Food Storage: Traditional FoodWhen it comes to food storage, there are a number of ways to make sure that there isenough food and that it will keep well enough to last everyone through an emergency.Some use dehydrated food, or freeze-dried foods, which both have the advantage of a longshelf-life. Freeze-dried foods even contain nearly all of their original nutritional content.However, it is possible to forego all the advanced forms of food storage and instead storefood in a more traditional way.Food storage is a relatively old concept, and one that is necessary for a variety of reasons.First and foremost, of course, is the idea of storing food in case of a famine or another typeof food shortage--like grocery stores not being able to get the normal supply of food.The second most common reason people store food is likely in anticipation of some sort ofdisaster or emergency. In an increasingly violent and unpredictable world, it is impossible totell when and where the next disaster, natural or otherwise, will strike. Therefore, peoplemake certain that in the event they could not leave their houses for some reason, theywould not starve.There are many other reasons besides these two, however. Some store food during a timeof surplus--when many foods are on sale because of a good year, people will overbuy andstore what they don’t eat for when food prices shoot back up again.Others choose to store food to prepare for times of celebration and festivities, when they’llneed to feed many more people than usual. It would be expensive and inconvenient to buypounds and pounds of food all at once, so some people gradually build up their supply offood so that they may entertain whatever company might come around.Still others store food for religious reasons--many religious leaders council theircongregations to be prepared for anything. Food storage is also an issue of self-reliance;people want to be able to feed themselves, even if there’s less money that month. Withfood storage, no one has to go hungry: people just buy extra when they have the money,and it saves them from going into debt to buy food when money starts to get scarce.Finally, food storage enables a more complete, balanced diet throughout the year, sincehaving an assortment of food storage means that even when someone forgets to buyvegetables or fruit at the store, they are able to just pull something out of food storage andgive their meals variety.Whatever the reason, however, food storage is a good idea for any household, no matterhow many people, or how diverse the diets. If people are looking for a good, easy way toget started, traditional food storage is a basic, convenient way to store food without theshock to one’s finances that buying the newer types of food storage (like freeze-dried ordehydrated foods) can sometimes cause.Storing food this way--in cans, or sealed containers--generally means buying just a bit morefood each week than normal. A few more cans each week, for example, will eventuallybecome a large and comprehensive supply of different types of foods, all with an extensiveshelf life.It’s also important to remember the basics with this type of food storage. Think staples:wheat, rice, corn, beans, and other grains, for starters. Experts suggest that one fully grownperson will eat 25 pounds of some type of grain and 5 pounds of dry beans every month, soplan accordingly. And everyone should make sure they have some way to process theirgrains, particularly wheat, which everyone usually just consumes in the form of flour.In order to make the grain into a more usable powder, someone will need a grain mill.Some are electric, though it makes more practical sense to buy one that is battery- orhand-operated, since in an emergency there will oftentimes not be any electricity at all. TheReady Store sells a hand-powered grain mill that is easy to use and very effective in turningthe grains of wheat into something actually useful in cooking.However, it is probably not good enough just to store the very basics, since if food storageis ever actually necessary, no one is going to want to eat ground up wheat every day formonths on end; this is why sources also recommend storing sugar, nonfat dry milk, cookingoil, salt, baking soda, and other baking essentials. A variety of canned food would also come

in handy with both breaking up the monotony of the staples and providing essentialnutrients.After providing these necessities (grains and legumes), consider also trying to store somesugary foods that will be able to provide flavor like honey, corn syrup, or flavored gelatin.And after all that is done, it’s actually recommended that people store some comfort foodslike popcorn, chocolate, or something warm and filling like mashed potatoes (instant) andgravy. This is because if food storage ever becomes necessary, it will likely be a verystressful time, and people are going to need a source of consolation; and it’s been provedthat food can and does relieve stress.In order to begin the process of storing food, first make room for the large amount of roomthat will be needed. Whenever possible, pick the driest, coolest area of the house, as thatwill ensure the maximum shelf-life for the foods. After that, begin building up thenecessities, as stated above. These foods are necessary because of how often they are usedin the food everyone eats, even now.One important thing to remember about traditional food storage to remember is that, unlikefreeze-dried or dehydrated foods, this food does not have a near-indefinite shelf-life. That’swhy most people who chose to go the traditional route are nearly always buying a few cansfor their food supply, since they must constantly rotate the food they have stored.Be sure to mark when each food was purchased, and as the deadline approaches for cannedfood, use it before it goes bad and replace it. It’s actually a fairly cheap way to dosomething as important as food storage, and it limit’s the number of times someone has torun to the grocery store because they forgot something.When storing staples (not canned food that can be bought at the store), it’s important toremember that those foods cannot be stored in the flimsy bags that they come in. Useplastic containers, metal cans, #10 cans with tight-fitting lids, or something similar; thatway insects or mold can’t get into and ruin the food.Food storage then, in the traditional sense, doesn’t have to be a huge project or a source ofstress or debt to anyone. This way, it just becomes a simple matter of picking up a fewextra supplies whenever grocery shopping. This kind of food storage takes so little effort,yet can yield such positive results in emergencies or times of economic hardship.