When it comes to storing food for the bird flu crisis, I think there are two types of food you want to stockpile: “normal” food from your grocery store or wholesale club, and long-term survival food.

The latest information I could find on the average cost for food for a family of four per month is from two years ago. According to the Food Marketing Institute, in 2004 the average family of four spent about $404 a month on food. So, roughly speaking if you want to create a three month stockpile of food for your family, that means you’re going to have to invest at least $1200 to do so.

That is a big chunk of change but please don’t let it overwhelm you. You don’t have to go to the grocery store and drop $1200 in one trip. If time allows, start by simply picking up an extra 10-20% at each grocery store trip that you make. Your effort to prepare now is what will make the difference in your family’s survival later.

Let’s start with the normal food...

First, try to avoid foods that are high in fat and protein, and don’t stock salty foods, since they will make you thirsty. Familiar foods can lift morale and give a feeling of security in time of stress. Also, many canned foods won’t require cooking, water or special preparation. Take into account your family’s unique needs and tastes. Try to include foods that they will enjoy and that are also high in calories and nutrition.

Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking, and little or no water. Foods that are compact and lightweight make it easier to to store and carry.

Recommended foods include:

• Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables. (Be sure to include a manual can opener.)
  
• Canned juices, milk and soup (if powdered, store extra water).
  
• High energy foods, such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars and trail mix.
  
• Comfort foods, such as hard candy, sweetened cereals, candy bars and cookies.
  
• Instant coffee, tea bags.
  
• Foods for infants, elderly persons or persons on special diets, if necessary.
  
• Compressed food bars. They store well, are lightweight, taste good and are nutritious.
  
• Trail mix. It is available as a prepackaged product or you can assemble it on your own.
  
• Dried foods. They can be nutritious and satisfying, but have some have a lot of salt content, which promotes thirst. Read the label.
  
• Instant Meals. Cups of noodles or cups of soup are a good addition, although they need water for reconstitution.
  
• Snack-sized canned goods. Good because they generally have pull-top lids or twist-open keys.
  
• Prepackaged beverages. Those in foil packets and foil-lined boxes are suitable because they are tightly sealed and will keep for a long time.
  

Now, let’s talk about the survival food.

There are companies that make food that has been specially prepared for long shelf lifes. Emergency food supplies like these are ALWAYS IN SHORT SUPPLY. In fact, if you called every company in America that offers long storing foods (freeze-dried, dehydrated, mre's, etc) on any given day, and you asked for immediate shipment of EVERYTHING they had, I don't think you could find more than a year supply for 35 people... all companies COMBINED!!! An how many Americans are there... 280 million plus? You get the picture. The unprepared will be stuck up a creek without a paddle. That won't be you.

The biggest name in the business - and the one that happens to also make the best tasting food - is Mountain House. Here is some information from their site:

Simple Food Preparation
Mountain House freeze-dried foods are easy to prepare-just add hot water...wait 10 minutes...and eat! If a heat source is not available, room temperature or cold water can be used, too. Because no cooking is needed, these foods require much less water and fuel than most fresh, frozen or dehydrated foods (further conserving these two precious commodities).

30 Year Shelf-Life
Mountain House freeze-dried foods are packed in airtight NITROGEN PACKED #10 cans or pouches. Up to 98% of the residual oxygen has been removed. Their unique canning process uses both vacuum oxygen removal and nitrogen flushing. This is a time consuming and slightly more costly process...but well worth it. It is the same process mandated by the U.S. Military for whom they also can. Their foods have the longest shelf life available...up to 30 years! Each of their cans is coated with a protective enamel inside and out for double protection, including the lid. The cans contents are protected until you are ready to open and use them.

Taste the Difference
Mountain House® freeze dried foods taste superior to competitive products because they actually start with fresh or frozen foods, then cook and prepare them, and finally freeze-dry them. All the goodness, flavor, and taste are locked in just if you had hand-made them yourself from scratch. In comparison, other food companies do not freeze-dry or cook their own foods. They blend the dry components of other companies and package them. Mountain House foods tastes as close to fresh, frozen, or better, as you can get. Backpackers, for example, consistently rate them #1 year after year for the best tasting foods and ease of preparation.

What I would do is buy a month or two supply of this survival food as a supplement to your normal grocery stockpile of food. They sell Mountain House in all types of quantities. You can buy by the pouch, case, or in bulk survival quantities. This is one of the most important items you can buy and the time to get it is now, while supplies are available. To visit their site, click here

For more food storage tips such as: