Can goods can last a very long time, if you properly inspect them before purchase and if you store them properly. Once you start looking at canned goods you might be surprised to see what comes in a can now days.
The first thing to do with any can is check if the can is dented, deformed, rusted or any other issue which does not make it the perfect can. These are all signs of the food in side of the can not being edible. Bulging cans are absolutely not something you want to buy. We need cans with nothing which might compromise the seal of the can. The next thing to check is the date. The date is when the food inside of the can starts to lose nutritional value. From that date forward the company is saying the food is degrading. This does not mean the food is not edible, it does mean the food is not the same as the day it was put in the can.
When selecting cans try to replicate what you eat on a regular basis. You can easily find precooked meals in cans which are a plus during a bad day. Toss a couple cans of chili in a pot and feed everyone quickly. You can also find ingredients inside cans to make different meals with. Of course having the meal already made in the can cuts down on the number of cans you have to buy.
Buy things which are good for you. During an emergency, be it a lost job or natural disaster you want to keep everyone's health as high as possible. With the proper nutrition your body can fight off dieses and infection. You can perform more physical labor if need be and believe it or not, eating good food keeps you mentally clear and in better spirits. If you are in a truly bad situation eating good for you food can help your body last longer than filling yourself with chips and soda all day.
Vegetables should be one of the first things you look for in canned goods. There are a host of options in this category and you should look for items your family already eats. This will help with keeping things as close to normal as you can, get it…. CAN!!! A good suggestion is to focus on buying mixed vegetables to start, especially if you are on a tight budget. This gives you the most variety. If you have a picky eater they can take out what vegetable they do not like. Once you have a couple cans of mixed vegetables focus on getting a variety. We do not want to have to eat the same thing every day.
Fruit can also be found in cans. Almost any fruit you can think of is found in a can. Start with a couple cans of fruit salad for the same reason we have mixed vegetables. Most cans of fruit are also filled with syrup and water all of which can be used to increase the amount of calories your family is taking in. During an emergency you should never count calories in a negative light. Be happy you have the ability to put those calories into your families’ stomach! Syrup from a can of peaches can be poured over rice to give the rice some flavor other than “rice flavor” and increase the odds of people eating the rice for yet another meal!!! By a variety of fruit and focus on what your group will eat. I have someone who likes strawberries; a few extra cans were bought just for this person.
Protein is essential and cans are the easiest way to store meat. Start with some basic protein, SPAM is a good example. A couple of cans of SPAM can be put away and then added to all sorts of meals to ensure your family is getting protein. Ham, turkey, fish and all kinds of other protein can be found in cans. Be careful of the price!!!! Meat in a can of any type can get expensive!!! Store meat this way is especially easy if you have no idea how to smoke meat or know any other way of preserving meat.
If you have some staples in the house another category of canned goods to look for are items to enhance your staples. Spaghetti noodles can be eaten alone yet are so much more appetizing if you cover them with sauce. A good suggestion is to buy several types of sauce to give you variety in what you are feeding the family. Tomato sauce and other ingredients can be found to add to staples.
Look for items on sale and pick up what is on sale. There always seems to be sales on soups and other items when I go to the store. Plan on spending a extra two to five dollars when you shop every week. If you pick up a can a week only you will be working toward being able to feed your family one more meal and this might make all the difference. One can of chili, macaroni and cheese might be all you need to get through until the situation changes for the better.
Spending some time at the dollar store is good idea when you start to look for canned goods. You will be surprised when you can find the same item there for a dollar which you seen at the grocery store for two or three dollars! Buy some cans, mark the date on them you bought them and find a box or bin to hold them in. After a month or two of just buying one or two cans each trip to the store you will be surprised how many cans you have put away.
As Always,
Stay Safe
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