What should you have in your pantry to be prepared? Having a number of basic items in your pantry can mean the difference between eating and not eating in the event that a disaster or hard time strike your family. These basic items can be combined into many different meals, so you should always have them on hand. Here are just some reasons why having an emergency pantry could come in handy.
If you lose your employment and have to make do on a limited or absent income
If there is a disruption in the supply chain that makes getting food difficult
If a natural or man made disaster limits your ability to get to a store
If the power goes out in your area
If an unexpected medical bill needs to be paid
When a costly repair to your home needs to be made or an appliance needs to be replaced
If life gets too busy to go to the store that week.
Falling back on your basic pantry means that you will continue to be able to prepare good and easy meals.
Here is my basic list. You may decide to add to it, according to your preferences and needs. For example, a family with a baby may want to include baby food or formula. Someone who has a desert-loving family may want to include chocolate chips.
- Flour, baking powder and baking soda
- Sugar
- Salt
- Powdered milk
- Coffee and Tea
- Oats
- Corn meal
- Rice
- Pasta
- Dried, jarred or frozen fruit or a combination
- Canned or frozen vegetables
- Apple sauce (which could be eaten or used in baking)
- Canola oil
- Canned tomatoes and pasta sauce
- Canned chicken and tuna
- Canned soup
- TVP (texturized vegetable protein–it comes dried and can be used as a meat substitute)
- Cheese (I keep cheddar and mozzarella)
- Dried beans (Lentils and great northern beans for me)
- Potato flakes (not the tastiest, but very handy to thicken stews as well as to eat as a side dish)
- Spices
Related Articles:
Stocking the Pantry on a Budget
Five Reasons to Stockpile Food
Common Pitfalls of Stockpiling