FOOD TO KEEP IN A PREPPER PANTRY | EMERGENCY FOOD STORAGE 101 | FRUGAL FIT MOM

It's becoming more popular to have some emergency food storage on hand, so here is a tour of my secret food room and a haul of canned goods that I picked up in February 2022. I hope you enjoy my frugal living tips here on KZbin.
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I purchased canned beans (pinto, black, cannelini, kidney), canned veggies (green beans, corn), evaporated milk, dry milk powder, canned pears, canned peaches, green chiles, and pancake syrup.
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#frugalliving #prepper #frugalfitmom

[@FrugalFitMom]

Non-Food Items to stockpile - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpuvhId_maylhNU

[@angelacleary8234]

I have slowly been building my food storage. We have 10 kids and 14 grandkids. My kids come "shop" at my house when they have hard times. I am thankful to be able to help them and have the security to know that I will be able to provide for my family if something unexpected happens. Thanks for all your tips!

[@LB-vl3qn]

My goodness, God certainly smiled on you - 10 kids and 14 grandkids! Love the idea of allowing them to 'shop' your pantry. ~ Lisa

[@Mrs.Silversmith]

What a great way to be a blessing to your family!

[@msoda8516]

You are a good mother

[@kathynguyen5024]

Same. We coverted our dining room to a storage room and my "hobo" college siblings shop at our house lol. Our house is a 1400 square ft house so we put dinette like table in the living room. They complain everything how it's a waste of space but don't mind leaving with food every time Were a family of 6. 3 of them live in Richmond for college. We live in a suburbs of Washington DC so its expensive here.

[@allisonspeer6837]

My son "shops" my house too. I'm blessed to be able to help them out.

[@Heavncentt]

When we built our first home in 2008 and had a basement, I started our first food storage systems. I grew it slowly with things we always use to make meals. Then when we built our second home and I had a dedicated food storage room, I was able to concentrate on stockpiling things that would be shelf stable for a very long time that we use often, and grew things when the pandemic started. It has been so beneficial. Stores are frequently out of stock on many things, prices have skyrocketed. I am able to still cook our favorites using items I got at low sale prices before the price increases ever happened. It's truly a blessing.

[@amandacreech5579]

An extension class I went to once said the key to using dry milk is letting it set mixed for 24 hours so it can fully reconstitute before using it and it will taste more "normal"

[@AM-ln7op]

Thanks for pointing out it's not good to hoard everything at once from one store because other people need it too. Tells me that you care, and you truly seem to appreciate your community. We need more people like you! Great content (please don't secretly correct my grammar, English is my third language!)

[@shawnjohnson4490]

The fact that you know three languages is awesome!

[@chelseagarchar4338]

4th generation Farming family here. We definitely have always had at least a year supply of food at any given time. The past couple of years showed us some weaknesses in our supply. Mostly cleaning supplies. Plus a few holes in food supplies. Could we go without if we had to? YES, but why? If we don’t have to. Stocking up slowly with things that we don’t grow, has made a big difference. Like you said, never emptying shelves only getting a couple extra at a time can add up quickly without depleting the supply for others. 👍

[@americaneden3090]

Pool shock, Peroxide, baking soda, 91% alcohol and concentrated cleaners and Dawn dish soap have become basic staples for me. Pool shock must be stored and handled CAREFULLY but u can make bleach by diluting it with water. The other items I use regularly, the pool shock is a RARITY.

[@lindab.1625]

Maybe you could address her bug eggs comment. I don’t want to even see bugs, but I don’t want to eat dryers up bug eggs either! What’s the thinking behind killing them off if they’re dead in your food? 🤮

[@justpatty7328]

@@lindab.1625 All food is grown in an environment where there are bugs, seen or unseen. Typically dried grains and flour: freeze for 72 hours, bring back to room temperature and keep in airtight containers. Sift if you're terribly worried.

[@paulandstephanie1]

@@lindab.1625 I hope you realize that pretty much all of the food you have eaten your entire life has insect parts, bug eggs and other organic and inorganic delights in it, and yet you live! Get over it!

[@staciejames4900]

Also, make sure to have a back up can opener with the food!

[@laurendavis771]

Frugal tip for single people or a household of 2. When you make meals that are good reheated, try freezing single portions in small freezer bags. Then you don't have to eat leftovers in order to not waste half of what you spent money on.

[@elizabethmabry8061]

A well stocked pantry is absolutely the smartest thing everyone can do for their families. Honestly, it would be difficult to over-stock your pantry at this time. Best wishes to all.

[@grannyprepper1181]

As a prepper this is a very good video for NON-prepper to watch. Packed when information and ideas. It shows you don’t have to be an extreme doomsday prepper, that’s what comes to most peoples minds when you say your a prepper. Just start stocking something up for your family.

[@DB-xo6xh]

I really hate that They have become successful in making organized preppers seem like crazy hoarders. Its not the same by Any Means! When I tell a family member that Ive been storing some food and supplies(especially after this darn pandemic) they get so crazy and start askjng why Im so concerned about tge End of the World And Zombies!? Not ONCE did I mention end of the world apocalypse or zombies..not once, but you did! They call me and anyone talking about prepping(like Preppers on YT) "futurists", "people with a magic ball to see the future"... Buddy..you ever heard of a week-long+ blackout? Hurricanes? Storms? Deep Freezes? Yeah...all that stuff that happened & was on mainstream news with so many people begging for food, water and warmth. All 100% realistic. Or even after a job loss or an unexpected expense, you already have food insurance ready to go ans you can feed your family. Its really irritating to talk to someone about something so rational and they turn around and take it to the insane side of the spectrum. If theres an emergency situation here where I live, you better belive that my little children will eat and be warm because they can count on me. 😅 Rant.....sorry, I just had this conversation recently so its fresh.😅😆

[@deanamarie6316]

I like the idea of taking whatever you need to use from your food storage (whether from a planned meal or emptying a condiment bottle) and adding those items to your grocery list for replenishment. Then you never run out of things and get them rotated appropriately. I have yet to master this but it's nice to have goals.

