Two Week "Basic Box" Food Prep Display

Average Concerned Mom — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:01:08 GMT

Assuming child care works out, I'll be going to work the ReadyMoms Alliance booth at the Emergency Management Summit Conference in early February.

http://www.emergencymanagement...

ReadyMom will be bringing her "Prep Display", of course. And -- based on quilter's experience that people really liked looking at the 2 weeks basic box of shelf stable food -- we're thinking about me putting together and bringing the "Two Week Basic Box" of food for a family of 4 (mine)

Well, it ends up being two boxes, actually.

Some people have asked me for the list I worked up way back when. Here was the original diary with help from everyone:

http://www.newfluwiki2.com/sho...
And a revised thread on a different forum, with more ideas:

http://www.singtomeohmuse.com/...

I have revamped this list and made some changes, geared towards the general public just getting started.

Prices have gone up a LOT unfortunately. It's now more like $130 than $100, though of course less if you are buying the stuff in bulk, which I am doing NOW but wasn't when I started. I also fixed some errors, minor and egregious, double checked prices, added some items for greater palatability and general clarification.

I'm thinking for display purposes, it is a good idea to use at least 2 smaller boxes...(easier to carry and see items in.) Mine are about 55 quarts, and they are clear, so people can see through them. (And they have RED TOPS which goes with the ReadyMoms booth color theme, so ReadyMom will be SO pleased with me, I hope!)

One idea I liked (I think I got it from ReadyMom) is, if there's room in the boxes, to tuck in a few other personal items, like toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo etc., to get people thinking about those as well, so I might try that and see how it works.

So, here's the list, if anyone wants to see the changes. Feel free to use or reproduce, alter or change as you wish.

Basic Box: Contains enough calories, protein and fiber to keep our family alive for 14 days. Contains some fruit and vegetables, and has vitamin and mineral supplements.

What I've listed contains about 110,000 calories, 3,500 g. protein and 1450 g. fiber. On sale it should cost about $130 and take up the space of two 56 quart storage boxes, with room for supplemental items. I use two smaller boxes to make them lighter weight and more manageable to move around.

As money and space permits, add more varied items. You can aim for less fiber; more vitamins, protein and calories...and taste! Add things your family likes, like canned fruit and vegetables, specialty items like powdered eggs or freeze dried cheese, and evaporated milk if your kids will drink it.

Supplemental items may cost $50 more but because of the bulk of the items may only add 4 to 7 days of calories and protein; however they will make the foods much more interesting and palatable. Families with more or older children will need to increase amounts of items to be sure to have enough calories and protein.

	Calories	g. protein	g. fiber	$ cost
STARCHES
5 lb white flour	7500	225	75	2.39
5 lb whole wheat	7500	300	350	1.99
5 lb. white rice	7500	150	75	3.19
4.4 lb. Masa Harina (corn flour)	7260	100	60	3.00
5 lb. corn meal	7500	150	75	1.79
5 pounds spaghetti/elbows	8400	280	32	6.00
5 lb. sugar	8505	0	0	2.99
42 oz. box oatmeal	4500	150	120	3.99
16 oz. box mashed potatoes	1680	24	24	1.69
2 lb. bag popcorn	2970	108	130	1.00
PROTEIN FOODS
2 x 64 oz. box dried milk	5120	512	0	10.00
5 1-pound bags dried beans/lentils	5500	550	550	3.50
1 lb. bag plain almonds/nuts	3660	80	48	6.00
18-oz. jar peanut/almond butter	3200	112	32	2.19
1 lb. sunflower seeds	2660	112	14	4.00
1 lb. bag pumpkin seeds	2820	112	16	2.69
2 6 oz. cans tuna	200	30	0	1.60
1 14 oz. can salmon	630	84	0	1.50
1 can ham or sausage	1020	42	0	2.99
2 x 8 oz. jar parmesan cheese	1800	180	0	4.80
VITAMIN FOODS
4 x 15 oz can pumpkin/yams	560	28	60	6.00
4 x 14 oz. can diced tomatoes	350	14	28	5.20
1 lb. dried fruit (raisins, etc.)	1760	16	32	4.00
OILS and FLAVORINGS
48 oz .jar canola oil	11,520	0	0	3.19
1 jar 24 oz. honey	1,920	0	0	7.00
2 12 oz bags/bars chocolate	3,680	0	0	4.00
2 jars jam/jelly/marmalade	2,600	0	0	5.40
16 oz jar salsa	150	15	0	2.50
12 oz. bottle Tabasco				2.29
15 oz. bottle soy sauce				2.49
3.3 oz can beef bouillion cubes				2.99
40 count box of tea				1.50
yeast packets (if you will bake bread)				2.00
40-count boxes Real Lemon/lemon juice				2.00
salt				.25
vitamins for 14 days				12.00
SPICES! See list buy in bulk and repackage for variety				4.00
TOTAL/2 week period	112,479	3520	1430	about $131
GOAL/2 week period	112,000	2268	1000
Supplemental items:
2 6 oz. cans of chicken	250	45	0	5.00
2 12 oz. boxes shelf-stable tofu	360	48	0	3.20
powdered eggs	3192	273	0	4.00
¼ a #10 can of powdered cheese				8.00
1 lb. dried vegetable soup mix	1600	64	32	5.00
17 oz jar olive oil	3,960	0	0	6.99
More spices				4.00
6 cans condensed milk				6.00
Molasses
maple syrup
More dried fruits
Canned fruits and veggies you like

Personal/Household items:

For a family of four, in a 2 week box I might add:

6 rolls toilet paper

1 tube toothpaste

1 jar alcohol-based hand gel

1 bottle shampoo

1 bottle dish soap

Flu Wiki Forum - basic food box

Two Week "Basic Box" Food Prep Display