Just a few years ago, when the pandemic first ensnared the entire world, we did get a small glimpse of what empty grocery shelves actually looked like.
It gave me an eerie feeling that our lives were more fragile than we could have imagined. Many families were completely unprepared. Keep reading to discover how to prepare for a food shortage.
How to Prepare for a Food Shortage
Now, just imagine for a moment if a major disaster like a flood, hurricane, or EMP attack were to strike your area. Think about the effect that it would have on your food supply.
It would likely have a more devastating impact than you ever thought. It might be a reality where buying food would come to a screeching halt. That’s pretty scary, and it should not be scoffed at.
Following a disaster, you don’t want to find yourself at your local grocery store when it becomes the center for stealing and looting, or if it’s even left standing. I was amazed to see how quickly the store shelves became empty at most local grocery stores shortly after the pandemic lockdown. It’s the same after tornadoes and hurricanes.
Your family must be prepared long before the storm. Here’s how you can adequately prepare for a food shortage.
Take a Current Inventory
If you were to peek in your pantry right now, how long would your family be sustained with the food on hand? My guess is not much more than one to two weeks’ worth of food if that. Other families have stocked it for years, and they understand food shortages.
That might not be enough if your situation becomes desperate. Do you have food that everyone in the family likes to eat? You might want to check and see whether your food supply is nearing the end of its life based on the “best if used before” date. It’s time to take that inventory and bump it up a bit.
I made these free printables if you can use them. Tracking Food Storage:
Building a Food Supply
When you’re preparing for an extreme scenario, I encourage you to stock up on at least a three-month supply for you and your family.
That might sound expensive (and it can be), but you don’t have to feel pressured to create this type of reserve during only one grocery shopping visit.
Do so a little bit at a time. Every time you head to the grocery store, make it a habit to set aside a number of canned and dried foods to add to your supply.
Here’s some Canned Food I Highly Recommend that you consider stocking. They can last relatively long, and they have plenty of protein and nutrients to keep your family going.
If you have enough resources later on and decide to establish a supply that could last for a whole year, go for it. Just keep rotating through your stock and using it before it goes bad.
Learn to Cook From Scratch
Did you have a grandmother or your own mother who could whip up just about anything while using the fewest ingredients? Not only was it full of substance, but it also tasted good.
Maybe you didn’t spend the time to acquire that gift, but it’s not too late. If you missed these great posts, please check them out: Cooking From Scratch 101 or How to Save Money Cooking at Home.
Stock Your Freezer with Meat
If you are a big meat eater, going cold turkey would not be a pleasant experience (no pun intended). You may notice a giant price spike even if you can still find meat at the grocery store following a major disaster.
To solve this dilemma, stock your freezer(s) with the meat you thaw as needed. Just be sure to check regularly that your meat is being rotated and used up in time. You may want to check into a generator to safeguard that freezer and the stored meat in case you lose power in your neighborhood.
Start a Garden
It would also be wise to consider having a garden in your backyard filled with fruits and veggies that could help sustain you in the aftermath.
This ensures that your family members get the nutrients they need when finding products on the shelf becomes impossible. In case you missed this post, Fruit Trees: The Ones You Need To Grow
It’s also just a great hobby to grow it, and it’s fun to see your garden produce good food. If you have the room in your yard, a few fruit trees would also be great.
When winter comes around, consider growing a small garden indoors. That way, you’ll have an extra growing season while bulking up your supply. I grow lettuce year-round, as well as some herbs. I just ordered some tomato seeds that grow to six inches tall (for my AeroGarden). AeroGarden, Mighty Mini Cherry Tomato Seed Pod Kit
Please Check Out What To Plant Each Month:
- What To Plant In January
- What To Plant In February
- What To Plant In March
- What To Plant In April
- What To Plant In May
- What To Plant In June
- What To Plant In July
- What To Plant In August
- What To Plant In September
- What To Plant In October
Storing Your Produce
When it’s time to harvest your produce, you’ll need to have a way of storing it to last the winter. You probably don’t have a root cellar that you could depend on, but a cool and dry basement would work great. Here’s more information on how to properly store certain types of produce.
One of my readers told me about these vegetable and fruit containers; I love them. Vegetable Containers for the Refrigerator
Preserving Food
Another trick your grandmother probably did was to preserve her food by canning. Canning and preserving are great ways to enjoy your garden during the rest of the year. I highly recommend following the USDA Canning Guide. Hopefully, you can still get this book. USDA Canning Guide 2025.
It’s the one I received when I attended My Master Canning and Preserving Classes. I’ve been canning for over 50 years, and I learned about all the new issues with the acidity of the fruits and vegetables produced today.
Home canning fresh fruit and vegetables tastes much better than canned goods you buy from the store. It’s also much more enjoyable because of the love and care that went into the process. It’s one more way to be ahead of the game if a food shortage ever happens.
Having the Right Tools
When it comes to a food shortage, the first thing you worry about is what you’ll have available to weather the storm. But don’t forget about having the tools to make those meals possible. Be sure to have at least one can opener, and preferably more than one. Check this out: Can Opener
Whether you need cooking utensils, a can opener, or garden cultivating tools, you should not be left without what you’ll need. A Multi-tool would also be very beneficial under these circumstances. This is how you prepare for a food shortage.
Final Word
If a disaster were ever to strike your city, at least you’d have the comfort of knowing that you have enough food to provide for yourself and your family until conditions improved. Think about how much worse your situation would be if you didn’t prepare beforehand.
Have you ever survived a disaster and your food supply became a significant issue for you and your family? How did you manage, and what other advice would you give others?
Please keep prepping; we must. I sure hope people realize the government can’t take care of everyone. May God bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Grocery Store Deposit photos_204368848_s-2019
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