Obtaining a 3 month supply of food

We had an amazing enrichment night activity the other night in which we were taught a method of of obtaining a 3 month supply of food storage for our families. We have been counselled by the Prophet to gather in a 3 month supply click here for more details http://www.providentliving.org/channel/1,11677,1706-1,00.html
We should have food on had for many reasons. A pandemic or natural disaster might make is so you would not be able to go to the grocery store. Strikes or Riots might make food non available ect. Or just loss of employment would make it so you didn't have the funds available.
The Person who taught the class has a blogspot that is worth checking out, you will find alot of great information from this site http://letusprepare.blogspot.com/

1. There are 13 weeks in a 3 month period of time. If you were to have 7 different recipes you would rotate the recipe's Monday - Sunday. For more variety make 14 days worth of recipes which would make 6 weeks (rotation days) instead of 13.

2. Gather and make recipes so that you can rotate every week or every 2 weeks

3. Use recipes that your family likes, and food that your family will eat

4. try to use "pantry friendly" foods we do not know how much "fresh" foods will be available to us in certain circumstances, nor do we know if there will be running utilities, so plan for foods that use minimal cooking (mostly canned or boxed or prepackaged)

5. Take each of your recipes and break down how much of each ingredient is needed. Lets assume for example Taco's are the "Monday meal for 13 weeks I would need to gather: 1 pound ground beef (bottled or shredded beef canned)=13 cans or bottles, 1 pkt taco seasoning=13 pkts, taco shells 1 box=13 boxes, 1 8oz pkg processed cheese=13 pkgs.

6. I will take inventory of what I already have on hand in my storage and write it down. lets say I already had 6 seasoning mixes, I would then only need 7 more. I would add 1 pkt to my shopping list each week, month or how often I think I can afford to purchase the extra ingredient.

7.Make packets with all the ingredients together in a gallon-size ziplock bag. So put the seasoning, taco shells, meat, and cheese all together, so it is easy to grab if you need. Also by making the packets you will be able to "see" how many weeks you have on hand.

Some good reason for making the packets are: When you are in an emercency situation, making dinner is the last thing you want to have to worry about. Less Panic about if you have all the ingredients for meals. If you had to "Run" and evacuate, you could "grab" several meals, or if you store your meals in bins or storage containers, you could easily grab a bin or 2. (also if you put them in bins they become rodent proof)

8. Because we do not know if we will have a reliable fuel source to cook with, look at alternative methods. Rocket stove, sun stove, propane, charcoal...

9. Plan on the "big meal" for lunch That is when the light is the brightest for cooking and food preparations. Use your lighter meal for supper, you can use left overs from lunch, and use less resources to cook.

10. We do not know if there will be refrigeration available, so try to plan your meals with minimal left overs.

11. Once you have a 3 month supply, you need to rotate your meals. they could be used as a "Quick meal" when you schedule is too busy or hectic to cook a meal for your family

12. We never know when we might need the food we store, but the peace it brings to know you are prepared is more than words can express. Your preparations now, just might save your family in the future.