[@user-oe6wq7pu8d]

As a child we did this because dad REFUSED to go to the store constantly. ( 4 miles) he said WAIT TILL SATURDAY. put it on the list I'm not running all the time I'm making ONE TRIP ON SATURDAY. If you forgot you go without. Period.

[@kaykrausman8012]

I might add a suggestion for those, like myself, who live in a hurricane prone area. It's wise not to put all of your emergency products in one storage area. The reason for this is because if your only storage area gets damaged by the hurricane or a spawned tornado, then your supplies very well will be unusable. This is especially so, if your roof gets torn off and water pours inside your house.

[@FrugalFitMom]

This is a great tip, thank you!

[@Olive_O_Sudden]

And the climate of your indoor storage areas matters, too. A damp basement is not going to be kind to anything that isn't sealed air-tight in plastic or in metal tins. A cool and dry space is typically best for long-term storage.

[@cassidydavis4421]

I worry about a tornado hitting our pantry, this is a great tip

[@homeschoolwithyetisyumyums4084]

Last year my husband dealt with layoffs and nearly broke his back. I had to take care of him and four young kids around the clock. I made a little money but not enough to support us entirely (we're working on bringing in residual income more this year) but if we hadn't stocked up we would've been screwed. Preparing an emergency stash for at least a couple months is a good idea.

[@janeschmidt9611]

This is a great reminder. I worked at a grocery store for 16 years and always paid attention to what other shoppers stocked up on. It was usually on sale, easy to prepare and tasty. That’s for me! 🥰

[@angelahawkins8069]

I keep a stock of canned goods, oatmeal, pasta, and sauces. When everyone panics on a snowy/icy hit of weather..I am not rushing to the grocery store

[@janabuchheit3389]

I will mention this also, during the first COVID isolation, my adult children (whom in the past have always made fun of my food hoarding), breathed a sigh of relief knowing the food hoarder mom had two freezers full of proteins... always bought on a super sale or clearance. It isn't that I am selfish, I don't mind sharing with those in need, but I tend to always over prepare. My husband was stationed in Panama City, Panama in the early 90's. We were on base shutdown several times... with two young children. The commissary was across the canal and we suffered hunger. From that time on, I will continue to build an overage of staples to never feel that helpless and attempt to feed a family of 4 with one can of pintos and 2 potatoes for 3 days.

[@FrugalFitMom]

An experience like that can totally change how you feel about keeping extra food on hand.

[@antoninajucovscaia8439]

So true! You never know what may happen.

[@Shridra]

My entire family had Covid last month, and the only thing we ran out of was bread. Which I could probably have made, but we had a decent supply of wraps and bagels to make up the difference. Ate like normal and didn't have to get any sort of deliveries!

[@rhiahlMT]

Yep, when I was stationed at a border site during the Cold War in Germany, supply was often behind. We worked 24/7 and if supplies came in and you were at work, tough. No PX, no commissary. After I left the military, if I didn't have 300 rolls of TP in the house, I lost it. Was not comfortable. People thought it was funny. Told them, you don't know what life is like without it. When Covid hit, I was willing to give it out. But, that's the last time I'll do it. Most replaced it, some didn't. It's all okay. Don't come to me again though,, I have grown kids and their families too.

[@janabuchheit3389]

@Rhiahl thank you for your service! Unless you've been in a situation like you have, I don't think anyone can truly understand. We were on lock down a lot, the base was bombed 3 times. The hospital was downtown and I had so much anxiety. It's amazing how unprepared so many people are. I buy in bulk and try to keep my stock way up there... and like you, I shared. Noone has given me anything back even though I was told they would. I have to believe it will all work out in the end.

[@No-sv6mu]

The 9 packs of canned chicken went on sale as Costco. Bought a BUNCH. They are great if I don't have chicken prepped for my lunch salads. I also use them if I need to make a quick soup. Hell...I have even been known to open one and eat it cold right from the can at work. Cause it's much cheaper then ordering a $15 lunch!

[@MyMaxKitty]

That canned chicken is good! We got like 20 packs of those when they went on sale. They haven't been on sale since, so I am glad we got plenty!!

[@No-sv6mu]

@@MyMaxKitty I noticed they haven't been on sale for along time. I'm down to my last 4 of them so I'm trying to be smart when I use them. I feel like most of the sale items now are chips/snack foods.

[@lccrel3449]

I also write down with sharpie purchase dates and expiration dates. Older to the front new items behind. When I open items, I date that as well.

[@jenarutberg9323]

I was going to say that. I write the date big on the cans as well as what the item is in case of an emergency when I don't have my glasses.

[@berenicebauer2896]

My parents went through the depression so we always had a full pantry. My late husband was born and raised in Germany during the war so he always made sure we had plenty food on hand. My grandsons were always amazed at our pantry. My husband put a small sign on the door saying “7/11” because the first thing they did when they came over was go to the pantry and check it out.

[@brookiebergan]

City apartment people- I keep an under bed bin with a few things. I had canned soups, beans, ramen, seasoning, and pasta. I like having it under my bed so it's separate and I'm not dipping into it all the time and forgetting to replace it.

[@brookiebergan]

I also have a "go bag" in my closet with supplies and a bit of food to get out of the city in a disaster. It felt like overkill, but after Covid and the civil unrest I think it's better to be over prepared. There's not much food in it- ramen, apple sauce, a can of beans, and water bottles.

