egg replacer which is equivalent to 34 eggs. They also sell powdered milk in 22-ounce bags. Each bag produces 26 cups of milk. The company “Future Essentials” sells powdered butter in a can. Search them online and check out some of their other products as well.
Dry goods are essential. When it comes to storing long-term food products, there are many dedicated survival food companies that sell the food already pre-packaged. However, these dedicated “survival food” items can be pretty pricey and backordered, especially this late in the game. They are also typically very high in sodium, so have plenty of potable water on hand if that’s all you’re eating. I prefer taking a combined approach to securing food preps. Some food I buy from the regular supermarket, and some items I purchased from the survival food companies. Plenty of regular food we buy at the supermarket can last us 2 to 3 years easily. When possible, save money and buy that. For example, Barilla Protein+ Pasta costs about two dollars at Walmart. One box feeds seven people and contains 70 grams of protein. Combine this with a three-dollar can of pasta sauce, and you have a full meal that can be cooked over an open flame.
Some items are best purchased in large bulk. You can always repackage it in mylar bags. Again, Bob’s Red Mill is a great source for products. I recommend purchasing 25-pound bags of staple items such as all-purpose flour, granola, rice, beans, and sugar. For rice, store white rice; it lasts much longer than brown rice. The natural oil in brown rice will cause it to spoil faster. Don’t forget baking products such as baking powder, baking soda (which can even be used to make toothpaste), and cocoa powder. Another great item to have is pancake mix, especially if you have children. Some pancake batters require eggs and oil or butter. With the powdered butter and eggs, breakfast will be ready in no time, and you won’t know the difference. If you’re not picky about what pancake batter you get, there are plenty out there that just need water. Don’t forget syrup or honey (which lasts forever).
Have a supply of protein powders on hand. They are lightweight, can be mixed with powdered milk and water, and have a long shelf life. Canned goods are how most of our protein will be packaged. Canned salmon or tuna, and corned beef hash are on the top of my list. Secure a healthy supply of all your favorite canned proteins. Get plenty of pasta sauce as well. This list does not cover everything, and the food we put away won’t last forever. But, depending on how much we put away, it will keep us fed if we need at least a month to secure new income. The more food we put away, the more time we buy ourselves.