Food Preparedness

In 2020 it seems like there is newfound interest in food preparedness, but quarantines or not, being prepared for emergencies is something that should be a priority to everyone. You never know what could prevent you from being able to shop for food – job loss, natural disasters, family emergencies, and yes, quarantines due to viral outbreaks.

I guess you could call us “preppers”. Really you could call most homesteaders that – one of the main draws to this lifestyle is self-sufficiency. In our years spent building up our homestead and pantry I have learned a few things about what foods would be most helpful to have on hand. Here are some of the top items:

DRIED BULK GOODS – wheat berries, rice, oats, beans, etc. These items, if stored properly, have an extremely long shelf life. In the event of an emergency you can always bake some bread or cook up some rice and beans.

BAKING SUPPLIES – Perhaps you aren’t prepared to bake bread without yeast, so you might want to consider having some on hand. Things like baking soda and powder will allow you to make biscuits, muffins, and other baked goods. You can also never have enough sweeteners and oil/fats!

PROTEIN – Freezers full of meat are wonderful, but not ideal when you consider long-term power outages. Canned meat and beans can be warmed quickly, even without power. Even better, having some backyard chickens to provide you with a constant source of fresh eggs every day.

CANNED GOODS – Once again, having canned items that are shelf stable and can be consumed without energy usage are ideal. If you have to eat a lot of dried grains for a while, these items will be the treats that keep you from being bored, and give you added vitamins.

SPICES – While not necessary, having a variety of bulk spices and flavorings on hand will make your food a lot less boring.

The Bible tells us not to worry about where our food will come from, but that isn’t an excuse to be unprepared. Preparing can be the difference between being a blessing to others in a time of need or being a burden to them.