[@WeberIMayRoam]

Back in 2008 (that glorious Recession era), I lost my job. I was devastated at the loss of income (and how difficult it was to find a new job), but I knew we'd be okay, because one thing I learned from my Depression-Era grandmother was that "If you can feed your family, you can survive anything." We had to cut out cable, and stop going out, and rent library books, and all those other frugal things we do to pinch pennies, but my family never starved. I've had a steady job since 2009, but I still have a large pantry/food supply, which is again coming in handy!

[@shawnjohnson4490]

We ate a lot of flour based foods in 2008-09. That's probably when I gain an extra 15 lbs! Lol. But we ate well even when we were unemployed. Just learning how to cook with basic ingredients is a way to prep. I'm thankful my mother and grandmother taught me early in life.

[@fannya3444]

Years ago I lost my wallet, including my visa, then the post office lost the remplacement card my bank sent me, and I had to spend an entire month without money (except little bit of cash I had at home) until I fix it ! I could spend a pretty serene month thanks to the fact that grocery wasn't an issue : I had dry food and canned food in my pantry, fresh herbs and few vegetables growing on my balcony. Stuff happens, it can be a climatic issue, a social protest of workers in your supermaket, a supply chain issue, it can be an accident that just envolves you (broking your leg). Stuff happens, and having few weeks of food won't solve everything, but it will definitely helps to navigate during hard times.

[@lesliekanengiser8482]

For the naysayers or the ones that may call this hoarding, remember that depending on where you live, it is entirely possible you need to be prepared for weeks of no electricity/being able to get to the store. I lived hundreds of miles from where Hurricane Katrina hit, and I was still out of electricity for a week. And of course, it doesn't mean you store food and never eat it. I am sure food hoarders exist. But, everyone I know keeps a stocked pepper pantry and rotates it out.

[@Kaz35.]

There are definitely places that this would be super useful for. The rest of us, just need to not go overboard x

[@okbookgirl]

I am not a prepper or a hoarder but I live in the midwest. Stuff happens. I have always been taught to keep a reasonable amount of Pantry/Freezer items on hand. When all the shortages happened a few years ago we were never really at risk. Yes I had to substitue some shopping items or try a few different stores but I always had enough to put together meals, because I had at least a week or two of back stock to tide me over till I could buy more. I am still not going to go crazy (because I do live in a metro area with plenty of options) but I will always have a few weeks of pantry meals on hand.

[@misspeaches1144]

In my opinion this is the opposite of food hoarding. When the supermarkets are empty, she can afford to not have to buy anything since she already has stuff at home she got in better times

[@rebeccaa2433]

@@Kaz35. with the prices going up DAILY, we do need to go overboard.

[@mindyschocolate]

Yup, exactly. Also, don’t forget pets!

[@carriesessum2505]

Quick tip on the peanut butter .. store upside down that way the oil wont settle on top when you open them .

[@Christen-G]

If it does separate, the paddle or whisk attachment on a stand mixer will fix you right up! I buy the natural PB and use the mixer, then scoop it back into the jar. Stays combined for a long time with no PB brick in the bottom of the jar.

[@rhondavigil795]

We always keep a supply of pantry staples. Pasta, sauces, vegetables, tuna, spam, etc. I need to buy salt 🧂 😁 and peanut butter.

[@auntrowdy7392]

I think that sauce was $1.49. The Ragu was an Ibotta deal for 99 cents. My husband always gave me a hard time about my food storage (he called me a hoarder even tho my stash is only about 4-6 months worth) but after 2020, he finally understood why I do what I do and it’s not a waste!

[@tammymilner814]

I agree on the ibotta and the cost

[@t.g.7180]

That’s when I started in 2020. I probably only have about 4-6 months supply.

[@lindaliddell2508]

Go to the Dollar Tree and get shelf stable box milk. It tastes just like dairy milk and kids love it.

[@littlepixieme1]

And if you do your own bread, my starters I've had over quarantine have LOVED the UHT milk way more than regular

[@janetg7255]

I grew up with extra food, too, because my dad's family was dirt poor (no food stamps or food pantries) & my mom had 6 siblings, in the 1930s-50s. Thanks for the great ideas, Christine! Have a wonderful week 🌻

[@FrugalFitMom]

I think it was pretty common for poorer families (like my grandparents) to keep extra around to feed their families back then.

[@DB-ik8hn]

Great video. I am from the Caribbean and this is how we shop and store staples (except the fruit) We just add seasonal fresh produce from your garden, neighbour or the farmers market. Maybe the only thing missing is canned "meat" like tuna, salmon etc.

[@alisonp9545]

I started mine by just buying 1 extra can of something. Like if I need to buy some peas, I would just put 2 in my cart. Not every trip but whatever I needed. I was brought up in a home where it was normal as well. I plan to give my kids a few things when they move out as well to start theirs. EDIT: Thank you for all the likes. I would also add that you have to keep in mind that when it comes to 'food storage' you have both short-term and long-term to consider. Extra cans will help for a few years, but if you want the long term like 25 years stuff you can still buy a little a time but from different places than your grocery store.

[@allisonspeer6837]

When my son moved out to his first apartment with some buddies, my husband and I arrived that evening with 4 bags of groceries to "get them started" so to speak.

[@skybluepinkd]

We had an error from the state that froze our bank accounts for several days. Had it happened on a Friday and gone unnoticed till the weekend it would have been longer. Not having to worry about groceries for week made it much less stressful. One of our local walmarts was shut down for a few days before christmas due to lack of staff from covid. Having at least a week or two ahead of food in the house is one less thing to worry about if something happens

[@rhiahlMT]

I had a processing company on my debit card go down when I was 200 miles from home and no gas. Couldn't even rent a hotel room to wait it out. Luckily, after trying 4 gas stations I remembered I'd asked for cash back 3 days before at a grocery store. That $20 got us home. Thank goodness. I never go on a trip more than 100 miles without cash in my pocket.

