A Big Wakeup about Food Storage

Do You Really Know What's in Your Emergency Food Supply?

Nearly a month ago I was invited to a Thrive Life demonstration.  I knew very little about dried food and not a lot about the differences.  I have some 25 year storage life food set aside for when T.S.H.F. but something has been nagging at me lately regarding my emergency preparedness that we have been counseled to have but I couldn't quite put my finger on the problem.

Now, I do believe that God helps us to find the path that is best for us and I tried hard to patiently trod the unknown journey He had for me.  He kept telling me to work at "a reasonable pace" and my efforts would be enough for what lies ahead.

I have been given so many amazing experiences and people to learn from.  I could feel a spirit of peace and faith growing inside but since I closed my retail bridal store I hadn't felt a strong purpose in what I am supposed to do in the future.  That is, until now.

A week ago I attended a soap making class taught by a very talented woman, Teresa Earley.  There were about a dozen other like minded women there and one of the sweet ladies shared her story about living in New Jersey through Hurricane Sandy and the aftermath of no water, electricity, grocery stores, etc.

She said the first few days were kind of fun as they proceeded to eat all the ice cream and treats from the now non functioning freezer but over the next three weeks of  "tribulation" they went through a plethora of emotions and feelings, lots of crankiness, that she related directly to eating storage food instead of what they were accustom to eating in their daily routine.

She knew some changes were needed and now she and her family have returned to Utah and are making more of an effort to align their food storage with their daily food routine.

I was touched by her story which was part of my path.

A couple of days later, actually last Friday and Saturday I attended the Thrive Life convention in Layton Utah thinking it would be a great opportunity to learn how to better use and rotate my food storage.  My mom had previously told me that she opened a  20 year old #10 can of powdered egg and it was disgusting and inedible.  What will you do if you have scared and crying children and nothing to feed them because you have no idea what exactly is in that can on your shelf?

I did a really brave thing yesterday.  I went to my basement and opened 12 (yes, 12) cans of 25 year life food storage.  What i discovered was interesting.  First, I made me an omlet, like I learned how to prepare at the Thrive Life convention.  It was delicious.  Not all of my dried foods rehydrated as quickly as Thrive Life foods but it was a good start.

Last fall I purchased several cans of food at our local grocery store.  I also have foods from the LDS storehouse and a lot that I have dehydrated over the past couple of years so I have a pretty good start.  I came home with a half a dozen or so cans and pouches from Thrive Life and am awaiting my first shipment so I can start teaching classes.
  
Not All Are Equal 

Freeze Dried Strawberries

I was happy to find that I had two different brands of strawberries, one from Augason Foods (purchased from my local grocery store) and one from Thrive Life. 

If you look at the picture here you will see that the one on the left looks more like a real strawberry.  As I opened both cans, the one on the left smelled more like a real strawberry and when I tasted it even dried it tasted better.  Now I realize that taste is relative so I invite you to attend one of my classes to see for yourself.

Some Newly Opened Cans are Not Full.

Surprise Opening

Level of Food in Newly Opened Cans

Another comparison I noticed was the level of the contents in the can.  The Thrive Life can was nearly full while the other was only about half full.  I opened a can of powdered honey from Augason Farms and found it was also only about half full.

I showed my discovery to my mom when she was here today and she commented that you could believe that you have more food stored than you do which could be devastating in an emergency but that you need double the storage space with half full cans on your shelf.  Maybe they mean for you to re-hydrate them in the same can.