Full Belly Insurance

By: Rachelle Sullivan

It’s not just about the end of the world and you don’t have to be a fanatic. Food Storage is important. Especially in tough economic times; and it doesn’t take a genius to see that tough times are upon us. One of the most common things Your Family Still Matters hears is that someone bought their food storage 20 years ago and they are tired of “throwing” their money away. Your Family Still Matters, a new Chamber Member, likes to think of food storage as an insurance policy. Most people that own a home buy a home owners’ policy every year. They have yet to hear someone complain that their house didn’t catch on fire this year so that they could file a claim. People buy insurance for their cars and again, nobody complains that they don’t get in a wreck. The nice part about food insurance is that it is 100% usable and there doesn’t have to be a disaster.

There are many instances where food storage could be used. How long could your family survive if Dad lost his job or broke a bone and was unable to work for 6-8 weeks? What if there was a trucker strike? What if there was a natural disaster that drastically affected the food supply? This economy is showing us that it is becoming more prudent to get out of debt and become self-reliant. One of the ways we can do this is to prepare ourselves and our families to be ready for the unknown. Along with water, clothing and shelter, food is one of the most basic needs known to man. If we are hungry we lack energy, are more susceptible to illness, and probably will exhibit a bad attitude more readily. With a full belly we are more able to face whatever may be put on our plate (no pun intended). Most of us like to get up and eat breakfast and even those that pass on breakfast will be ready for lunch along about noon. After putting in a hard day at work, whether that means, chasing kids or swinging a hammer, etc. dinner starts to sound real good. In today’s slow economy you might like to know that meals prepared from food storage cost significantly less than pre-packaged foods.

“Where do I start?” Start with the basics. Beans, wheat, rice, oats, and corn (popcorn is best) are in-expensive and the basis for many meals. Then you move up the ladder trying to increase the variety of products stored. Widen your spectrum of grains. Kamut, Amaranth, buck wheat and Quinoa are all great and good for you. What would it take to make a bean soup taste better?  How about some TVPs? TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) is a meat substitute. They can be flavored to taste like chicken, beef, taco, sausage, etc. Next, add some vegetables. Your Family Still Matters offers carrots, corn, green beans, onions, celery, mushrooms, cabbage, and broccoli. Looking for dessert? Why not a corn bread? Try adding a little fruit. Try Rachelle’s favorites: peach flavored apple flakes. Nuts and raisins will also turn an ordinary dish into something great. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and there you have it …dessert! Your Family Still Matters has a large variety of fruits for you to experiment with. Apple cinnamon slices, raspberries, blueberries, oranges, pine apple, blackberries, peaches, apricots, strawberries and many more. For additional flavor enhancers check out their bouillons, soup bases, pizza and spaghetti seasoning, honey powder, cream cheese powder, and the list goes on.  They also carry a good selection of Mountain House foods in the #10 cans for those of you that are familiar with the #1 backpacker food in the US. Just add hot water and voila! You have a meal ready to eat. With over 100 items to choose from, you can easily create a home storage that doesn’t taste like “survival” food.

Shane and Rachelle Sullivan own Your Family Still Matters, LC in St. George Utah. For more information, call 435-628-7042 or visit them in their store at 175 West 900 South #14.