I was thinking recently that if it came down to it, we could survive on one meal a day for one year – if we HAD to.
So…I sat down with a legal pad and my recipe file and made a list of 30 meals that could be eaten each month, then calculated the the amount of ingredients needed.
Please keep in mind this is ONLY a general idea – it could be supplemented with fresh garden produce, eggs from your chickens, fresh meat, etc. It also assumes you keep regular supplies in your pantry (such as sugar, flour, spices, baking powder/soda, etc).
This is just a starting point. I hope it will give you some ideas!
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(Disclaimer: I am not a dietitian or a nutritionist – I am a mom. The following list is a STARTING POINT and would need to be supplemented with food from a garden and also hunting. This is only given as an example and is not intended to be anything stated or implied other than a springboard for ideas. Nutrition information was not calculated. This was an example for a family of three.)
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Food for one year – one meal per day
1) Chicken Alfredo | 12 jars alfredo sauce
12 pkgs fettucine noodles 12 cans chicken |
2) Breakfast (biscuits: flour, sugar, baking powder, shortening, salt, milk) | 12 pkgs bacon |
3) Tacos (lettuce, cheese, taco sauce) | 12 pkgs hamb meat
12 pkgs taco seasoning 12 pkgs taco shells |
4) Chicken Enchiladas (sour cream, cheese, milk) | 12 cans cream of chicken soup
12 jars enchilada sauce |
5) Chicken & Dumplings (biscuit mix or homemade) | 12 cans chicken
24 cans chicken broth (or ckn base) |
6) SPAM / Mac & Cheese / Veggies | 12 cans SPAM
12 pkgs mac & cheese 12 cans green beans (or other veggies) |
7) Beef Stew (rice) | 12 cans carrots
12 cans potatoes 12 cans beef |
8) Bean Burritos (cheese or cheese sauce) | 12 pkgs flour tortillas
12 cans refried beans |
9) Spaghetti (hamb optional /Parmesan cheese) | 12 jars spaghetti sauce
12 pkgs spaghetti noodles |
10) Canned Ham / Rice / Veggies | 12 cans ham
12 cans corn (or other) |
11) Red Beans & Rice (rice, dried beans, seasoning, cornbread mix/milk/eggs) | 12 pkgs kielbasa
24 pkgs cornbread mix |
12) Meatballs w/Mushroom Gravy / Mashed Potatoes (flakes) / Lima Beans (dried) | 12 pkgs hamb meat
12 cans cream of mushroom soup |
13) Hamburgers / Nachos (chips, pickles, homemade bread) | 12 pkgs hamb meat
12 cans cheese sauce 12 cans rotel |
14) Chicken Spaghetti | 12 cans chicken
12 pkgs spaghetti noodles 12 cans cream of chicken soup 12 cans cream of mushroom soup 12 cans cheese sauce 12 cans chicken broth |
15) Chili Macaroni (spices, dried beans) | 12 pkgs hamb meat
12 pkgs macaroni pasta 12 cans tomatoes or sauce |
16) Chili Dogs (homemade bread) | 12 pkgs hot dogs
12 cans chili |
17) Potato Soup (potato flakes, bullion cubes/ckn base/OR broth, cheese, powdered milk) | 12 cans cheese sauce
24 cans chicken broth (?) |
18) SPAM, Mac & cheese, Veggies | 12 cans SPAM
12 pkgs macaroni & cheese 12 cans green beans (or dried beans) |
19) Putanesca (parmesan cheese) | 12 cans Putanesca
12 pkgs spaghetti noodles |
20) Gnocchi (potato flakes, powdered milk, eggs) | 12 jars sauce (spaghetti/alfredo) |
21) Fried Rice (rice, soy sauce, spices veggies) | 12 cans/jars meat (chicken, SPAM, etc) |
22) Pancakes & Sausage (syrup, flour, eggs, baking powder) | 12 sausage chubs |
23) Chili (spices, rice, dried beans) | 24 pkgs hamb meat
24 cans diced tomatoes OR sauce |
24) Chicken Pot Pie (biscuit mix or homemade, ckn broth or base, powdered milk, spices) | 12 cans chicken
12 large cans mixed veggies |
25) PB&J Sandwiches, hummus (dried chickpeas / homemade bread) | Peanut butter
Jelly |
26) Hearty Beef & Beans (dried pinto beans, biscuits) | 12 pkgs hamb meat
12 cans tomato sauce 12 cans vegetables |
27) Homemade Soup (dried beans, asst canned veggies, cornbread) | 24 pkgs cornbread mix (or meal)
12 cans tomato juice 12 pkgs hamb meat (optional) |
28) Oatmeal | |
29) Grits | |
30) SOS (homemade bread, powdered milk) | 12 pkgs hamb meat |
Shopping/pantry list:
60 – Chicken breast
24 – Cream of chicken soup
24 – Cream of mushroom soup
at least 36 (or equivalent) – Cheese sauce
24 to 36 – SPAM
48 – Tomato sauce
88 to 100 – Hamburger meat
12 – Tomato juice
48 pkgs – Cornbread mix (or make from scratch)
6 – Peanut Butter
6 – Jelly
12 – Large cans mixed vegetables
12 – Sausage chubs
24 – Spaghetti sauce
36 – Spaghetti noodles
12 – Alfredo sauce
12 – canned beef
12 – kielbasa or beef smoked sausage
12 – Fettucine noodles
12 jars – Putanesca
12 to 24 – Rotel
24 (minimum) cans – Green beans
24 (minimum) cans – Corn
60 cans – Chicken broth (OR use bullion OR chicken base)
12 – Hot dogs
12 – Canned chili
12 – Canned ham
12 – Refried beans
24 – Flour tortillas (or make homemade)
12 – Bacon
18 – Enchilada sauce
12 – Taco seasoning
12 – Taco shells (or make homemade flour tortillas)
12 – Parmesan Cheese
12 – Macaroni noodles
24 – Macaroni & cheese (packaged)
12 to 24 – carrots (canned)
12 to 24 – potatoes (canned)
Basics onhand:
Spices (basil, oregano, chili powder, paprika, cumin, Cavender’s, etc)
Flour
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Salt
Sugar
Shortening
Powdered Milk
Dried beans
Rice
Potato Flakes
WOW, That is an amazingly simple list and yet I’ve never thought it out. Thank you for the hard work and the head start 🙂
wow, this is good to see.
simple but easy to manage.
I have a question . I was looking for you taco sauce that you make/ can. Is it posted or did I miss it?
thanks
Here ya go: https://arksoaper.wordpress.com/2009/03/28/tacoenchilada-sauce-canning-a-whole-batch/