Getting Started--Part Two

These "Getting Started" posts are not necessarily chronological, but might more accurately be called, "Getting Started--Idea One," "Getting Started--Idea Two," etc. The purpose of this blog is to provide several practical, simplified approaches to food storage. Hopefully, everyone will find an idea that works and be able to begin a basic food storage.

This post is for those who would like to have a simple storage of basic foods, saved for an emergency. These are ingredients that could be used to make basic recipes, such as bread, pancakes, soups, etc.

1. Basics List
Store at least one item from each category

• Grains: wheat, flour, cornmeal, oats, rice, pasta
• Protein: dry beans, canned meat (beef, chicken, fish), peanut butter
• Vegetables: canned, dehydrated, or sauce, soup, juice
• Fruits: canned, dried, juice
  
• Dairy products: powdered milk, dried milk, canned milk or shelf milk, powdered eggs
• Sweeteners: sugar, honey
• Essential baking ingredients: salt, oil, shortening, yeast, baking powder, baking soda
• Water

Other items to consider include condiments and seasonings, multi-vitamins, gum, hard candy, basic medicines (for fever/colds) and food for infants and pets (if applicable).

2. Very Basics List
(This one-month supply list was compiled by someone at the LDS Home Storage Center. The "cans" mentioned are the #10 cans sold at the Home Storage Center).

• Wheat--3 cans
• White flour--1 can
• Rice--2 cans
• Oats--1 can
• Macaroni--1 can
• Pinto beans--1 can
• Sugar--1 can
• Powdered milk--1 can
• Shortening--1 can
• Salt--16 ounces
• Water--28 gallons

"Church members can begin their home storage by storing basic foods that would be required to keep them alive if they did not have anything else to eat. When members have stored enough of these essentials to meet their needs for one year, they may decide to add other items that they are accustomed to using day to day."
--January 2002 letter
from the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints*

*Some guidelines have been updated. Click here for the March 2009 Ensign article.