THE THREE MONTH SUPPLY

Getting a three-month supply of food is one step our church leaders give us to become self-reliant. I admit, this can be overwhelming. I have often thought, "I have to get 3 MONTHS of food in my home? I don't even know what we are having for dinner tonight!"

There are a few approaches for gathering your 3-month supply. All of us are different, so no two supplies are going to be the same. Hopefully one of these resonates with you.

 (1) Figure out 30 recipes you could eat from your shelf. Times the ingredients by 3 and, over time, get enough canned goods to always have 90 meals ready to make in your house. I highly suggest that you choose meals that your family really likes, not just meals that can be made from items on the shelf. I have done this method a couple of times. It does work well, but please choose meals that you will eat (and enjoy!), for rotation's sake. Once upon a time I planned for that one recipe that no one in my family really likes...yah, tuna and noodles is still in my pantry. It becomes cat food when no one tells me that the meow mix ran out 2 days ago.

 (2) Buy a little extra each time you go to the store. If 3 cans of tomato sauce are on your list, buy 6 instead. Need a bag of powdered sugar? Buy 2. If your family loves Stove Top Stuffing year round, stock up on 10 boxes while it is on sale for Thanksgiving. Do you usually buy treats for your kids' lunches? Hit Wal Mart or Target the day after Halloween and score 3 months of lunchtime dessert for HALF OFF! (or use that chocolate as a 3-month--or 1 day--supply of personal stress-relief, either way it's a bargain).

Set a budget on how much can be spent on storage items. If you have a good idea of what you buy anyway, use that budget to buy a little extra when it is on sale.

 If you still don't know what to get, some ideas of non-perishables good for storing are: pasta, canned fruit, canned vegetables, beans, honey, muffin mixes, baking powder, vegetable (or olive) oil, ketchup, popcorn, granola bars, cold cereal, etc.

 And, it is good to think about non-food items that you know you will need: toothpaste, laundry soap, feminine supplies, soap, paper goods, cleaning supplies, vitamins, etc.

 We are counciled not to go crazy or beyond our means to obtain a 3-month supply. By doing things bit by bit, it adds up!