Introduction

If you’ve opened this book to find out what it’s all about, you’re probably asking yourself: why would you need a year’s worth of food? That’s a question with a very simple answer: because, one day, it might be the difference between life and death for you and your family – and not just in the event of the zombie apocalypse!

Do you have a bank account or retirement account? Most of us do, so let’s assume the answer is yes. We save money over our lifetimes both for short term goals and long term needs, and to make sure we are financially secure in the future. We understand instinctively that money is necessary to our quality of life and that it might not always be arriving in our hands at the rate it does right this minute.

That same concept applies to food. It’s one of the most basic needs we have as human beings and, along with water and shelter, is something we absolutely cannot live without in a time of disaster.

Preppers know there are plenty of reasons you might find yourself cut off from access to food. Let’s start with one that doesn’t always get talked about in conversations about prepping for disaster: a crisis in your own life.

It can happen to anyone. The loss of a job, an accident that leaves you unable to work, the death of a spouse or family member, a new financial responsibility, an unexpected cost that wipes out your savings entirely. No matter how well prepared we try to be, we can never completely predict the challenges life is going to throw at us.

If you found yourself in a situation where there was no money coming in and no relief on the horizon, would it not set your heart at rest to know you are sitting on enough food to ensure that you and your family will not go hungry? A year is a long time to recover from a personal crisis, and knowing you have the basics cover can make it much easier to bounce back.

Traditionally, of course, preppers have worked to be ready for more widespread disasters. This could be anything from a short-term incident like a winter storm or hurricane to a period of civil unrest that makes it dangerous to go out on the streets or an invasion from another country. It could also be a long term disaster, including a widespread famine that makes food scarce, a nuclear war or a pandemic spreading through the population.

Take a look at the history books and the news of even the recent past and you’ll see that any of these scenarios are possible. They come out of the blue to devastate life as we know it, and suddenly it’s extremely difficult to ensure the safety of your family.

But it doesn’t have to be, and that’s what prepping is all about. It’s about making sure you have the basic needs covered, no matter what may happen. It’s an investment for your future just like your bank account or retirement savings. It’s a way to make use of what you have available now to protect your future and ensure that, no matter what happens, you’re in the strongest possible position to survive it.

The Elements of a Healthy Diet

Before you can start putting together a year’s worth of food for yourself and your dependents, it’s important to have an understanding of what exactly you are going to need. Obviously, when you’re selecting your pantry items, the most important fact about a food is going to be its ability to stay viable over a long period. However, its ability to keep you healthy and hearty is also vital.

To stay healthy, you’re going to need numerous macro and micro nutrients. It’s a good idea to research the exact levels you need for your sex, age, height, weight and health requirements, and do the same for anyone else your pantry is going to need. This cumulative total will help you make decisions about types of food and quantities when the time comes to stock your pantry.

Macro Nutrients

Protein

This macro nutrient is arguably the most important of all of them, as it is the building block used by your body to create new cells and repair itself.  Your body is not capable of making the amino acids it needs for this purpose on its own, which is why you need to get them from your food.

The majority of people get protein from meats and dairy products – fortunately, there are long term storage options that will make this possible in your pantry. There are also additional sources that will keep well over time, including seeds, nuts and beans. It’s impossible to stress strongly enough how important it is to make sure protein features prominently in your long term pantry – without it, you won’t stay healthy for very long.

Fiber

This nutrient is the odd one out because you don’t actually absorb or use it. Instead, your body uses it to keep your digestion going, helping the system keep moving and ensuring your gut health. It’s important to make sure you’re getting enough as there are medical issues associated with a lack of fiber in the diet.

Carbohydrates

This macro nutrient is an energy source. Whether it’s simple sugar or more complex whole wheats, carbs will ultimately end up broken down by the body and converted