Food Calculator
Now, when you read the amount of food you'll need for one year, don't freak out!
LOL
It does look like a lot but remember your gardens! Your gardens, even small ones will pick up the slack for some of the food listed there.
You should however shoot for the amount of food on the list in the event of garden failure. This list will be a great starting point for you.
Remember, this is just a guide. If there are things on the list you know you won't eat, (and I know there are) then substitute things you do like.
I would put popcorn on the list. Raisins and prunes or dates, nuts, canned meat like hams or tuna or salmon etc...
This calculator originates from the LDS church and I believe that they are vegetarians.
I'm not certain and someone correct me if that is in error. But if you add canned meats, stews, chili, etc, to the list that will help.
Meats and soups and stews containing meat are more dense with proteins and calories which is what you really want to count.
Although salt is listed, spices and herbs are also not on this list, you'll want to make sure you have things like garlic, pepper, cinnamon, basil, oregano, or whatever herbs and seasoning you use on a regular basis, added to your storage. Imagine having to eat beans and rice with nothing but salt for an entire year!
But this calculator is a great place to begin addressing that food stockpile issue.
Oh, and get on it! Food prices are set to increase by AT LEAST 7% over the coming year. Check out the article here. Food Prices to Spike. I copied and pasted it here for you but the above link will take you to the reuters article.
Steep food price increases on way: experts
Thu Nov 6, 2008 4:50pm EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. food prices will rise by at least 7 percent in 2009 because of higher feed costs for chickens, hogs and cattle, said a group of food-industry economists on Thursday.
It would be the third year in a row that food prices rose faster than the overall U.S. inflation rate. Food inflation is the highest since 1990.
"The sizable increase in the cost of producing food has not been fully passed on to the consumer," said private consultant Bill Lapp. He foresaw food inflation of 7 percent-9 percent in 2009.
During a teleconference, economists from the National Chicken Council and the consultancy Farm Econ said food inflation could be 7 percent-8 percent. The teleconference was arranged by a group of major foodmakers.
Wholesale prices for items used by foodmakers have climbed more rapidly than grocery and restaurant prices, so higher consumer prices are in store, said Lapp.
Although grain prices have declined since summer, this year's corn, wheat and soybean crops are forecast to fetch prices at the farm gate that are double their 2005 levels. Corn and soybeans are major ingredients in feed rations.
"We've been losing money for more than a year," said Bill Roenigk, economist for the Chicken Council, who said producers intend to cut production by as much as 12 percent. "We need to recover these feed costs."
Thomas Elam, head of Farm Econ, said poultry, hog and cattle producers would cut production in coming months because of feed costs, meaning less meat on the retail market but at higher prices.
Menu prices are restaurants up 4.3 percent so far this year, the largest increase since 1990, said Hudson Riehle of the National Restaurant Association. He said one-third of each sales dollar goes to food purchases.
Agriculture Department forecasts also say pricey meats will drive food inflation in 2008.
Americans spend more than $1 trillion a year on groceries, snacks, carry-out foods and restaurant meals. Farmers get 20 cents of the food dollar. The rest goes to processing, labor, transportation and distribution.
(Reporting by Charles Abbott; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
Another thing to watch for during the coming holiday season, super sales!!!!
Retail sales are falling off a cliff and you could be able to buy many of the things you need this season on sale!
Hope you girls are being good and doing the right thing, I'm sure you are.
Love,
mom
2 comments:
Your belief about the LDS Church and vegetarianism is not correct. The LDS Church does not teach in favor or against vegetarianism. As a result, some Church members are vegetarian, while the majority (reflecting the population at large) are not.
The Church does have a health code of sorts, known as the "Word of Wisdom," which prohibits Smoking, Coffee, Tea, and Illicit drugs, and otherwise suggests moderation in all things.
Thank you so much for clearing that up. I just wondered about it because the food calculator didn't include any meats.
and moderation in all things is always a good idea.
thanks again,
pamela
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