Take it for what it's worth, but if you know me I have been around since before Voat - same name. I am pretty low key I think but judge for yourself.
Anyhoo, my husband got a call from his brother, former Commander in the Navy. He is hearing that things are going to get a little crazy in around four weeks and that people should have four weeks of food and water just in case. Be able to sterilize water too. Something to do with panicking deep staters trying to block ports and food supply. This brother is really smart - many engineering patents to his name in his post military civilian career. Retired now but was literally considered intellectual property when his company was bought and sold, etc. The regular Joe brothers tend to think he's a right wing nut, and he is absolutely right wing but so am I so that doesn't really dissuade me. Not gonna lie sometimes I think he's a little out there. But he still has friends in high places and he knows people think he's nuts but feels it's important to share. Thought I should too and let people do what they want. His point is if you spend $600 to stock up and nothing happens, you still have $600 worth of food and water. If you don't and you end up really needing it....you don't.
What kind of food do you buy? I have a bunch of canned soup but I can see that getting really old really quick.
I have purchased frozen veggies on sale, dehydrated and stored in glass jars with the silica packets that come in seaweed snacks. These veggies are great to throw into ramen soups, stews, and casseroles. Freezer is full with meat, seafood, veggies,cheese, butter and of course, some ice cream. I buy shelf milk, powdered milk, canned milk. Flours, sugars, spices, nuts, oils, oatmeals, cereals, etc. Make sure you have tried and true recipes YOUR family likes. Doesn't matter if you get a great deal on something, if no one in your home will eat it. It will go to waste. I would suggest to learn how to make breads, rolls, tortillas, etc and have the ingredients on hand. I stock up each week on items I know we use and are at their rock bottom price. Doing it little by little, rotating your stock, makes it less painful to the budget.
Dry storage foods that dont require refrigeration. Ive personally got the bottom 2 shelves in my pantry dedicated to "prepper" stuff and I won't touch it for a year. I have canned soups and vegetables, flour, yeast, salt/pepper, oil, dehydrated onions, bell peppers, Velveeta cheese 6 months max, pasta, canned tomatoes of several varieties but I think crushed is best, crackers, rice, powdered milk, instant coffee.
Maybe a spare propane tank for the grill. I have natural gas and I hope that will remain operational but who knows. Worst case, I fire up the charcoal grill to cook.
Peanut butter, canned meats - tuna, chicken, sardines, and any prescriptions you need. Protein bars and shakes
Dry beans, canned tomatoes
Pet food ... you don't want to change their diet during already tough times, if ya know what I mean. Lol
Great! Thx
Anything from the store that looks good but I try getting things that don't have to be frozen. One could look at getting bread and making sandwiches/ chips,etc
In addition to shelf-stable canned soup, vegetables, and beans, and grains (oatmeal, rice) you heat to eat,
peanut butter (I've tried other nut butters but found I preferred to just eat the nuts) to eat a spoonful a serving (not double-dipping a licked spoon), nicer with a little raw (real) honey on it, and/or a variety of nuts. Peanuts, cashews, pine nuts, pistachios, macadamias, walnuts, pecans. You may max out at 200 calories a day, regular eating.
Cans of tuna, or other meat, and what you could mix with them that doesn't require refrigeration after opening.
If you're willing to spend the money, your grocery store may have single-serving, ready-to-eat packets of olives, asparagus, freeze-dried vegetables.
$3 each but they taste good, Wild Zora Mediterranean Lamb bars. ~$36 for the equivalent of a serving a week of liver or organ meats, Ancestral Supplements freeze-dried Liver pills, Organs.
Various dried or freeze-dried fruits. Mango, medjool dates, single-serve applesauce, etc.
Some hard cheeses like parmesan can sit on a shelf for months, but I will only buy what's been sealed at the factory. Deli-sliced I bought grew mold.
Olive oil to enhance _? Soy sauce. Real maple syrup.
Canned butter and freeze-dried eggs can be bought on Amazon.
Great!! Thanks much