Here’s a strategy to help you stock up on or find alternatives for each of these at-risk food items
- Avocados 🥑
🔹 Stocking Up: Buy unripe avocados in bulk and refrigerate to slow ripening. Mash and freeze with lime juice in portions.
🔹 Alternatives:
- Avocado Powder – Dehydrated avocado can be rehydrated or used in smoothies and dressings.
- Hummus, Greek Yogurt, or Nut Butters – For spreads and creaminess in recipes.
- Chia or Flaxseed Gel – Can replace avocado in baking and smoothies for fiber and texture.
- Coffee Beans ☕
🔹 Stocking Up: Buy whole beans (last longer than ground) in airtight containers. Vacuum-seal or freeze for long-term storage.
🔹 Alternatives:
- Chicory Root Coffee – Has a similar taste, caffeine-free.
- Dandelion Root Coffee – Herbal, nutritious, and easy to make at home.
- Mushroom Coffee – A lower-caffeine option with adaptogenic benefits.
- Yerba Mate or Black Tea – Caffeinated and more available.
- Wheat (Bread, Pasta, Cereals) 🌾🍞
🔹 Stocking Up: Store wheat berries (last 25+ years when sealed) and grind fresh for flour. Buy dried pasta in bulk and vacuum-seal.
🔹 Alternatives:
- Oats, Barley, Quinoa, and Millet – Good for making porridge, flour, or side dishes.
- Sourdough Bread – Can be made at home with simple ingredients and a sourdough starter.
- Alternative Flours (Almond, Coconut, Cassava, Chickpea) – Great for gluten-free baking.
- Zucchini Noodles or Spaghetti Squash – Pasta alternatives.
- Cooking Oils (Canola, Soybean, Sunflower, Olive) 🛢️
🔹 Stocking Up: Buy oils in metal or glass bottles, store in a cool, dark place. Freeze extra virgin olive oil to extend shelf life.
🔹 Alternatives:
- Rendered Animal Fats (Lard, Tallow, Butter, Ghee) – Store well and provide healthy fats.
- Coconut Oil – Stable, long shelf life, great for cooking and baking.
- Nut and Seed Oils (Almond, Walnut, Sesame, Flaxseed) – High in nutrients and healthy fats.
- Avocado or Macadamia Nut Oil – If available, these are stable alternatives.
- Rice 🍚
🔹 Stocking Up: Buy white rice in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers (lasts 25+ years). Brown rice should be vacuum-sealed and used within a year due to higher oil content.
🔹 Alternatives:
- Quinoa, Millet, Amaranth, Sorghum – Similar texture, high in protein.
- Cauliflower Rice – A great low-carb alternative, can be frozen.
- Lentils and Beans – High-protein substitutes for rice in meals.
- Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes – Nutrient-dense, long shelf life.
- Canned Vegetables (Corn, Green Beans, Peas, Tomatoes, etc.) 🥫
🔹 Stocking Up: Buy in bulk from wholesale stores, rotate stock, and check expiration dates. Consider glass jars over aluminum cans.
🔹 Alternatives:
- Dehydrated or Freeze-Dried Vegetables – Lasts 20+ years when stored properly.
- Home-Canned Vegetables – Can your own using a pressure canner.
- Frozen Vegetables – If freezer space allows, they retain nutrients better than canned.
- Sprouting Seeds (Broccoli, Alfalfa, Mung Beans) – Can be grown indoors for fresh greens.
- Hydroponic or Indoor Gardening – Grow lettuce, herbs, and greens year-round.
Final Prepper Tips:
✅ Diversify Your Pantry – Stock different types of grains, oils, and protein sources.
✅ Rotate Stock – Use the oldest items first and replenish supplies regularly.
✅ Grow What You Can – Even small indoor or patio gardens help.
✅ Learn Substitutes Now – Try alternatives before shortages happen.
✅ Use Preservation Methods – Dehydrating, fermenting, and freezing extend food life.
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