Tuesday, September 24, 2013

What's in Your Preparedness Pantry?

As I was surfing the web I came across this awesome article that’s all about preparing food for a disaster:
Food Storage 101:
Why store food?
Like water, food is essential to survival. In a natural disaster, the food supply we rely on every day can be disrupted or cut off. In this situation, having an emergency supply at home ensures you and your loved ones are provided for. Food storage allows you to feed your family when you’re unable to obtain food from third-party sources for whatever reason.

Planning your food storage
Some of the basic ideas behind food storage planning include:
1. Keep a record of the foods your family eats regularly (and likes).
            2. Make a regular menu of your family’s favorite recipes.
            3. Incorporate food storage items into your grocery list.
            4. Have fun and try new things.

      What food to store
     Steps to Building a Three-Month Supply:
1. Make a menu for 1-12 weeks of meals that only use non-perishable items.
2. Buy extra non-perishable items on your menu a few at a time until you have at least      three months’ worth of food.
3. Rotate your storage items into your daily meals, using the oldest products first and replacing as needed to maintain your supply. 

      How much food to store
       In an emergency situation, calories are the top priority. Each member of the family, depending on gender and age, will have different caloric needs. Knowing this can help you determine how many calories you need to store per person per day. The following chart is based on USDA recommendations:
Age and Gender
Daily Calorie Needs*
Children 2-3 years
1,000-1,400 cals
Children 4-8  years
1,200-2,000 cals
Girls 9-13 years
1,400-2,200 cals
Boys 9-13 years
1,600-2,600 cals
Girls 14-18 years
1,800-2,400 cals
Boys 14-18 years
2,000-3,200 cals
Females 19-30 years
1,800-2,400 cals
Males 19-30 years
2,400-3,000 cals
Females 31-50 years
2,400-3,000 cals
Males 31-50 years
2,200-3,000 cals
Females 51+ years
1,600-2,200 cals
Males 51+ years
2,000-2,800 cals

Remember, take it one step at a time!
For more info, or to read this entire article, visit this site: http://beprepared.com/media/wysiwyg/PDF/Prep-School-Food-Storage-101.pdf

Samantha Minks
AmeriCorps NPRC Member 2013-2014
Preparedness Coordinator, Community Preparedness and Resilience Services

American Red Cross – Kern Chapter

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