Food Storage vs Healthy Eating

As the title suggests, food storage and healthy eating can be opposites, one versus the other, as in not compatible. Allow me to explain.

Whether your food storage is compatible with your diet depends on your particular healthy diet. For example, I prefer a diet consisting of protein (a variety of meat and eggs), fresh vegetables (if possible), and fresh fruits (again, if possible).

As you well know, fresh foods are not conducive to a long shelf life.

Fresh vs Long Term Food Storage

So what can I put in my food storage that will support my diet of fresh foods? Right up front I’ll have to cancel out the “fresh” part — fresh and long term storage are not compatible. But the types of food I prefer are still possible.

Let’s take freeze-dried food for example. If you have explored web sites that sell freeze-dried foods, you know that almost any type of food can come in #10 cans, packed and sealed for long term storage. So to support my preferred diet, I purchased #10 cans that each contain only one vegetable, one fruit, or one meat type, rather than the cans containing complete dinners (a starch, vegetable and a protein).

But don’t think I’m inflexible. I am well aware that in dire circumstances, I will be glad to have anything at all to eat. And to keep my storage flexible, I purchased some of the complete dinners also — but not JUST to be flexible. Carbohydrates are more necessary in stressful situations to give us quick energy.

Canned foods can also support a low carbohydrate diet — just purchase cans containing one food product per can. For the sake of quick and easy, however, full meals such as some soups, stews, and MREs should also be in your food storage plans, just in case you need them.

I was approached recently about adding a line of dehydrated foods to my web site. As I checked their web site, I discovered that there is not one particle of real meat in any of their prepared meals. These are strictly carbohydrate meals.

So when you purchase food storage, buy the products that support your healthy diet — the types of foods your family will eat. Notice the ingredients when purchasing freeze-dried or dehydrated foods  — ask someone if the ingredients are not readily available on their web site.

Freeze-Dried Food Storage Tip: Because of increased demand, delivery times for Mountain House #10 cans can be as long as 160 days. However, Nitro-Pak has their own brand which will not take more than a week or two to arrive, as long as it is in stock. See this online selection of freeze-dried food if you’re interested in ordering. I noticed there are only three items that are listed as out of stock. If you want this type of product in your food storage, I personally would get in line – no matter how long it takes to arrive. Most of us will not need to use this food before 160+ days (hopefully).

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Joan has created the web site, Family Survival Planning, to help families learn to be self reliant and prepared. She believes good planning will make food storage much easier — especially if you ever have to eat it.