[@tinaharding9044]

Couple of things for new preppers: 1. Try to buy canned goods with the solid lid. Pop-top ones are nice for opening but those lids are thinner so rheir seal will not last as long as fully sealed lids you get with cans needing a can opener. 2. Mice and bugs can get into items stored in boxes and bags. You may want to consider decanting these item into heavy/thick plastic containers. Lids should seal tightly to prevent anything getting. 3. Big bags of rice, oats, flour, sugar, etc can be put into large 5 gallon buckets. Depending on how often you go into them you may want to get those special lids. The buckets also need to be food grade level so the plastic wont leech into the products put into them. 4. Definitely put flour, oats, rice etc into freezer a few days to kills the eggs and larvae from bugs.

[@ravenbell3918]

I've been slowly building an emergency food storage for 2 years. I rotate what I use (FIFO: First in, first out) and it's worked well. I have a 1 lb vacuum sealed package of yeast in my freezer I got on sale for $2. I felt like I hit a jackpot when I found it. 😄

[@FrugalFitMom]

That's a really great price!

[@ramonaearnest4709]

Love these kinds of videos... always wonder what other people are doing to prepare. Just before the pandemic hit my sons called me and said they were watching the internet and saw that this virus hit China and most likely will hit US. soon. They said take what money I had and start picking up enough stuff to keep me going for a couple of weeks. So that's what I did. They ordered mask and gloves and whatever they thought they might need. When the pandemic hit my family and I were sitting safely in our homes and watching the rest of the world in chaos trying to find supplies! I will never forget that feeling and I am so grateful for being prepared! Ever since I was a divorced mom I learned how to shop and store up supplies to keep my family safe! I can't not do it now even though my kids are grown. When my check is extra I buy extra supplies not going overboard but enough to be comfortable when my electric goes off in a storm or another pandemic hits I know I can take care of myself! Thank God! I don't understand why anyone wouldn't! I remember warning my friends and co-workers to get some supplies just in case the virus hit but they just looked at me and rolled their eyes and called me a Doomsday Prepper! Not true but just use common sense!

[@allisonspeer6837]

Love this. I'm what people would call a Doomsday Prepper I guess. I was totally prepared when the pandemic came, I had a supply of N95 masks, 2 gallons of hand sanitizer, Lysol and cleaning supplies and plenty of toilet paper. I follow some prepper blogs and had read about the possibility of a pandemic eventually coming years ago. I knew what to do and how to use the supplies I had.

[@ericaharris9015]

Thank you guys for these comments!! I had a small room that had a toilet in it. I took it out and put shelves in it years ago for my cans. I can't tell you how many times I've been called crazy for it. Reading y'alls comments make me feel less crazy! I thought I was the only one!

[@simplysqueakspara]

I finally have a small stalk pile, when 2020 hit it scared us because we were not prepared. Now I have a shelving unit & extra freezer in our small apartment. Watching your shows & a few others has tought me alot. Thank you, 🙂

[@jgjg3848]

I had a friend growing up whose parents worked for the auto industry. They always had a ton of food in their house. They had every canned good imaginable and a huge freezer full of food too. I remember asking why they had so much food and my friend said they "might go on strike". I didn't even know what that meant. lol

[@granitemoss1451]

I like to keep the boxes of shelf stable milk from the Dollar Tree on hand to stretch us between grocery trips if we run out a day or two early. Also great for emergencies! We have dry on hand too but those boxes are perfect for a short stint.

[@ceciliahiatt9091]

Excellent presentation and ideas. Start by using $10 or $20 of your grocery money for food storage. I also buy extra when something is on sale. Don't forget spices. I have a five gallon bucket with extra spices. This week the spice section at Walmart was almost empty (even the organic). To help your mind set. Think about doing without. My parents survived the Great Depression. Don't go hungry...be prepared.

[@battlearmanda]

We stock up on the chicken bouillon cubes for our food storage because rice and beans need flavor!! It was funny to see you talk about the salt for that reason.

[@hebblack]

Tins of powder stock are good too.

[@rachelresets]

Good tip on the expiration date not being a hard date. My family lived off of slightly expired food for a time because it was given free to us and we didn't notice a difference really, especially if it was something stored in the freezer. Really helped us during tight times.

[@rhiahlMT]

Even canned goods last far longer. I was eating rations from the Korean War in the late 70s in the Army. Canned food at about 3 years is still good unless the can is bulging. If the can pops when you are opening it or food comes out in a bit of a spurt, yeah, I'd toss that. Some things can acquire a tin like flavor after a time.

[@kikihammond5326]

One good point, dried beans, like rice and other grains need to be kept away from moisture. If your basement or other storage area is damp, or you use a humidifier, be sure you keep your dry good in sealed containers. Otherwise, they can mold.

[@DB-xo6xh]

Dehumidifier *

[@SimpleEssentials]

I love how sensible and balanced this advise is. Save money, be respectful and don't clear the shelves if you don't have to. Love your channel! Greetings from Australia :)

[@cassidydavis4421]

Great tips! I was raised to always have a year or more of food storage in case of emergency, medical issue, or job loss. There are so many other things that can happen as well. I have heard many people over the years mention that they had to live off of their food storage due to various circumstances. It just makes sense to be prepared whenever possible. I felt overwhelmed until I heard the tip to pick your family’s 3 or 4 favorite easy dinners and figure out how many of each ingredient you need for the number of people in your family to have a 3-6 month supply of easy to make dinners. Once I had those ingredients and some oatmeal for breakfasts it didn’t seem as overwhelming. We do the same as you, just add a little each week 🥰. We also just planted some fruit trees and berry bushes so that we can become more self sufficient in case grocery stores continue to be hard to get fresh produce. I bought a $5 basket from the Dollar Tree to keep the oldest ingredients from the pantry in it so that I can utilize a few things from the basket each week when I make our meal plan so that nothing gets forgotten and wasted. I have another basket for opened snacks because it was getting crazy in the pantry, now the fam knows that they need to snack from the open snacks instead of opening new packages

[@lisaremy4817]

So excited that I have already been building my “prepper pantry”. Been working on it since the pandemic started.

