Just in Case (8 page)

STAPLES

Rice

Beans

Pasta

Cereals

Peanut butter

Canned meat (tuna, salmon, chicken, ham)

Canned vegetables (including tomato sauce)

Canned fruit

Canned meals (chili, soups, stews, pasta meals)

Nuts

Seeds

Bouillon (beef, chicken, vegetable, fish)

Along with your baking supply, what we call food “staples” are the building blocks of tasty, nutritious meals. These are the foodstuffs found in most kitchens. If meat is in short supply, the right combination of these foods can be your family’s source of protein. Your challenge will be to acquire enough to provide for your family during a crisis of undetermined length and to know how to use them to their best advantage. These foods are often used as “loss leaders” in supermarkets. They are offered at a really low price to lure you into the store. Shop wisely and stock up when the price is excellent and you can fill in this category for less than you might think.

CHECKING EXPIRATION DATES

Check the sell-by date stamped on the bottom of all cans, boxes, and bags of food before you buy them. A stamped code of 08109 means that the food is best used by August 1,2009. This does not mean that you have to throw out that can of peaches on August 2, but it does mean that you shouldn’t buy it on July 31. Choose a fresher can. Freshness can be a particular problem if you purchase food at a salvage store. The price may be exceptional but the product might be approaching or even past its expiration date. That may not matter if you plan to eat it right away, but it must be avoided if you plan to store it.

If a can or box of food that you have in storage is approaching its expiration date, use it up. While most canned and dried foods remain safe well after the expiration date, they do begin to lose nutrition and palatability.

CONDIMENTS

Ketchup