The evidence is growing all around us. The world is an uncertain place, filled with unanticipated emergencies that might unexpectedly touch our lives with no warning.
The solution is to prepare for the most obvious contingencies. A significant part of that preparation is food storage, keeping a reserve of food on hand with an extended shelf life, ready for use in any crisis that might overtake us and our loved ones.
No one knows these things better than Macey’s and their partner in food storage, Augason Farms. To assist you in your preparation efforts, Macey’s offers Augason Farms extended shelf life products: nutritious, tasty, satisfying and easy-to-prepare food for emergencies.
So, here are a few pointers we would like you to consider as you prepare your family for what may come.
Plan
Consider what your family likes to eat, and then store accordingly. Almost anything you eat has been prepared by Augason Farms for long term storage.
No Rush
Haste makes waste. Don’t be overwhelmed. Take it one step at a time. Thoughtfully and carefully adding to your storage on a regular basis will reduce the chance of burning out on the whole idea, which can easily happen.
Be certain you are storing food that will keep over the long haul. Nothing is more disheartening than to open a can or package to discover that its contents have spoiled. Consider the options, and then act accordingly. We’re certain that if you investigate and try Augason Farms products, you will be pleased and satisfied.
On the Menu
Once you decide what your family likes, begin by creating a menu based on those preferences. Look at what they would eat in a one month period or even a three month time span. Then, you need only duplicate those purchases to extend your storage potential out to six months, a year or even more. That’s not complicated.
Just the Basics
To begin with, store basic ingredients first. Staples are the heart of any food storage program. With them, you can create a variety of meals with that homemade touch. The basic ingredients for bread would be a good start. But since “man cannot live by bread alone,” you should follow that with the makings for nutritious and hearty soups and stews.
Store What You Eat
Of course that’s true. And so is the converse: Eat what you store. Don’t store things your family wouldn’t eat in normal situations. Instead, store what your family eats on a regular basis, and occasionally prepare and serve meals made from food storage items. That way, there will be less resistance to eating food storage items when the time comes to depend on it.
In that same vein, don’t forget to consider special needs such as baby food or those who have dietary restrictions or requirements. For example, Augason Farms features a whole line of gluten free foods for those that require such a diet.
The Spice of Life
Variety is especially important. Keep it in mind as you store. In any crisis, food can either be a morale booster or a morale killer. Add variety items to your storage to make it more complete and helpful in an extended crisis.
Learn to Use It
The time to learn the little tricks of food storage meal preparation is not in the midst of a crisis. Using it now, on occasion, lets you learn how to best prepare meals from your food storage. And your family will be more accustomed to it as well, making a transition to food storage meals in a crisis much smoother.
This also encourages the rotation of stored food so that none of it becomes outdated. While modern methods have greatly extended the shelf life of most things, there is an expiration date on everything. Occasionally replacing stored items will facilitate rotation that will keep your storage fresher.
Be Smart
Learn how to properly store food. Selecting the proper packaging for an extended shelf life is just the first step. Learn how to further extend the useful life of your storage by understanding the effect of light, temperature, moisture and air can have on it.
Space is space
One of the first questions asked by a newcomer to the notion of storing food is, “Where do I store it? We have no room.” Experts will tell you that there is always room, which they call “dead space,” to store food, even in the smallest of homes or apartments. Learn from them. Even if the space doesn’t offer ideal conditions, it’s better to have the storage on hand.
Use the Best
Securing food storage from Macey’s, made by Augason Farms, means you don’t have to learn all the ins and outs of how to store food, nor will it consume precious time doing the actual canning or packaging yourself. All the hassle, effort and guesswork have been taken out of the equation by Augason Farms. It’s all been done for you. All you have to do is decide which of the wide variety of food items, meals, entrées, side dishes, drinks and desserts you want, and take them home with you. It’s that simple.