[@pamtippett1589]

If it hasn’t been mentioned yet, be sure you have a couple of “pantry basics” recipes on hand so you can use what you’ve stocked in multiple tasty ways. Maybe another video? Similar to your mention of shepherd’s pie, perhaps, but more focused being intentional with what you stock and how you’ll use it.

[@casondrastinson8525]

And it's good when you just don't feel up to cooking a whole meal! I havea few go tos, but my childhood favorite is tuna noodle casserole. Just egg noodles, a can of tuna, & a can of cream of mushroom soup. Of course you could do more, but in a pinch it's quick, easy, and gets you fed.

[@shawnjohnson4490]

And some frozen peas if you have them!

[@compiticny1445]

It was my parents that grew up in the depression with dad spending 3 years in the pacific that influenced me. Always had extra food, a freezer (still have that freezer which is almost as old as me) filled with meat and frozen dairy just in case. The 1/2 acre garden I grew up with is now closer to a 1/4 acre with new beds put in last fall for planting in the spring. We rotate our stocks, making soups ( which are more like stews and add them to the freezer, thaw, add stock, and eat), hummus, etc when the supplies get close to the "best by dates" and donate some to the local food banks. When we use up our stocks we replace the items as well as purchase a few extras. Keep up the good work and have a blessed day.

[@rebeccasladky1138]

“Just in Case” has always been a firm rule in my family for anything and everything!

[@alisien6227]

I recently went through the entirety of my food storage, wrote down everything and their dates, reorganized some areas. Now I know exactly what items I need to use in the next couple of months and what I'll need to stock up on moving forward. Something I've started doing is if I buy dried beans, I also pick up however many gallons of water I would need to soak and cook them.

[@nancyshrout-wankowski7147]

The gallons will last about a year, before the plastic containers start to leak.

[@leighdegenhardt485]

Good idea?! Never thought about that!

[@mjbe]

I have have just been keeping extra distilled water on hand since I use it for my CPAP just by buying one more jug each month, but it has been harder to find lately.

[@lissam8988]

Don't forget you can use some cheap chicken or beef broth for your beans alone with some water that way you're not using all your water on the beans.

[@Sterling8953]

For milk products I also buy cartons of shelf stable milk and rotate them out often. When they get within 3 months of the expiration date I donate them to a food pantry.

[@jgjg3848]

Yep. We even bought some powdered milk too...just in case.

[@Christen-G]

Nido brand whole milk powder is surprisingly tasty, even to drink as regular milk.

[@kj7653]

Yup. One of my single friends, just donates her year supply extras every year to help keep it rotated.

[@Christen-G]

I have had Nido a year past expiration with no adverse impact on taste. I rotate through by using the powder in my coffee instead of cream, and making yogurt and cheese.

[@CactusAnnie]

I am bulking up my pantry as much as I can and I have a pantry that is spread out through my house LOL! Wherever I can find space I’m filling it! Great Video Love watching you❤️God Bless🥰🌵

[@frankgiunto3600]

Sounds familiar. Its better to keep it all over . I feel its safer

[@CactusAnnie]

@@frankgiunto3600 I agree it’s definitely safer

[@candied_ginger6813]

I have tubs of canned and dry goods under my bed! You do what you must!

[@susanpumphrey354]

I've recently discovered dried WHOLE milk (I order it from amazon) and it tastes WAAAYYYY better than the nonfat if you have to drink it. I still use the nonfat for cooking, but I mix up some of the whole milk powder if we run out of fresh milk and it's so much more normal tasting.

[@practicallyprepared9389]

This was so much fun and really well done! I wrote two books on emergency preparedness for Storey Publishing, Just In Case: How To Be Self-Sufficient When The Unexpected Happens, and Prepping 101: 40 Steps You Can Take To Be Prepared. I would be delighted to send you copies for your home library and copies to give away if you are interested. Just let me know.

[@heatherb7237]

I love your suggestion to start building you food storage based on favorite meals. I have been overwhelmed with how to begin, and that suggestion was really helpful. Love this video!

[@ladydebrawelland1538]

Thanks to retirement and learning how to use KZbin I have a basement full of food. Have spent so much money stocking up "for the end of the world'. Probably won't use it all but afraid to downsize it or stop buying "just in case" help I'm in a never ending trap, lol.

[@MyZoomdotcom]

Canned meats are long lasting and provide necessary protein .if electricity goes out canning what is in your freezer would be a big task.having canned meat on hand would help get you through tough times.

[@GlamourNNail]

Thank you for posting this. I have a decent food storage. But ever few months I start feeling guilty that I do. I start feeling like maybe I'm hoarding food. Then you post about yours and I'm reminded that I'm just being prepared to take care of my family in case. It helps to be reminded that being prepared for disaster is smart.

[@jlai47]

Totally agree! It should be everyone’s responsibility to be prepared for emergencies. The more we have prepared to provide for our family, when an emergency hits, we won’t be the one running to empty store shelves or burdening government emergency response systems for our survival.

[@rexcarebear4701]

I don't feel that it is hoarding I feel it is taking responsibility for your family. If something happens to the food chain and nobody can get food this administration's priority will be non-citizens coming across the border not legal citizens so prepare for yourself

[@elizabethmabry8061]

Never feel guilty for being prepared to take care of your family! As long as you don’t go into a store and buy everything on the shelf at one time, then you’re not doing anything that’s a problem for others. It’s not hoarding; it’s being self-reliant. Kudos to you!

