FOOD STORAGE

INVENTORY PLANNING FACTORS

When it comes to calculating your food storage needs, there is no one-
size-fits-all answer to how much emergency food you need to store.
Instead, use the following food inventory planning factors to
customize your food storage plans to your family's unique needs,
lifestyle and eating patterns.

1. Under each food inventory factor, note down specifically what

applies to your personal situation to make sure your food storage
goals are aligned with your needs.
2. Use this planning worksheet in conjunction with the, "How much
emergency food do you need to stockpile?" guide on the site. Its
under the "Stockpiling" section of SanePrepping.com.
3. Next, to calculate the exact amount of food you need to store, use
the same guide together with the "Food Inventory Calculations
Cheat Sheet" that you will find in the Prepper's Free Resource
Library.

PERSONAL OR FAMILY BUDGET

Decide on exactly how much funds from your monthly budget you plan
to repurpose for building up your emergency food storage inventory.
Be creative, smart and methodical about this. Whatever you do, do not
go to extremes to incur debt for this prepping exercise.

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INVENTORY PLANNING FACTORS

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN YOUR FAMILY
Do a primary headcount of immediate family members first. Next, do a
secondary headcount of family members outside of your immediate
family like grandparents, uncles, aunts, grand kids. Basically estimate
the number of people who might end up taking shelter with you.

THE DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD

Take note of the different age groups in your family whether you have
school-aged kids, infants, and elderly people. Based on the different
age groups, the food you end up stockpiling needs to align with family
members at different stages of their life.

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INVENTORY PLANNING FACTORS

TYPES OF EMERGENCY SCENARIOS
This is where you get to investigate the types of anticipated emergency
scenarios that take place in your region whether they are natural or
man-made. The scenarios you will have to confront will influence the
food you purchase, and the rate and frequency of your purchases.

DIETARY NEEDS AND EATING HABITS

Lets face it, every family has different eating habits driven by what
they like eating, special dietary restrictions, allergies and other
medical issues. Customize your staple of foods based on your eating
habits. Below list the foods you currently eat or expect you will eat.

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INVENTORY PLANNING FACTORS

COST AND AVAILABILITY OF BULK FOOD SUPPLIES
As you slowly build up your emergency food stockpile, you will need to
properly evaluate food suppliers and vendors that you wish to buy from.
List all the vendors you want to buy from and begin evaluating them
based on cost, availability, quality, and storage needs.

EXPIRATION DATES OF FOOD SUPPLIES

There is no point in buying all your food supplies if you don't intend
to properly store and protect your food inventory. Note and track the
expiration dates of your food inventory for proper rotation based on
the First In, First Out (FIFO) inventory method.

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INVENTORY PLANNING FACTORS

PETS AND ANIMALS
If you have pets or animals that you look after, then track how much
food you currently buy for them each month and how long it lasts. Make
sure their food and health needs are factored into your food storage
plans as well.

GROWING AND RAISING YOUR OWN FOOD

This factor is applicable if you currently grow your own food or raise
animals for food. If not, then it might be time to consider growing a few
foods like vegetables and anything else you can grow. This is an
excellent food diversification option if you were to start.

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INVENTORY PLANNING FACTORS

NATURAL SOURCES OF FOOD
Depending on where you live, you can further diversify your food
inventory through natural sources like hunting, fishing, trapping or
foraging for wild edibles. Get to know the forests in your area, and get
to know where you can go, what and what not to eat.

FOOD STORAGE TIME FRAMES

There are at least three time-sensitive categories of food storage that
will influence how much you choose to store initially. Namely 3 days
to 1 week, 3 weeks to 3 months, more than 3 months to a full year. Use
these time frames to zoom in on your food storage goal

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