Family Food Prep: Let’s Get Ready Together!

Hey there, awesome kids! Today, we’re going to chat about something pretty cool – family food preparedness. It’s all about making sure we have plenty of delicious food and snacks ready, just in case something unexpected happens, like a big storm, a flood or a power outage.

Why We Involve Kids: They Can Learn and Help

So, why should you, as a kid, be part of this? Well, it’s because we can learn lots of exciting stuff together, and we can help our family be safe and prepared. When we work as a team, we can handle anything that comes our way. And guess what? It can be tons of fun! Sometimes adults can get pretty stressed out if things are going sideways, so as kids you can help by knowing what to do too.

Family Adventure Time: Discover the Importance

Think of our food preparedness as a big family adventure. We can sit down and talk about why it’s important to be ready for surprises. I’ll even share some stories from when I was your age and how my family handled unexpected situations. For example, I remember when I was a kid, we had a big storm and the power went out, so we played games (like hide and go seek with flashlights) and shared snacks from our emergency stash. It made the scary storm not so scary after all!

Educational Shopping: Choose the Right Foods for Your Kit

Have you ever been grocery shopping with your family? When we buy food for our emergency stash, we look for foods that can stay good for a long time, like dried fruits or Clif Bars. You can even help choose the stuff you like, as long as it follows our emergency rules. Did I just say rules? I promise they’re not so bad, check them out:

• Most important – make sure you like them!
• Make sure they can last in your emergency stash without going bad for a long time (this is called “shelf life”)
• Try to pick some healthy choices, but some treats are okay too
• Pick things that don’t need to be cooked or baked – just in case you don’t have a stove
• Lastly, pick things that can be kept in a special tote bag or bucket, just in case you have to leave your house with it

Cooking Adventures: Become a Mini Chef

Who likes to cook? I do, and I bet you’d love it too! So above I said one of the rules was not to pick foods for your kit that require cooking or baking. However sometimes we are stuck at home (with power) and need to stay at home and not go to the store for a few days.

As a family, learn how to make special meals with your food. Maybe you’ll become a mini chef? A family activity you could do is create a recipe book of emergency recipes so that you have the right ingredients in your pantry to make your favorite meals, even if you can’t leave your house!

Let’s Pretend: Use Your Imagination

How about a little pretend game? Imagine there’s an emergency, and it’s up to us to figure out what to do. It’s like being in an exciting story! You can come up with creative ideas and learn how to solve problems. Let me tell you how to do this:

Roleplay: “The Great Power Outage Adventure”

Once upon an evening, in my cozy home, something extraordinary was about to happen. The sun had set, and it was getting darker by the minute. The lights were out, and I found my family in the middle of a fantastic adventure called “The Great Power Outage Adventure.”

Step 1: The Announcement (let everyone know what’s going on!)

As the sun dipped below the horizon, I gathered my family together and made an exciting announcement. “Guess what, everyone? We’re going on a special adventure tonight. It’s called ‘The Great Power Outage Adventure!’ The power is out , and it’s time for us to put our emergency skills to the test.” (We turned off all the lights because remember, we are just pretending)

My kids’ eyes sparkled with curiosity as I explained that this adventure was all about being ready for surprises and having fun along the way.

Step 2: Emergency Meeting (have a plan!)

Now, it was time for the first important lesson. “In real emergencies,” I said, “we always need a safe place to meet up. So, we’re going to have a special family meeting spot. Our indoors meeting spot is the living room, and our outdoor meeting place is by the shed. Let’s remember that in case of any emergency.” So my family all made our way to the living room.

Step 3: Flashlight Scavenger Hunt (have enough for everyone!)

With a flashlight or battery-operated lantern in hand, kept in a place everyone knows, we set off on an exciting flashlight scavenger hunt. The mission was to find items we’d need during a power outage. They brought me a first-aid kit, snacks, and warm blankets. (What else do you think you’d need to find? Make a list!)

Step 4: Storytime (this helps us stay calm!)

After the hunt, we all gathered in the living room, flashlights shining, and blankets cozily wrapped around us. It was time for stories. Everyone took turns sharing our favorite tales. Some stories were about brave explorers, and others were filled with magical creatures. All the stories seemed to have a common theme – being prepared for adventures and surprises.

Step 5: Mock Snack Time

As the pretend evening went on, it was snack time. My kids eagerly reached for snacks from the emergency food stash. We discussed the importance of having easy-to-prepare and non-perishable snacks during power outages or emergencies. My favorite snack was a fruit snack, and my son’s was the granola bars.

Step 6: Emergency Plan Quiz

Time for a quiz! My kids tested their knowledge with fun questions. “What should you do if you’re in the dark and need to find a flashlight?” and “Where is our family meeting spot?” They answered with enthusiasm, feeling confident about their preparedness skills.

Step 9: The Grand Finale

And then, just as the adventure had started, I announced, “The power’s back on!” Everyone cheered, and the lights came back to life. It was time to celebrate. We put on some music, and had a celebratory dance party. The adventure had come to a happy and successful end.

