The end of hurricane season is here, and it’s a good time to either use up your non-perishable supplies or donate them to a worthy cause. This ensures that your stock is refreshed for the next season while helping those who may benefit from the items or simply using them in your weekly menus.
Our Florida hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. It is a big relief when December 1st comes around and we can relax a bit. The month of December is a great time to rotate, share, use up and/or donate your non-perishable disaster supplies.
What are non-perishables? These are processed or packaged foods that withstand prolonged storage. These are staples such as canned vegetables, fruit, soups, tuna, boxed crackers, cereal, granola bars, and peanut butter. Non-perishables are perfect for emergency preparedness kits, because they can be stored for long periods of time.
Check the expiration date printed on your emergency supplies today. Expired food can be unsafe to eat and cause a food safety issue. Be mindful of what you have stocked in your pantry and what needs to be used up in your meal plan. An expiration date is a previously determined date after which something should no longer be used, because it has exceeded its anticipated shelf life for perishable goods.
Expiration dates are applied to selected food products where the age of the product may potentially impact its safe use. I have heard from Family and Consumer Sciences program participants over the years expressing their disappointment in having to throw away costly emergency preparedness food that had expired. It is a total waste of money.
Reducing food waste is important in our society. Don’t let good food go bad. It is a terrible waste to have to toss out food that has expired. Money is tight with the state of the economy and people can use a break with their food budget.
13 QUICK TIPS TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE: Just do it!
Think About Reducing Food Waste Today
Rotate not only your disaster supplies but also regularly stocked food items. We often use the acronym FIFO when speaking about food safety. FIFO stands for first in, first out. Use older food items first to ensure freshness and make sure to keep them visible and in the front rows in your pantry. Store the newer supplies in the back of shelving. So now, the “first in” your pantry (which are now the older items), should be the “first to go out” and be eaten.
Whatever you do, take stock of your supplies and manage them wisely.
Here are 9 ideas to consider for using disaster supplies in your home right now!
1. Plan recipes using non-perishable items. How about preparing quick hurricane wraps on a busy day that you don’t feel like cooking? Non-perishable supplies needed: canned and drained chicken breast, sweet corn, black beans and diced new potatoes. Other ingredients: Wheat tortillas, a small fresh diced tomato, minced fresh onion, a small, diced avocado, lime juice, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Easy preparation includes mixing all the ingredients in a bowl and then spreading onto wheat tortillas and wrapping them.
2. Evaluate what food items you may be able to share with others. Share excess with family, friends and/or neighbors.
3. Use extra cans of tuna fish and make tuna finger sandwiches on whole wheat bread with a nice green salad for a holiday luncheon.
4. How about turning some non-perishable supplies into a festive holiday gift? Many years ago, a friend of mine gifted me a beautiful Italian pasta bowl. Inside the bowl was a box of pasta, cans of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes, a spice bottle of oregano and dried basil, an oven mitt, a mixing spoon, and tongs, along with a recipe to make her grandmother’s spaghetti with meat sauce. I remember being so touched by the thoughtful gift.
Today you could gift canned tuna, a box of pasta, crackers, a mixing spoon, and a handwritten tuna pasta salad recipe, in a nice festive bowl or a colander wrapped in clear cellophane with a big red ribbon, as a nice gift for someone. These days we can all use menu plan ideas that are easy to meal prep and serve.
5. How about hosting a potluck at work (using extra non-perishable hurricane preparedness staples) that can also be a lunchtime teambuilding activity? Menu: Chicken salad sandwiches, three bean salad with boiled potatoes and an ambrosia salad using canned fruit cocktail, pineapple and peaches as ingredients.
6. Donate your unused non-perishables to a holiday food drive, a food pantry, food shelf, church, and/or soup kitchen. Many in our community are in need and would really appreciate the donations for the holidays.
7. Try experimenting with making a tasty yellow rice casserole including canned corn, rice, canned mixed vegetables, canned mushrooms, diced fresh onions, saffron, assorted tri-colored diced fresh peppers, and a small can of tomato sauce.
8. Use up quantities of peanut butter to make favorite holiday cookies. I love to make peanut blossoms which have a chocolate kiss pressed in the middle. Peanut butter challenges are hosted where unopened jars of peanut butter are collected and donated to those in need. (Be mindful of peanut and other nut allergies.) WHAT IS THE PEANUT BUTTER CHALLENGE?
9. Hydrate using the cases of bottled water you may have stored in a closet or other area of your home. Rotate the cases. It is recommended that the average person needs approximately 8 glasses of water each day. Needs vary depending on activity level, health status and age. Try replacing sugary beverages with water. How Much Water Do You Need?
Re-think Your Beverage Choices
Donate, share or create! Feel good about your efforts. Make Your Holidays Bright
Until the next hurricane season, please stay safe.
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