[@GlamourNNail]

@@jlai47 that's a great point! Somehow I hadn't really thought about the fact that preparing now, and buying a few extras at a time will really help relieve pressure when the shortages happen. And by clearance meat shopping I'm saving waste from the trash and saving it for when I need it.

[@kelseymariel2127]

My husband was raised by parents who were committed to keeping a well stocked food supply. I had no experience with it. The pandemic made me a believer. I need organization tips for it all so this is perfect.

[@patriciasweet9102]

Put a bay leaf in your flour after freezing. Keeps the bugs away.

[@susandouthitt2961]

I grew up in a family that never bought extra. My mom went to the store once a week, had a list and a few coupons and that’s what she bought. Now I always have extra sauces and I cook once/eat twice since we’re empty nesters. My kids are very happy we had extra food during difficult times.

[@anastasiab5980]

I live in Florida and I never saw empty selves like that but you never know it is good idea to be prepared .Thank for the video you are doing great job!!!

[@Christen-G]

I rotate dry beans by canning them. I’m much more likely to use canned beans than dry, so by canning them myself I get the great price of dried beans coupled with the convenience of instant. It’s about the easiest canning project there is, and they come out just like store canned beans. I keep black, kidney, mung, canellini, and garbanzo’s in the home canned rotation for soups, chilis, texmex recipes, dips. Made near instant hummus with some just yesterday!

[@kristalsimon8797]

Growing up, mom always had a full pantry and a bit of a stock up. Not full prepping, but definitely enough for a rainy day. I'm now 26 and live alone. I definitely keep a bit of a stock pile now and it gives me so much peace. There is just something calming knowing there is no way i can possibly go hungry.

[@createinme]

Thanks for talking about this subject. I do live in a hurricane zone on the southern coast of Alabama. I don’t have a basement but I’ve gotten food safe five gallon red buckets from Tractor Supply. I fill them with all of dry foods still in the factory packaging and put the lids on the buckets. I keep the buckets stacked at the end of my walk in panty. My family though I was a little nuts at first but now they see the importance of stocking up. Oh yes I have to label each bucket on the lid and side as to what is in side ie… coffee or pasta,dried beans etc. Thanks again Carolyn

[@midlife_minimalist]

I’m on a barrier island on East coast of FL. The buckets are a good idea. I have a few big plastic storage bins - one for food, one for cat stuff and one for things like TP, trash bags, paper products, etc. The food one tends to get a little too heavy when it’s fully stocked during the season.

[@suzannaamos8687]

We started to stock up on items a few years ago. Our storage room is upstairs and I thought I had everything covered until I saw this video. Thanks for sharing! Tomato bouillon has been a recent revelation to me.

[@laughingalltheway8399]

I am all about things that my family will *happily* eat. We live for refried beans, so I am *NEVER* without at least 24 cans of those plus some dried ones. I keep pasta and jarred sauce, boxed mac and cheese, canned fruit and vegetables (admittedly we HATE canned vegetables, but it is better than no vegetables in an emergency), ramen, popcorn, rice, beans, flour, sugar, masa, dry and shelf stable milk, cereal, and bottled water of course. I try to keep a good supply of "snacky" stuff in individual serving bags so the rest stay fresh if someone were to eat some. I generally also like to keep 2 extra of all of my household supplies. It really came in handy a couple years ago when there was no soap or toilet paper to be found in stores for like 3 months. haha!

[@meghancarr518]

I'm about to get a freezer for my basement and I just converted some space from my utility closet into "prepper" foods.

[@micheleolson9914]

I had a small but decent pantry pre-COVID, because I love being able to grab something and cook without needing a trip to the store. But I was a Community Health major, and when COVID was hitting Europe in January, and the makings for a full Pandemic was visible, I started buying extra supplies each shopping trip. I had hoped my gut was wrong, but we all know how that turned out. 🙄 I have extra food for my home, my elderly Dad that I care and cook for, and more for my girl at college. Sadly, my hubby passed away in July. We had COVID in April last year, he survived with the help of monoclonal antibodies (he was a heart patient), but COVID already damaged his heart further; he died three months later. So now, what I have will stretch farther, but he's still caring for and feeding us after his death, because of that food. 💗 I want to suggest ionized salt for some of the salt, because its a nutrient we need. The Costco seasonings, especially the dried onion, no-salt and garlic; are great to add flavor to a multitude of soups and dishes. Hot sauce in bottles are another good item to buy from anywhere. Who wants bland food? Before I forget, I bought a six month supply of dry and canned cat food, and litter, because pet food has been hit with supply chain issues too. Take care everyone. 💜

[@FrugalFitMom]

I’m so sorry for your loss

[@JenniferJones-im5im]

I am sorry you lost your dad

[@toniblackmore3016]

Sincere condolences, wishing you all the best.

[@micheleolson9914]

@@JenniferJones-im5im It was my hubby of 25 years who died, 60 years old. I'm still caring for my elderly Dad. Thank you. 💜

[@micheleolson9914]

@@FrugalFitMom Thank you. I'm still grieving hard. Honestly, watching your videos bring joy to me. I love everything you offer on your channels: fitness, grocery deals, cooking, financial fitness, and especially the humor, including all the doobely doos. I used to be fit (I was a five sport lettered athlete in high school), I hope to be fit again, in spite of multiple health challenges. I do miss cooking for someone at home, but enjoy watching you cook meals for your family and watching their rating them and appreciating your effort makes me smile. My only daughter is away at college, so my days of having a young athlete in the house is a few years behind me. So many meals I've packed for that, the time flew by! I just have my Dad to cook for now. So again, thank you for putting out quality content that brightens my day and enriches my life. Take care. 💜

[@marshawells6971]

I use to take a gallon of whole milk and a gallon of instant milk and mix them together. It really extended my milk when the kids were young.

