Basic Food Storage

The basic food storage is the absolute necessities. It is composed of life-sustaining foods that store well for long periods. A year’s supply of garden seeds for planting should be stored so that the diet may be supplemented with fresh vegetables. Basic food storage for one year per person (2400 calories per day) should include the following:

400 pounds of grains (wheat, barely, rice, oats)
60 pounds of dry beans and legumes
20 pounds of fats and oils
60 pounds of honey and sugars
75 pounds of dry milk
5 pounds of salt

Although people prepare with a much more diverse supply, the basics will provide a foundation of food for the following reasons:

1. LONG SHELF LIFE - except for powdered milk, unrefined basic storage foods will store indefinitely when kept dry, dark, airtight, and at 70 degrees or below. Higher temperatures shorten shelf life, but foods will still last longer than canned goods stored the same way.

2. THEY ARE THE LEAST EXPENSIVE FOODS - a year’s supply of basic foods for an adult can cost as little as $200 to $250. A year’s supply of any other kind or combination of foods costs $700 to $4000 for each adult.

3. THEY PROVIDE THE MOST NUTRITION FOR THE VOLUME - basic foods are dry foods except for the fats and oils. Water is necessary for many of them to be cooked and/or eaten. Therefore, the space necessary for storage is much less than canned goods which have liquid in addition to the food.

4. THEY PROVIDE ALL BUT VITAMINS A & C - even these vitamins can be provided by unusual grains such as amaranth. Sprouting can also provide small amounts. It is best, though, to store vitamins and/or garden seeds for fresh vegetables until a supply of canned fruits and vegetables can be maintained.

5. THEY ARE THE BASIS OF A HEALTHY DISEASE PREVENTION DIET - nutrition and health research indicates that the healthiest diets are low fat, high fiber, high complex carbohydrate diets. Whole grains, legumes, and low-fat milk are all a part of this diet.

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