You may have noticed that you eat different meals with different seasons. In the United States, we are entering the comfort foods season. This means a lot of heavy home cooked food, like soups, stews, and potatoes. When you are planning your food storage you should take into consideration the different seasons and the types of foods you would like to prepare. You should then stock up and rotate using these foods at the appropriate time.
In the summer people tend to eat lighter fresher foods. You may rely heavily on farmer’s markets, and fresh produce from the grocery store. To supplement this you may want to plant a garden in the spring and utilize the fresh fruits and vegetables in the summer and early fall. By storing the seeds and planning ahead you are prepared if you need to use your food storage. You should also plan additional food in case there is a drought or problem with your garden that year.
In the fall many people begin the switch to the heavier foods. If you hunt you can bring your meat supply up that way. You may also considering purchasing part of a cow during this time of year to supplement your meat supply for the rest of the year. You may want to consider canning vegetables early in the fall.
In the winter you may rely on more heavily on your canned fruits and vegetables. It is important to remember to utilize these goods in the winter. Also you may do more baking around the holidays, and you should adjust your food storage amounts accordingly.
In the spring, people begin to look for lighter foods to eat again. You can eat your canned fruits, and plan lighter menus. You may also begin to harvest strawberries at this time of year, and begin making jam to last for the rest of the year.
As you begin to look at food storage through seasonal eyes you may be able to better adjust your menus so that your family will not experience as much appetite fatigue. It is also important to realize that people tend to eat more in the winter months, than the summer months. You will need to average out how much food you should store accordingly.
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