Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

Good Afternoon.....

As crazy as this sounded to me 1 or 2 years ago, I've been contemplating stockpiling food in recent weeks, mostly due to a sibling of mine urging me to do some research. I'm not so sure that the food-riot scenario will unfold as such (according to some posters here), but I guess anything could happen in this day and age. So do any of you have any ideas as to what I can cheaply buy that lasts for a very long time (3 - 5 years), and is nutritious?

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

There will be lots of debate as to what to stockpile.

An incomplete list off the top of my head from what I use in no particular order:

Very Long term (20+ years):

Rice, long grain white
Beans, many types, white, red, pinto, kidney, northern, lima, peas, lentel
Wheat, whole red and white
Oats, quick and rolled
Carrots dehydrated
Onions dehydrated
Apples dehydrated
Macaroni noodles
Sugar
Salt
Crisco Shortening
Spam

Shorter Term (Several Years)

Powdered Milk
Flour
Canned Ham
Canned Fish
MRE's (for no cooking, on the go meals
Cooking Oils


Very Short term (2 years or less, and always in rotation)
Canned vegetables, corn, green beans, peas, spinach
Canned fruits, oranges, pineapple, apricot, peaches
Canned tomatoes, tomato sauces, rotel, etc
Freezer full of meats, bread, milk, etc.

None of this is expensive in itself. I spend an average of 50 bucks a week on food preps.

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

Canned tuna in OIL.That is my #1 pick.
Lasts a LONG time,and you may need that oil in your diet someday.Oil and fat was often in short supply in Russia and was a big problem for them.

#2 is Spam,again lasts a LONG time.

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

Always buy the canned tuna with water. The oil will turn the tuna rancid depending on how long you intend to store it.

I enjoy tuna, but I can never seem to find any 3/1$ deals.

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

Oil is rated by them at about 3 years.Bought some last year with a 12/10/10 exp. date on em.Dont have a problem here,I cycle through it pretty good.Buy what you eat,etc. etc. :D

Keep about a hundred cans on hand.I get to 50 its past refill time.That and some rice or pasta or bread means 100 meals for me and the Mrs.Fortunately I really LIKE tuna,LOL.

The cheapest stuff here is about 65 cents a can normal pricing.I try to buy on the sales too,just got albacore (in water,its all they had) for 98 cents a can,better than half price off.

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

Too bad I don't like tuna.

Luckily I DO like sardines, but they are a lot more expensive, at least for the ones I would LIKE to eat.

I think the better solution for meat is home made jerky. Nobody has to MAKE me eat that, and I can make it out of $2.00/lb beef without too much trouble.

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

hands down - nutrition bars.

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

A couple of can openers?

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

look for #10 cans of dehdrated mashed potatoes. they keep a long time, easy to prepare. Maybe stock a couple jars of "brown gravy mix" for each can of potatoes.
a few other good storage foods are
pilot bread ( big round wheat crackers) will last forever
hershey bars
almonds
orange marmalade, strawberry preserves, etc. will keep for ever

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

Fullower:

Just make sure that your mashed taters do NOT contain milk products. We have a good stock of potato pearls, instant mashed potatoes (you can buy at sams club). They have milk products in them, and therefore are only stable for <2 years. (I really these BTW).

On the other hand, we have several cases of potato FLAKES. These are instant as well, but are JUST dehydrated potatoes, no milk products. These are shelf stable for decades.

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

It doesn't matter how cheap and nutritious and cheap it was when you bought it, if it makes you gag when it is time to eat it.

If you like it, buy it, and keep it rotated. If you buy it, eat it, and learn to prepare it in new ways.

All of this applies TRIPLE if children will be eating from your stockpile; a stubborn child faced with unfamiliar foods, especially under stress, will almost sooner starve than eat something yucky.

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

Excellent point. It wouldn't hurt to have a lot of candy and sweets around to lure children into eating other foods first.

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

4 words. RAW ORGANIC SUNFLOWER SEEDS.

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

The FDA recommends limiting tuna intake because of mercury. You might consider salmon or mackerel, which is often cheaper on a per-unit basis and makes pretty decent jerky.

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

IMO, as much as possible, you need to stock the kinds of stuff your family eats with a smile. For example, my kids love pasta with tomato sauce, pancakes, beef jerky, chili, mac and cheese, rice, soups, and pork and beans so I went way over what any of the preps lists say on things my family likes to eat. I have almost no candy type stuff, but lots of sugar and dried fruits to make that oatmeal taste good.

Re: Must Nutritious, Least Expensive Foods To Stockpile
 

LOL, Mackerel or Tuna jerky. Boy, would I have sour faced kids if I pulled that out.