[@kristathehungrymelon]

I live in a very cramped apartment and can't even imagine having this kind of space for food storage. What a blessing

[@melodiemoore2076]

Apartments are hard to find space. I've had friends add an extra shelf up high in a closet or two to put their extra food.

[@anitas5817]

Yes I’ve seen a couple of videos from people who live in small spaces and still found some room for food storage - on a closet shelf, under a bed, on a bookcase in a guest room. Even a couple weeks worth can help in an emergency.

[@iwd1856]

I managed to have a month pantry in a 1 room apt. You can ;) It's not much, but enough for an emergency

[@barbarabaranczyk6195]

I, stock up on food , because I don't know when my husband would go back to 8 hours at his job. So when he works 10 hours I buy extra things on my shopping list.

[@shortermama8099]

Don't forget chocolate! 😂

[@dianekreuzer3854]

I never went without a meal growing up. However, what I didn’t know was for months my mom struggled to feed her and 3 kids because my dad had moved out of state for work temporarily. He would get paid and would mail my mom money. It wasn’t like it is now with all kind of cash apps and online banking. I didn’t even notice, in fact some of those recipes are my favorites. If it wasn’t for my mom canning her gardens produce and storing food that was bought on sale. We would have gone hungry. During the Covid shut downs, I had food for my family plus I shared with others. I only store what we eat & I keep my stock rotated. In fact, I menu plan based on our inventory. This frees up our food budget for fresh fruits & vegetables and pick up stocked items when on sale.

[@rda-gama2567]

Me too i never went without a meal growing up, because my late mother used to do a miracle in the kitchen with the help of the Lord.

[@MeToo-rp6ny]

If you really have a hard time drinking (or getting the kids to drink) the non-fat dry milk, try this trick. Put the amount you need for a gallon into the container/jug. Then add a can of the evaporated milk and use the can to fill the rest of the gallon. That rinses out the can very well making sure you get all the extra milk flavor you possibly can into that gallon. It may not be as cost effective but it'll be a little more palatable for everyone. Always better cold but you do what you have to do. Also, keep an extra close eye on the canned fruit. They will go past the date, but like to try and ferment after so long which will bulge the can. If not caught they will then start to leak which may affect other foods around them (boxed or unprotected from sticky messes). Thank you for your content. 😁

[@mravenwing]

I've always done this too. I was surprised by the empty shelves at Wal-Mart. Thankfully there were still gluten free items in the pasta section. My pantry is pretty well stocked but I got extra dry beans this month along with the pasta. Next will be canned tomatoes.

[@teresacoffman5529]

Snowmageddon of 2021 exposed some things in our prepping pantry that needed to be addressed. While we did not lose power, we did have broken water lines all over the city. That put us on “boil water” notice when we finally got water. Cooking means washing dishes. We needed more disposable plates and cutlery so we didn’t have to wash dishes. We also needed more “ready to go meals” that could simply be microwaved and served. Thankfully we had stored water from the summer before that helped us through. But we did melt snow for flushing toilets.

[@karenchandler8325]

I think we never regret being prepared. Having peace of mind about food and supplies in a natural or personal disaster is invaluable. I also have had multiple opportunities to help others out a little.

[@00Temporary00]

I’m moving again soon (overseas) and won’t be able to take my foodstuffs with me. Those first few trips to the grocery store are always expensive because I’m starting from zero. It hurts every time, haha! I’m honestly a little worried about being able to restock once I get to my new place. I haven’t been in the US for three years, but I hear that empty shelves are sometimes a problem. Y’all please send me good vibes because I’m gonna need them!

[@heatherj3030]

It hasn't been too bad on the western part of the US, not like when everything shutdown in spring of 2020. I think the lower end stores that tend to pay less for their food are hit the hardest, like Walmart. I usually shop at Winco, Smart and Final and Costco. I notice a few odd items that are out of stock or have less choices of varieties and brands. There is still plenty of food, just be prepared to be able to be flexible on what you plan to make, and if one store is low on items try another store or an ethnic store.

[@brittanym8481]

Since you know you are moving soon now is the time to cook from your stored pantry foods and save as much of your grocery budget as you can. If your budget is $100 a week and you only spend $20 for fresh produce put the $80 in an envelope to start your pantry in the new location. 🙂

[@anitas5817]

It’s not so bad. You may not find every single thing in every store every time like we used to, or every brand - but there’s just an occasional empty shelf and you will be able to get what you need.

[@00Temporary00]

@@heatherj3030 That’s encouraging to hear, thank you!!!

[@00Temporary00]

@@brittanym8481 Yes, I’m definitely trying to use everything up! I’m hoping that at the very least they will let me vacuum seal stuff like flour and sugar, as I know I won’t be able to use it all in time. And yes, we definitely save money for those first trips, it just hurts my heart to see the total, even if I know I have the money available.

[@simplygrand11]

I have slowly stocked up and kept stocked for years also. It is actually very easy and affordable if you do it slowly over time when there are good sales!

[@thenerdymillennial]

Whenever you order takeout ask for extra salt and pepper packets lots of restaurants have them for togo orders and hardly anyone ever asks for them

[@katrinas1307]

Too funny! This popped up just as I am settling in to research storage for our prepping pantry. Love your videos!

[@Itsme-tp3bq]

Nido is dry whole milk… great to have on hand!

