#3 What If. . . Cheapest Emergency Survival Foods/Storage Plan

The author of  this plan set out to create the cheapest emergency food survival/storage plan possible with the following four objectives in mind:

1. The food must all be nutritious
2. It must all keep a long time without refrigeration
3. You must be able to eat it uncooked if necessary
4. It must all fit into a normal diet

Quite an undertaking --- 
The goal was met using only two foods + two more added to provide some variety
Quite an accomplishment!

No matter what your food plan is ----
It is essential that you have stored WATER and a MANUAL can opener!

If money is not a problem, acquiring a wide-variety emergency food supply is no problem. If you have a lot of food already on hand the following would probably not be something you'd rush into. But. . . if you don't have any stored food to speak of and a very limited budget, the plan presented below may be a jump start for you.

This "Anyway" Very Cheap System of Food Storage is made up of foods you are going to eat "anyway." Foods you eat as part of your regular diet. Foods that are most likely already found in your cupboards. Complete details of this plan can be found at http://sharonastyk.com/2008/10/17/friday-food-storage-not-quite-so-quickie-5-week-beginner-food-storage/


1. ROLLED OATS
Four ounces of regular or quick cooking dry rolled oats has 434 calories and 18 grams of protein! And, if necessary, oats can be eaten without additional cooking or heating. Oats are not very versatile but they do meet the needs of a survival food --- high protein and substantial calories, lightweight to transport and cheap! Plus they will store for 30+ years!

If something disastrous happened and you had very little other food available, eight ounces (about one cup) of oats daily would provide 868 calories and 36 grams of protein, a very substantial part of daily caloric and protein requirements. This is definitely not an everyday recommendation but eight ounces of oats would sustain you in case of dire emergency.

Become Accustomed to Oats by Starting Now
Eating four ounces (about 1/2 cup) of oats for breakfast two or three times per week is healthy and economical. It can be eaten either cooked or uncooked. It can be combined with yogurt, nuts, sunflower seeds, dried or fresh fruits or any combination. They can be eaten dry if necessary or topped with milk, juice or even water. Mixing ahead with yogurt or liquid will soften the oats.

2. PLAIN CANNED BEANS
A entire can of black beans (about 15 ounces) has 315 calories and 24.5 grams of protein. They are already cooked and can be eaten right from the can if necessary.

Start Now to Make Beans a Part of Your Menu
 There are many kinds of plain canned beans----all with approximately the same food values and cost. It is easy to have beans in your regular menu rotation as they can be a healthy base for many dishes -- tacos, soups, refried beans, salads, beans and rice, etc. Having beans on your menu twice a week would be a good goal to work towards. Beans are not only a versatile food, they are a good-for-you-food.If you are concerned with salt intake, canned beans can be rinsed before using.

When there is not the need to consume them plain and right from the can there are hundreds, probably even thousands, of bean recipes available on the internet. RecipeSource.com is just one site.

In the case of an emergency if you ate a whole can of beans and the eight ounces of oatmeal you would be eating 1183 calories and 42 grams of protein. While this is less than the recommended daily value it would certainly keep you from becoming malnourished even if that was all you had to eat for a month.

3. CANNED TOMATOES
Canned tomatoes are next on the list because they can add variety to your supply of beans, while adding some vitamins. They are perfectly safe to eat uncooked.

4. CANNED FRUIT
The fourth recommendation is canned fruit. Applesauce tops the list because of its popularity and its reasonable price. Applesauce is already found in most pantries. Other fruits can be chosen according to your tastes, just as with the bean varieties. Fruits packed in their own juice is preferable. Fruit also makes the oatmeal more palatable.

Again, it is essential to have stored water and a manual can opener!
It would be good to store a bottle of multi-vitamins also. The cheap over-the-counter kind are fine.

That's it! That's the bare bones survival basics.

LET'S DO THE MATH. . .
This plan says 15 pounds of oats is needed for each person for one month. A 42-ounce container of regular oats states it has approximately 30 half-cup servings. Oats can also be purchased in large bags or one-gallon-size cans.

Each 42-ounce carton of oats will provide a little more than the one cup per day for two weeks.
Each can of beans = one day's food supply for one person
Each can of tomatoes and/or fruit increases the appeal and variety of the survival meal

Six 42-ounce containers of oats = 15-3/4 pounds (= 90+ cups or 90 days ration of oats for survival)

Rather than purchasing all the oats, then all the beans, etc. it would be best to buy some of each so you are acquiring the survival meals as you go.

Once you have these items, don't let them just sit on the shelf waiting for an extreme emergency. They are, or should become, part of your everyday diet, and as such, should be restocked regularly as you make your routine grocery purchases.

FINALLY. . .
Even if I can't convince you of the importance of having non-perishable, no-cooking-needed foods on hand in case of an extended crisis, I implore you to have enough on hand for 72 hours.


Three days is the average length of time it takes for services to be restored and supplies to be brought in the time of disaster. 


This basic sustaining life survival plan can't get any simpler . . .
If that time comes, what price would you pay/what would you give to have three cups of oatmeal, three cans of beans and three quarts of water on hand for each member of your family? 


Peace of mind is priceless.