Did you say, Food Shortage?

This topic has crossed my mind here and there but has been more often recently because I keep seeing it in interviews or in a discussion regarding the world. It is mainly heavy on my mind because of my Sumz girl. My Sumz girl only eats certain foods and that's it. We try to accommodate her as best as we can by stocking up. We always try to prepare with food storage due to the weather here in NC. However, having food storage for a year or two is a lot to think about, and how to do it is another situation. Here is Sumz' list of foods:

• McDonalds Egg Sausage Biscuit without the biscuit - as she gets older the order goes up, now we’re at 2 or 3 orders but of course she does not eat that all week.

• Funyuns - we have a stack of boxes in the house and our car. It's her go to if none of the food fits her appetite.

• Jin Ramen Noodles - these are Korean mild (still spicy for me) noodles which have been her favorite since she was a toddler.

• Pepperoni pizza (Orange pizza as Sumz calls it) from Little Caesar's.

• Hot dog (Sam’s) but towards the end of last year, she decided she likes the bun more than the hotdog which was shocking.

• Ground beef and cream of mushroom with rice (once every 2 weeks or so)

• Bulgogi without sesame seeds (Korean beef) with rice

• Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies that her dad makes (if I make it, she can tell and it’s a no thank you!)

• Bongos - she had these as a substitute for Funyuns when we’re in the South Pacific

• Honey Nut Cheerios - she snacks on these or on some bad days she eats a bowl as a meal without milk

• Fruits - strawberries, green grapes (red grapes are a no no), red apples and bananas

So parents, continue to stock up but also find alternatives for the babies to still enjoy the foods we can keep in storage. With Summer, we do have alternatives and they are oatmeal, pancakes, or white rice if she's famished and there's nothing else. It is definitely tough trying to have her eat something on demand but when she realizes there's nothing else, she will stay hungry till one of the foods on the list shows up. We will continue to work on trying new foods, though. We should always be prepared, whether it's food, first aid, water, funds, and so forth, because we can never predict the future. Here are steps to follow to prepare for a potential shortage of food or toilet paper LOL (I still can't believe that was a thing...well at least now we know to prepare ahead):

1. Stockpile non-perishable food items such as canned goods, rice, pasta and beans.

2. Consider investing in a deep freezer to store meat, fruits and vegetables.

3. Grow your own fruits and vegetables, or join a community garden.

4. Learn basic canning and preserving techniques to extend the shelf life of food.

5. Store water in large containers in case of a shortage or contamination of the public water supply.

6. Have a plan for cooking without electricity, such as using a camping stove or a solar oven (I need to invest in one or trust that my Eagle Scout/Veteran guy has this covered. (I guess McK and I can starve a little lol.)

7. Consider alternative sources of food such as hunting, fishing, etc.

8. Store seeds in case you need to replant your food source.

9. Make sure you have tools and supplies you need to prepare and cook food.

10. Get involved with local organizations that help people prepare for emergencies and food shortages.

In addition to that list, if you already have storage, you should organize it and remove any expired foods from your cabinet/counter. It's also important to understand essential nutrition and food safety practices to ensure you can maintain good health during a food shortage.

Please note you're able to drive to Home Storage Centers managed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and pick up some longer term food storage needs. We once drove to 129 Landmark Drive, Greensboro, NC to pick up some goods with a shelf life of 25-30 years. This location is only open for a few hours on Mondays and Tuesdays and one Saturday a month. Please CLICK HERE for more information as far as locations (US and Canada), hours, groceries and their prices.