Having a food storage supply is essential for maintaining energy and health in an emergency situation. There is no perfect food or complete nutrition pill; nutrition comes from a variety of foods.
This list is the basic food requirements for an average adult for one year. Bold items are the total for the whole category, non-bold are possible suggestions. Tailor your list based on these recommendations. Consider your needs, wants, abilities, resources and budget.
“Eat what you store, and store what you eat.”
| Suggested Amounts of Basic Food Storage (One Adult/One Year) |
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| Item | Per Year | 3 Months | Shelf Life in Years |
| Grains | 400 lbs | 100 lbs | |
| Wheat | 175 lbs | 30 + | |
| Flour | 20 lbs | 20 | |
| Cornmeal | 30 lbs | 20 | |
| Rolled Oats | 50 lbs | 30 | |
| White Rice | 80 lbs | 30 + | |
| Pearled Barley | 5 lbs | 30 + | |
| Pasta | 40 lbs | 20 | |
| Legumes | 60 lbs | 15 lbs | |
| Dry Beans | 45 lbs | 30 | |
| Dry Lima Beans | 2 lbs | 30 | |
| Dry Soy Beans | 2 lbs | 30 | |
| Dry Split Peas | 2 lbs | 30 | |
| Dry Lentils | 2 lbs | 30 | |
| Dry Soup Mix | 7 lbs | 1 to 2 | |
| Fats & Oils | 10 quarts | 2.5 quarts | |
| Cooking Oil | 5 quarts | 1 to 2 | |
| Shortening | 2 quarts | 5 | |
| Mayonnaise | 1 quart | 1 to 2 | |
| Salad Dressing | 1 quart | 1 to 2 | |
| Peanut Butter | 1 quart | 1 to 2 | |
| Milk Group | 16 lbs | 4 lbs | |
| Non-Fat Dry Milk | 14 lbs | 20 | |
| Evaporated Milk | 12 12-oz cans | 1 to 2 | |
| Sugars | 60 lbs | 15 lbs | |
| Granulated Sugar | 40 lbs | 30 + | |
| Brown Sugar | 3 lbs | 1 to 2 | |
| Molasses | 1 lbs | 1 to 2 | |
| Honey | 3 lbs | 30 | |
| Corn Syrup | 3 lbs | 1 to 2 | |
| Jams & Jellies | 5 lbs | 1 to 2 | |
| Powdered Fruit Drink | 6 lbs | 30 | |
| Flavored Gelatin | 1 lbs | 5 | |
| Miscellaneous | |||
| Salt | 8 lbs | 2 lbs | 30 + |
| Dry Yeast | 1/2 lbs | 2 oz | 1 to 2 |
| Baking Soda | 1 lbs | 1/4 lbs | 30 + |
| Baking Powder | 1 lbs | 1/4 lbs | 1 to 2 |
Include dried or canned fruits and vegetables to add vitamins and nutrients.
Sources:
Preparedness Principles, Barbara Salsbury, pg.86
http://www.providentliving.org “New Findings for Longer-Term Food Storage”
Other than beans, bread, and rice, what in the world are you going to make with this hodge podge list of ingredients? Molasses? For what? I’m 54 and have NEVER in my life even tasted molasses.
This list is the very BASICS of nutrition. One adult can survive on the nutrients provided in this list for one full year. It is suggested that other items be added to this storage list to add variety and further nutrition as budget, time, and storage space allow (ie. seasonings and spices, powdered dairy products, powdered eggs, dehydrated fruits and vegetables, etc.). The bold items of each category are the totals needed for each group (ie. Sugars 60 lbs.). The non-bold type items are some possible suggestions to fulfill the required amounts of the category (ie. Granulated Sugar 40 lbs., Brown Sugar 3 lbs., Molasses 1 lb., etc.). As with any list, it is vital to tailor it and personalize it according to your own needs, tastes, and abilities. Someone without a wheat grinder may need to change the suggested amount of whole grains to meet their own needs if they don’t know how to prepare whole grain for consumption. As for molasses, many basic recipes call for this ingredient. You may be surprised what things you have eaten that contain molasses (ie. wheat bread). Research some recipes and if you decide you still don’t need molasses, then by all means do not add it to your storage. It will go to waste and take up your valuable storage space. Thanks for the reply. I hope my suggestions help.
-Survival Solutions