Food Storage Program

Food Storage Program

I hope the following information will help you in follow the recommendations made by the First Presidency when they said:

“We continue to encourage members to store sufficient food . . . for at least one year . . . We suggest that members concentrate on essential foods that sustain life, such as grains, legumes, cooking oil, powered milk, salt, sugar or honey, and water.”

(Letter to Church Leaders, June 24, 1988)

The following suggestions may be useful in helping you accomplish your food storage program:

1.  Inventory your present storage.

2.  Decide which foods you wish to store and the quantities required for a one-year supply.

3.  Set goals – monthly, six-month, a year.

4.  Make a plan for regular purchase.

5.  Be consistent in accomplishing your goal.

Learn how to use the basic foods. Plan to use them on a regular basis so those favorite recipes can be tested and incorporated into your menu. A broad variety of items are normally better for your overall health than just a few select items.

A prolonged diet of the basic foods by themselves may result in nutritional deficiencies, especially vitamins A and C. However such a diet should sustain life for at least 1 year. Ideally, other foods should be included in your storage program to fill the nutritional groups.

Lessons in Ancient Scriptures apply to Today’s Living.

“The Old Testament is a family book,” said Elder Hugh W. Pinnock of the First Quorum of the Seventy and Sunday School general president, in a Church News interview. “The Old Testament shows what happens, when people don’t live the commandments and the blessing that come to them when they do. So many of life’s great lessons for families can be learned in the Old Testament.

One of those great lessons is found in Genesis 6-8, which tells the story of Noah and the ark.

In an April 1981 general conference address, Elder Loren C. Dunn of the First Quorum of the Seventy said, “Faith is the ability to act ‘as if.’”

He related an insight President Spencer W. Kimball gave regarding Noah and the Ark.

“As yet there was no evidence of rain and flood . . . His warnings were considered irrational . . . How foolish to build an ark on dry ground with the sun shining and life moving forward as usual! But time ran out . . . the floods came. The disobedient . . .were drowned. The miracle of the ark followed the faith manifested in its building.’ (Faith Precedes the Miracles.)”

Elder Dunn, in making a modern-day application to the faith Noah manifested, told of an incident that took place “many years ago during the dark days of World War II” when Elvon W. Orme, president of the Australia Mission was invited to a faithful widow’s house for Sunday dinner.

Rationing had taken its toll, and many of the good foods had long since disappeared from the shelves of the local stores. When the mission president arrived, he was shocked to find a table filled with goods that were in short supply and had not been seen for months. Thinking he might be taking the widow’s food, the mission president told her, “I can’t eat this.” She replied, “I’m afraid you’ll have to. You see, I listened to the Brethren years ago and put in my year’s supply and this is the only kind of food I have.”

Elder Dunn said the widow showed the faith to act “as if’ by storing food, and the faith produced a miracle in the time of need.”

“I wonder how many saints will be able to withstand the disaster of their own personal flood by showing faith in the advise of modern prophets and building an ark of family preparedness,” said Elder Dunn.

The Ensign/September 1997

President Ezra Taft Benson encouraged Church members to gather their food storage without going into debt. “Plan to build up your food supply just as you would a saving account. Save a little for storage each paycheck. Can or bottle fruit and vegetables from your gardens and orchards. Learn how to preserve food through drying and possibly freezing. Make your storage a part of your budget . . . If you are saving and planning for a second car or a TV set or some item which merely adds to your comfort or pleasure, you may need to change your Priorities”.

Bishop Vaughn J. Featherstone, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric and now of the seventy, offered the following additional suggestions to help members budget for food storage.

·  Earmark a portion of your Christmas expenditures for food storage.

·  Mend old clothes and make your present wardrobes last a little longer: use the savings for food storage.

·  Reduce recreation expenditures.

·  Postpone a vacation.

·  Alter family priorities so that food storage takes precedence over luxury items such as boats, snowmobiles, campers, and so on.

·  Reduce grocery bills by buying in bulk and by obtaining protein from sources less expensive than meat.

“For the righteous the gospel provides a warning before a calamity, a program for the crises, a refuge for each disaster,” said Elder Ezra Taft Benson. “The Lord has warned us of famines, but the righteous will have listened to prophets and stored at least a year’s supply of survival food.”

Regardless of where we live or our financial situation, the path to preparation will open before us as we comply with the counsel of the prophets and go forward as means and circumstances permit.

Food Storage and Children

(From the March Ensign 1998)

Determining the appropriate quantities for food storage can be challenging for families with children of various ages. Because children are still growing, they need more food in proportion to their size than do adults. It’s helpful to add two years to a child’s currant age when calculating adequate food storage amounts. Then, by knowing the number of children in a family and their ages, parents can estimate food needs as a percentage of an adult portion.