[@crystalramirezmoreno9190]

my husband is a produce manager for a local grocery chain and he has taught me SO MUCH about expiration dates and food rotation (like FIFO - First In, First Out). it’s just the two of us but we had my sister’s family come stay with us during the deep freeze in texas last year and after the most recent tropical storm that knocked out their electricity. my husband now keeps a full propane tank for the grill and a full spare in storage and we have assembled our “go” bags in case of rapid evacuation for storms and whatnot. i even made ready our hurricane food kits and toiletries kits as well as some spares for my sister’s family if they need it. we ended up giving them several packs of toilet paper when the toilet paper shortages were happening at the beginning of the lockdown. we wouldn’t have been able to help had we not prepared in advance. this is a great video for people in all regions and family circumstance.

[@nancycarney]

Been prepping for almost a year for our family. I was so glad I had a huge vegetable haul late last summer and was able to can a "TON". I do have lots of non food items as well.

[@WanderThisWay]

I just went through my prepper pantry inventory for the first time in a while. It's crazy that some of the cans I bought in March of 2020 are about to expire - I'm going to take a lesson from your playbook and use up some of my food that's going to expire soon, and rotate in some new cans and stuff to the back of my pantry shelves.

[@susanchrist3730]

My friends call my garage the supermarket as I have all my food storage in there on shelves. I keep pasta, flour, etc. In storage containers to avoid pests. My big pet peeves when my family "tries" to help by putting food away. They forget to put the newer food in the back. This way the food with the early expiration dates are in the front and get used first.

[@joanjohnson7186]

I just started this, this past weekend...only picked up a few extra things, but that's more than I had....salt was one of them😁

[@ErikaSteele1]

Classico jars are the best to repurpose. They are Atlas Mason Jars. I store my beans, rice, and dry pasta in them. When the lids start looking a bit rough the ball jar replacement lids fit perfectly!

[@amandaorawiec5596]

Could you show us how you cook with the non fat dry milk and the evaporated milk? It would be nice to see how those items get incorporated into the meals.

[@christylee6790]

I use evaporated milk as I would regular milk. I use it in soups, gravies, mashed potatoes and Mac and cheese.

[@Cynthia2v]

Anything that calls for milk you can use powdered milk, reconstituted of course. Like in pancakes, cake mixes instead of water, instant pudding mixes, etc.

[@createurownpeace9918]

@@Cynthia2v thanks for the advice. Can you tell the difference?2 of my son's can't do change in the taste of certain foods at all.

[@Cynthia2v]

@@createurownpeace9918 , when use the powdered milk ( I like the whole milk powders Nido is brand name), I can’t taste ant difference when I use it in recipes calling for milk, like in pudding, instant or cooked, or baked goods. Evaporated milk does have a different taste and many like it when used as a coffee creamer. My mother used the nonfat milk powder when I was a kid to stretch the whole milk,she would mix it 50/50 with whole milk. Reduced fat milk was not available in the 50s or 60s so this was the frugal solution to stretching the food budget.

[@Ind.strength]

I prep in the “broke” college kid method. I do my regular grocery shopping. I buy the entire sale. 10/$10 Mac and cheese, I’m buying 10. I also shop at Sam’s club when the unit price is cheaper. I end up stocking up on things I already use or already have recipes/uses for.

[@melissafrost5138]

My husband is the only person in our family to appreciate real maple syrup… I like to bake with it though… also you can throw together pancake syrup quickly with one cup of water one cup of white sugar one cup of brown sugar and boil it.. you can Flavour with maple flavouring ..I just use vanilla😊 Always love your videos Christine❤️

[@dnellbuck1896]

Thanks for the syrup recipe. I did not know it was that easy to make.

[@teresatansey2674]

Hi love your videos. I would offer a couple suggestions. Add to your prepping rubbing alcohol and peroxide and also some matches. Thanks

[@olafpamela]

I'm glad you showed FDA recommend just because I know food pantries that throw can food away because of the date👎🏻and their isn't anything wrong with the can.😕 Thanks for sharing 😊

[@AndreaRuralMN]

Shepard's pie example variation: as meals are cooked write the ingredients of it on a shopping list. Then buy 2-4+ of each of the ingredients. You'll replace what you just made, have extra now, and you know it's something you'll actually eat because you've made it already!

[@smartin5888]

It’s chicken, salad, cream cheese and apple sauce that’s missing here. I, too, like to keep a bit extra because during my childhood my mother never kept food. My grandma sure did, though 🥰

[@SarahSchneider2]

Living in an apartment where I only have one cupboard for a pantry I can't buy too much extra but I do make sure to have canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned soup, and things like pasta, macaroni and cheese, tuna in my non-perishable food cupboard.

[@CharTurner6928]

Same

[@thriftymama3786]

Love this!!! Even people without a spare room could designate a closet or small area in their home for excess food. VIDEO IDEA - make some meals as if you are in the emergency and only able to use these items. It's cool to see the stock up but would be cool to see it practically used to feed a family.

[@MsCowgirl333]

I totally agree on having food storage in the house. I started stocking up about two years ago and then I lost my job. So grateful I have it! I live in Idaho too!! So cool to find an Idahoan!!

[@sbrian123]

Aldi changed their packaging for table salt recently from old school cardboard to newfangled plastic and I hate it. The tops on the lids don’t close well at all and they salt gets clumpy. Pardon my rant. You may return to your regularly scheduled programming.

[@winkieandleah]

I actually have the opposite rant to yours, I use so little iodized salt that the cardboard container has turned into a brick of salt

[@patriciasweet9102]

Put in tin a mason jar. If you had an older container of salt cut the top off and put under the ring and put ring over that. Now stays nice and you have the pour spout. I grew up with slat container like that.

[@sbrian123]

@@patriciasweet9102 thats to much work for 50 cents worth of salt. When this gone I`m going to spring for the Morton's. Maybe even go nuts and spring for the one without iodine.

[@joybrown9600]

1) I have to like you more than before because Cholula is your hot sauce! 2) I grew up in a blizzard zone and now I live in a hurricane zone. Food storage is just plain wise.