In these uncertain times, it’s important to be prepared for any and all potential emergencies. One such emergency is a food shortage-when there isn’t enough food to go around for everyone. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, which is why it’s important to prepare for a food shortage.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to identify potential food shortages, how to stockpile food for emergencies, tips for eating healthy during a food shortage, and how to grow at least some of your own food.
Food Shortages Due to Situations Beyond Your Control
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One of the biggest challenges that I personally have when it comes to food shortages is dealing with situations that are beyond my control. For instance, I have no control over decisions that our government, or foreign governments make when it comes to things that may impact food supply. As an example, war can potentially lead to a decrease in the availability of certain foods, or an increase in food prices.
While I can’t control what others do, I can be prepared for potential impacts on my family’s food supply. And that’s what I want to focus on in this article-ways that you can prepare for a food shortage, so that you and your family have enough to eat.
How to Identify Potential Food Shortages
One of the best ways to prepare for a food shortage is to be able to identify potential food shortages. This way, you can stockpile food before there is an actual shortage, and you’ll be able to eat healthily even if there is a shortage. So, how do you identify potential food shortages?
There are several ways to do this:
1. Keep an eye on the news.
Be sure to watch or read the news daily, so that you can stay up-to-date on current events. If there is a potential for a food shortage due to a natural disaster, political unrest, war, etc., you’ll be able to hear about it on the news. Also, sometimes you’ll learn about upcoming food shortages. As an example, I recently learned about the expectation that peanut butter will be harder to get in the future, so I purchased a little extra peanut butter. I do want to encourage you to use a bit of caution with this because watching too much news can be depressing!
2. Keep an eye on food prices.
If you see that the price of certain foods is increasing, it could be a sign that there is a potential for a food shortage. Even though those items are more expensive now than they previously were, it’s best to buy them now, before the price goes up more or even worse, the items become unavailable.
3. Talk to your friends and family.
Friends and family members may be able to give you some insight into whether or not they think there is a potential for a food shortage. However, this is a tricky one since we all know people who tend to be alarmist. You kind of have to use your gut on this one, since not all advice you get from people is good.
4. Talk to your local farmers.
Local farmers may be able to give you some insight into problems they are experiencing and what they’ve heard through the grapevine that may cause future food shortages.
5. Watch for changes in the availability of certain foods.
If you notice that certain foods are becoming less available, it could be a sign that there issues impacting the availability of that food. For instance, if you notice certain shelves in the grocery store have a lot of empty spots, it may be a sign that the things that are missing on those empty shelves may be even harder to come by in the future.
How to Stockpile Food for Emergencies
It’s important to stockpile food for emergencies, because if there is a food shortage, you’ll have enough food to last you and your family. There are a few things to keep in mind when stockpiling food:
How to stockpile food
1. Choose non-perishable foods: Foods that have a long shelf life are the best to stockpile, because they will last the longest. Canned goods, dried goods, and frozen foods are all good options.
2. Buy in bulk: When you buy in bulk, you can save money and get more food for your money. Buying in bulk also means that you’ll have more food to last you in an emergency.
3. Rotate your food: It’s important to rotate your food, so that the food you stockpile doesn’t go bad before you have a chance to eat it. To rotate your food, use the oldest food first and then replace it with new food.
Pro Tip: Check out the pantry organizers available on Amazon. They can really help keep things organized, and some of them are designed in such a way that they make rotating canned food easy. The important thing to keep in mind is to be sure to measure the cupboards or shelves where you plan to put the organizers. This one wouldn’t fit in the narrow pantry in my kitchen, so I had to find another place for it.
What to stockpile
1. Canned goods: Canned goods are a great option to stockpile, because they have a long shelf life. Make sure to buy canned goods that you and your family will actually eat, so that you don’t end up with a lot of food that no one wants to eat.
2. Dried goods: Dried goods, like rice and beans, are another great option to stockpile. They have a long shelf life and can be used to make a variety of meals. You can also buy dried fruit to add some nutritional variety and sweetness.
Pro Tip: To learn how to make your dried fruit last longer, check out my article, Dried Fruit Storage Tips.
3. Frozen foods: Frozen foods are a good option to stockpile, because they will last longer than fresh food. However, you’ll need to have a way to cook the frozen food, so make sure you have a plan for that.
Pro Tip: To see the pros and cons of canning and freezing, check out my Article, Canning Vs. Freezing for Long Term Food storage.
4. Water: Water is essential for survival, so it’s important to stockpile water in an emergency. You should have at least one gallon of water per person, per day.
Where to stockpile food
1. In your home: The best place to stockpile food is in your home, because you can access it easily in an emergency. If you have the space, you can store food in a pantry or closet. If you don’t have a lot of space, you can still stockpile food by using bins or storage containers.
2. In a storage unit: If you have a storage unit, you can use it to stockpile food. This is a good option if you don’t have a lot of space at home or if you want to keep your food in a cool, dark place. If you store food in a storage unit, ideally choose a unit that is climate controlled.
