As a mom, I like to be prepared. Prepared for the little things and prepared for the big things, including food storage for kids.
Some might think my prepping can be a little overboard, considering I’m the mom whose purse is more like the Mary Poppins bag full of just about everything. If ever you have the honor of rummaging through my own version of a Mary Poppins bag, you’ll realize I’m serious when I say, I like to be prepared! In addition to the “must-haves” of money and makeup, I’m always equipped with wet wipes, OTC headache medicine, children’s cough medicine, bottled water, bandages, an extra baby onesie, extra diaper, bags of fruit snacks, and more. Yes, it seems a little much, but the way I see it, I’d rather be prepared with more than equipped with less when on-the-fly needs arises.
Prepping beyond the purse
And though I’m very prepared for family outings, my mommy prepping goes beyond what’s included in my purse. I consider myself a very prepared homemaker. With canning as a favorite hobby, I’m very keen on preparing for a rainy day (or week or month). Remember the rush on food items last year when the pandemic hit? Thankfully, food worries weren’t a thing for my household, because we maintain a pretty decent supply of food storage.
It’ s no secret that I love to can food and maintain a spirit of preparation in the home. Recently, many people have asked how they can start a food storage plan that kids will like. Because, although basic foods like beans and rice are palatable by most adults, most children shun “preparedness foods” and would rather go hungry than eat prepper food.
Here are some suggestions on how to prepare a food storage that your kids will enjoy.
Food Storage For Kids
- Store Macaroni and Cheese
Every kid on planet Earth likes mac and cheese, and one of the great things about mac and cheese is it has a pretty long shelf life. I suggest buying mac and cheese in bulk the next time your grocery store has a case lot sale.
- Store canned peaches
From my experience, canned peaches are the most popular fruit for kids. Peaches make for a great stand-alone dish, side-dish, snack, or ingredient for a yummy dessert.
- Store boxed cakes
Boxed cakes are great because kids love cake (and adults do, too), they’re easy to store, and super easy to prepare. A cake can be a great comfort food when times get rough.
- Store canned spaghetti sauce
Like mac and cheese, kids love spaghetti. And this is good news when it comes to building an emergency food storage, because spaghetti sauce is very simple to store and pasta noodles even more so. If you want to be evern more adventurous, can jars of minced hamburger to toss into the spaghetti sauce.
- Store peanut butter
Peanut butter is an excellent source of protein and kids love it! Having a ton of peanut butter on hand is a great way to ensure your kids are getting enough to eat. Whether it’s eating the peanut butter by the spoonful or as part of a sandwich, peanut butter is a vital piece of the food storage plan.
- Store tootsie rolls
Store bags of Tootsie Rolls and/or other sweets that you can pull out on occasion. This isn’t so much for physical health as it is for mental health. Everyone is happier when they get a snack! Tootsie Rolls are cheap to buy and last forever.
Conclusion
These are just a few thoughts. Stay tuned for more in a future post, as this is a topic near and dear to my heart. Suffice it to say, the best way to know if you’re building a food storage that works well for your kids is to ask this question, “Do my kids already eat this stuff?” If the answer is no, then stop and begin building a food storage comprised of things your kids are already eating. It will give you peace of mind and save you a lot of money and headache in the long run!