Check and Update: Keep Your Supplies Fresh

Every now and then, check up on your emergency food. Sometimes food expires – which means we shouldn’t eat it. Ask your family where the date is on the packaging. You can help us make sure everything is fresh and up-to-date. It’s like taking care of your toys and making sure they’re in good shape.

When you’re part of your family’s food preparedness team, it’s not just about getting ready for surprises; it’s also about being a strong, smart, and super responsible helper in your family. So, let’s get ready together, have fun, and make some awesome memories!

Proper food storage is important for maintaining food safety, freshness, and preventing waste. Whether you’re storing food in your pantry, refrigerator, or freezer, following the right guidelines ensures that your food remains safe. Here are 5 ways to master your kitchen storage!

#1 – First In, First Out (FIFO)

The FIFO principle is a fundamental rule of food storage. It means using older items before newer ones to minimize food waste. To implement this guideline:

• When stocking your pantry or fridge, place newly purchased items behind existing ones.
• Label and date homemade or repackaged items.
• Regularly check and rotate your food supply to ensure older items are used first.

FIFO prevents food from spoiling and becoming forgotten at the back of your storage space.

#2 – Store at the Right Temperature

Temperature control is vital for food safety. Follow these temperature guidelines:

• Refrigerator: Keep your refrigerator at or below 40°F (4°C) to slow down bacterial growth. Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature.
• Freezer: Maintain your freezer at 0°F (-18°C) or lower to preserve food quality. Frozen foods can last indefinitely at these temperatures, although quality may diminish over time.
• Pantry: Store most non-perishable items in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep canned goods between 10-21°C for optimal quality.

Always check food labels for specific storage temperature recommendations.

#3 – Proper Packaging

Using the right containers and packaging materials is necessary for preserving food quality and preventing contamination. Follow these packaging guidelines:

• Airtight Containers: Store grains, cereals, and dried goods in airtight containers to keep out moisture, pests, and air.
• Reusable Food Storage Bags: Use these eco-friendly bags for snacks, sandwiches, and leftovers instead of disposable plastic bags.
• Vacuum Sealing: Consider vacuum-sealing foods for longer freezer storage, which prevents freezer burn and extends freshness.

#4 – Keep Foods Separate

To avoid cross-contamination, store foods separately based on their type and safety guidelines:

• Raw Meats: Keep raw meats, poultry, and seafood in airtight containers or plastic bags on the lowest shelf in the refrigerator to prevent juices from dripping onto other foods.
• Ready-to-Eat Foods: Store cooked or ready-to-eat foods above raw items to prevent potential contamination.
• Fruits and Vegetables: Some fruits release ethylene gas, which can cause nearby vegetables to ripen and spoil faster. Store them separately or use ethylene-absorbing produce storage bags.

#5 – Regularly Check Expiration Dates

Monitoring expiration dates is essential to ensure food safety and quality. Pay attention to the following:

• “Sell By”/ “Use By” Dates: This indicates when the store should sell the product  by/ the peak quality of the product. You can often use the item safely beyond this date.
• “Best Before” or “Best By” Date: This suggests when the product is at its best quality but is not an indicator of safety. Use your judgment when consuming items after this date.
• “Expiration date”. This suggests when a food can spoil, and is recommended you not consume.

More info on this topic in my other article – “Understanding Shelf Life, Best Before, and Expiry Dates in Canada”

Let’s walk through a real-time example of how these food storage guidelines can work effectively:

Scenario:

You’ve recently gone grocery shopping and have purchased various items, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, meats, dairy products, and canned goods.

1. First In, First Out (FIFO):

• As you unpack your groceries, you place the older items at the front of your refrigerator and pantry shelves.
• You label and date leftover cooked chicken from last night’s dinner and place it in an airtight container in the fridge.

2. Store at the Right Temperature:

• You check the temperature settings of your refrigerator and ensure it’s at 40°F (4°C) or below.
• The freezer is set at 0°F (-18°C).

3. Proper Packaging:

• You transfer your flour and sugar into airtight containers to prevent moisture and pests from getting in.
• Leftover spaghetti sauce goes into a reusable food storage bag (dated and labelled) before placing it in the freezer to use next week.
• Fresh herbs are wrapped in damp paper towels and stored in airtight containers in the fridge.

4. Keep Foods Separate:

• You place raw chicken in a plastic bag before placing it on the lowest shelf of the fridge for tomorrow’s supper.
• Ready-to-eat salad and fruits are on the upper shelves to avoid cross-contamination.
• Fruits and vegetables are stored separately in the produce drawer, FIFO style system putting the older stuff at the top

5. Regularly Check Expiration Dates:

• You take a moment to check the dates on dairy products and plan to consume them before they expire.
• You find a can of soup with a “Best By” date that is still several months away and decide to use it for lunch.

This real-time example demonstrates how you can apply the food storage guidelines in your daily life. By doing so, you ensure that your food remains fresh, safe to eat, organized, and enjoyable while reducing food waste.

And just like that you are a Kitchen Master! You are well on your way to maintaining and mastering your food and food storage. Happy storing. Share with me some of your kitchen wins at BridenAcademy@bridensolutations.ca