The US Department of Agriculture publishes a report monthly titled “Cost of Food at Home at Four Levels”.
This report shows the monthly food cost for individuals of various ages and for a family of four. The budgets are calculated based on the nutritional requirements for dietary intake reference guidelines. In the USDA’s reference document “The Low-Cost, Moderate-Cost, and Liberal Food Plans, 2007″ the “food baskets” chosen are all representative of the requirements except;
To meet the recommendations for vitamin E, potassium, and sodium would have resulted in market baskets that are very different from typical consumption (in the case of vitamin E and potassium) or would require changes in food-manufacturing practices (in the case of sodium).
What they are saying is that what Americans typically eat and what is available from producers at the supermarket is too far off to select a basket that meets the Vitamin E, potassium, and sodium requirements. These exceptions, while interesting to note, tell us that all the other dietary requirements have been met in these food baskets.
The “thrifty” food plan on the other hand;
Having more vegetables, fruits, and milk products and less other foods
in the TFP market basket for the family of four, compared with their reported consumption,
is not surprising; because, the TFP represents a nutritious diet.
The monthly home food “moderate plan” budget for a family of four, with older children, in January 2009 was $973.80.
The “liberal plan” January home food monthly budget was $1182.50.
For 3 months the home food budget comes to $2921.40 and $3547.50 for moderate and liberal plans respectively.
Compare this to the 3 month Platinum reserve from Nitro-pak that cost $3375. The platinum reserve supports four adults at 2000 calories per day.
Some people erroneously think freeze dried food is very expensive. But when you look at the facts the cost of a freeze dried food reserve is no more expensive than the average food budget.
Even more important, most freeze dried food reserves offered are prepared meals so no effort to cook them is required. Adding hot water is all it takes to have a hot meal in minutes. Even if you don’t have hot water you can still eat the food cold.
I have previously shown the cost of bulk staples is deceptive once you factor in the cost of cooking and preparing meals. You need effort, equipment, more time, and more fuel. Any of these can be a precious commodity in a disaster. How valuable will your time be in a crisis? Freeing up time to work on other challenges could make a huge difference in your survival.
Finally a bulk staples only food plan always has the risk you will get caught with low inventory, your re-order point, just at the time a shortage of supply occurs. With freeze dried food the reserve is not touched, never depleted. Only when your normal food supply is disrupted do you draw on it.
Having a diverse food storage plan is wise. Bulk staples, MRE, freeze dried food all have their different benefits. But do not make a poor decision on the balance of these choices based on a wrong perception of cost. Value is more important than cost, looking at facts for the total cost of an option is vital to making the correct decision on your long term food storage plan.