Age Percentage of Adult Portion

3 and under 50 percent

4 to 6 70 percent

7 to 10 90 percent

11 and up 100 percent

Infants who are nursing share in their mother’s portion. Keep in mind that young children, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers, need more milk than other family members do.

Food storage needs for large families probably should be reassessed yearly.

Kay B. Franz, associate professor of nutrition at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah

Home Storage

You live off of food not a list on a piece of paper.

Suggested amounts for your survival food storage for one person for one year.

Grains (Wheat, rice, corn, etc.) 300 lb.

Non-fat Dry Milk 75 lb.

Sugar or Honey 60 lb.

Fat or Cooking Oil 20 lb.

Assorted Dry Beans 60 lb.

Salt 8 lb. (allowing for bread making,

preserving and medicinal needs)

Garden Seeds

Storage Items / Amount - Male / Amount - Female / Amount - Child under 8
Wheat / 189 lb. / 151 lb. / 107 lb.
Enriched White Flour / 17 lb. / 14 lb. / 10 lb.
Corn Meal / 42 lb. / 34 lb. / 24 lb.
Oats, Rolled / 42 lb. / 34 lb. / 24 lb.
Rice, White enriched / 84 lb. / 67 lb. / 48 lb.
Pearled Barley / 4 lb. / 3 lb. / 2 lb.
Spaghetti & Macaroni / 42 lb. / 34 lb. / 24 lb.

TOTAL - GRAINS

/ 420 lb. / 336 lb. / 238lb.
These items stay the same. For canned beans, store 2 ½ times any part of dried bean quantities given below. / Men, women, & child. / These items stay the same / Men, women, & child.
Beans, Kidney/Red or Pink (dry) / 16 lb. / Sugar, Granulated / 28 lb.
Beans, Pinto/White (dry) / 16 lb. / Sugar, Brown / 5 lb.
Beans, Lima/Black (dry) / 6 lb. / Powered Sugar / 2 lb.
Lentils/Split Peas (dry) / 4 lb. / Molasses / .75 lb.
Legume ABC Dry soup Mix / 16 lb. / Honey / 5 lb.
Peanut Butter-is ½ protein & ½ fat only the protein portion. / 2 lb. / Corn syrup / 1.25 lb.

TOTAL - LEGUMES

/ 60 lb. / Maple Syrup / 2.25 lb.
Fruit Drink, Powdered / 13 lb.
Vegetable Oil / 1 gal / Jams & Preserves / 2 lb.
Shortening-Reg. or Butter Flavored (3 lb. Cans) / 7.5 lb. / Flavored Gelatin / 1.25 lb.
Mayonnaise / 1 qt. /

TOTAL - SUGARS

/ 60.5 lb.
Salad Dressing (Mayo Type) / 1 qt. /
Peanut Butter-Fat portion is added here. / 2 lb. / Salt (Iodized) / 8 lb.

TOTAL -FATS & OILS

/ 20 lb. / Multi-Vitamins / 365 tablets
Garden Seeds
Milk, Nonfat dry / 50 to 104 lb. / Water (1 person-2 weeks / 14 gal.
Evaporated Milk (12 oz.) / 12 cans / Yeast, Dry / 2 lbs.

TOTAL - MILK

/ 52 to 106 lb. / Baking Soda / 1 lb.
Baking Power / 2 lbs.
/ Dried eggs / 2 lb.

YOU CAN BREAK THESE BASIC GROUPS UP EVEN MORE, HERE ARE SOME OPTIONS.

Grains:

Popcorn

Alfalfa to sprout

Cream of wheat

Cake Mixes

Muffins mix

Corn Bread mixes

Rice-a-roni

Rama noodles

Mac & cheese

Lipton noodle & sauce

Legumes:

Canned Beans

Canned nuts

Mung beans

Pork & Beans

Chili

Baked Beans

Proteins: (Canned)

Turkey

Chicken

Ham

Spam

Tuna

Beef

Corn Beef

Shrimp

Sardines

Vina Sausages

TVP (textured Vegetable Protein) – beef,

chicken, taco, & bacon

Fats & Oils:

Powered Margarine

Powered Shortening

Powered Butter

Milk:

Cheese- Dry (canned) and/or Bottled

(Like cheese whiz)

Rice Milk

Hot Chocolate

Sugars:

Powered Honey

Chocolate chips

Puddings

Misc.:

Dried Eggs

Bullion cubes (beef, chicken, & ham)

Beef & Chicken Broth

Basic spices that you use in cooking

Vanilla and other flavorings

Ketchup

Mustard

Soysauce

Lemon juice

Garden seeds:

What ever you and your family like to eat.

Canning jars & lids & rings

Home Canning and/or bought

250 pints or 10 oz. pkg. (Frozen)

Green beans

Beets

Corn

Tomatoes

Peas

Carrots

Broccoli

Fruits: 200 qt.

Pears, Peaches, Prunes

Apricots, Cherries

Applesauce

Raspberries

Marionberries

Fruit Cocktail

Pineapple

Mandarin oranges

Pie fillings

Juices: 180 qt.

Tomato

Apricot

Grape

Apple

Prune

Pineapple juice

Orange juice

Cran/raspberry

Inventory Sheet

ITEM

/ Number in Family / Approx. Amount Needed Per Person / Total Amount Needed / Amount on Hand / Quantity to Buy

Grains

/ 300 lbs.
Wheat
Enriched White Flour
Corn Meal
Oats, Rolled (quick & regular)
Rice, White enriched
Pearled Barley
Spaghetti & Macaroni
Additional Options:
Popcorn
Alfalfa to sprout
Cream of wheat
Cake Mixes
Muffins Mixes
Corn Bread mixes
Rice-a-roni
Roma Noodles
Mac & Cheese
Noodle & sauce
Hamburger & Chicken Helper
Crackers
Legumes: / 60 lbs.
Beans, Kidney/Red or Pink (dry)
Beans, Pinto/White (dry)
Beans, Lima/Black (dry)
Lentils/Split Peas (dry)
Legume ABC Dry soup Mix
Peanut Butter-is ½ protein & ½ fat only the protein portion.
Additional Options:
Canned Beans
Canned Nuts
Mung Beans
Pork & Beans
Chili
Baked Beans
Bean Sprouts (canned)
Alfalfa to sprout

ITEM

/ Number in Family / Approx. Amount Needed Per Person / Total Amount Needed / Amount on Hand

Fats & Oils

/ 20 lbs.
Vegetable Oil
Shortening
Mayonnaise
Salad Dressing (Mayo Type)
Peanut Butter
Additional Options:
Powered Margarine
Powered Shortening
Powered Butter
Olive Oil
Spray Oil (like Pan)

Milk & Dairy Products

/ 75 lbs.
Milk, Nonfat dry
Evaporated Milk (12 oz.)
Additional Options:
Cheese (Powdered)
Cheese Whiz
Rice Milk
Dried Eggs
Powered Whipped Topping
Hot chocolate

Sugars

/ 60 lbs.
Sugar, Granulated
Sugar, Brown
Powered Sugar
Molasses
Maple Syrup
Honey
Corn syrup
Jams & Preserves
Fruit Drink, Powdered
Flavored Gelatin
Additional Options:
Powdered Honey
Chocolate chips & other favors
Canned Frostings
Marshmallows
Puddings

ITEM

/ Number in Family / Approx. Amount Needed Per Person / Total Amount Needed / Amount on Hand
Misc.
Dry Yeast
Baking Soda
Baking Powder
Vinegar
Chlorine Bleach
Salt (Iodized) / 5 lbs.
Additional Options:
Bullion Cubes
Ketchup
Mustard
Soy sauce
Lemon Juice
Vanilla & flavorings
Basic Spices
Garden Seeds:
Canning Supplies:
Vegetables: / 250 pt. Or 10 oz. pkg.
Green beans
Beets
Corn-whole kernel, creamed
Tomatoes-diced pasta, sauce, spaghetti sauce
Peas
Carrots
Broccoli
Potatoes
Dried Potato-Flakes, Pearls, Shredded
Dried Green & Red Peppers
Dried Carrots
Dried Onions
Dried Tomato Soup
Dried Mushrooms

ITEM

/ Number in Family / Approx. Amount Needed Per Person / Total Amount Needed / Amount on Hand
Fruits: / 200 qt.
Pears
Peaches
Prunes
Apricots
Cherries
Apple Sauce
Raspberries
Marion Berries
Fruit Cocktail
Pineapple
Mandarin Oranges
Pie Fillings
Dried Apples & other fruits
Juices: / 180 qt.
Tomato
Apricot
Grape
Apple
Prune
Pineapple
Orange juice
Cranberry
Proteins: Canned
Turkey
Chicken
Ham
Spam
Tuna
Beef
Corn Beef
Shrimp
Crab
Sardines
Vina Sausages
TVP-Textured Vegetable Protein
Chicken, Taco, Beef, Bacon