3. In your car: If you have a car, you can stockpile food in it. This is a good option if you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes or other natural disasters. One thing to be aware of is that temperatures in a car may be extremely hot or extremely cold, depending on where you live. So a car isn’t good for long-term food storage, and you should rotate it frequently.
4. In your office: If you have an office, you can stockpile food there. This is a good option if you live in an urban area and don’t have a lot of space at home. If you stock food in your workplace, be sure to store it in a place that is considered “yours” such as in a locker or cabinets in your office or cubicle.
When to start stockpiling food
By the time you notice food shortages happening, you may feel that it’s too late to start stockpiling food. However, even if it would have been better to start earlier, there’s no time like the present.
While food may be less plentiful now or more expensive than it used to be, chances are things won’t get cheaper, so you may as well buy what you can now, rather than putting it off.
If you feel that you can’t afford to stockpile a lot of food, check out my articles:
Both of those articles were written specifically for people who may not have a ton of time or money to prep.
Tips for Eating Healthy During a Food Shortage
It’s important to eat healthy during a food shortage, because you need to make sure you’re getting the nutrients you need to stay healthy. During a food shortage, it’s likely that there will be fewer fresh fruits and vegetables available, so you’ll need to rely on other sources of nutrition.
Here are some tips for making sure the food you eat during a food shortage is as nutritious as possible.
1. Eat a variety of foods: During a food shortage, you’ll need to eat a variety of foods to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need. Try to include foods from all the food groups in your diet.
2. Get enough protein: Protein is essential for survival, so make sure you’re getting enough of it. You can get protein from meat, poultry, fish, beans, lentils, eggs, and dairy products.
3. Get enough calories: During a food shortage, you may not be able to eat as much as you’re used to. Make sure you’re getting enough calories by eating high-calorie foods such as nuts, peanut butter, and oils.
4. Eat foods that are high in vitamins and minerals: During a food shortage, you’ll need to make sure you’re getting enough vitamins and minerals. Choose foods that are high in vitamins A, C, and D, as well as iron, zinc, and magnesium.
5. Avoid processed foods: During a food shortage, you should avoid processed foods as much as possible. Processed foods are often high in empty calories, fat, and salt, and they may not be very nutritious.
6. Stockpile healthy snacks: If you have kids, it’s especially important to stockpile healthy snacks. Kids often get cranky when they’re hungry, so having healthy snacks on hand will help them (and you) stay calm during a food shortage. Healthy snack items include things like dried fruit, nuts, and popcorn.
Grow at Least Some of Your Own Food
Many people think that they can’t grow their own food because they live in an apartment or a small home with limited yard space. However, there are many plants that you can grow in small spaces, and growing your own food can be a fun and rewarding experience.
Here are some tips for growing your own food, even if the only space you have to grow food is indoors or on a balcony
How to Grow Vegetables and Herbs Indoors
The good news is, it’s possible to grow vegetables and herbs indoors. My favorite ways to grow vegetables and herbs indoors is through the use of hydroponics. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in water without the use of soil.
Not only does this method save on space, but it also eliminates the need for weeding and tilling. Moreover, hydroponically grown plants typically mature faster and yield more than their soil-grown counterparts.
If you’re interested in growing vegetables and herbs indoors, I recommend checking out the following articles:
- The Best Small Hydroponic Systems for Small Spaces
- How to Grow Basil in Water
- The Best Herbs to Grow Indoors
How to Grow Microgreens and Sprouts Indoors
Sprouts and microgreens are great things to grow indoors. One of the best things about them is that they grow really fast, and are easy to grow, even if you don’t have a green thumb.
If you’re interested in growing sprouts or microgreens indoors, I recommend checking out the following articles:
- The 10 Best Hydroponic Microgreens
- The Ultimate Guide to Growing Microgreens in an AeroGarden
- Why Every Prepper Should Add Sprouts and Microgreens to Their Prepper Pantry
How to Grow Food on a Balcony in Containers
If you live in an apartment but are lucky enough to have even a small balcony, you can grow food in containers. While I love to grow food hydroponically indoors, there are certain things that grow better outdoors in containers.
Root vegetables, for example, do well when grown in containers., since they require soil to grow. Additionally, some vegetables require pollination in order to produce fruit or vegetables, so if you’re interested in growing them, you’ll need to grow them outdoors.
If you’re interested in growing food on a balcony in containers, I recommend checking out the following articles:
In short, there are many things you can do to prepare for food shortages. You can stockpile food, eat healthy foods, and grow your own food. Additionally, you can learn about how to hydroponically garden indoors or on a balcony. No matter where you live or how much space you have, there is something you can do to ensure you and your family are prepared in the event of a food shortage.
Recommended Books to Help You Prepare for a Food Shortage
- A Year Without the Grocery Store
- The Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving
- The Ultimate Dehydrator Cookbook
- 100 Day Pantry
Pro Tip: Be sure to check out my article, The 7 Best Long-Term Food Storage Containers for tips on how to store the food you buy for your prepper pantry.