Why Everyone Should Value Food Storage, Even If They Have Not Started Yet
Almost everybody feels terrible when they throw out spoiled food or see something going to waste. But unfortunately, too few people do anything to prevent it. As a society, we don't value food storage enough. But why should we? This article examines why we should appreciate proper food storage methods and the consequences if we start.
There Are Several Reasons to Value Food Storage
Some people may believe that the value of food storage is self-evident. However, if it were, more people would do it. Instead, we live with improper food storage's environmental, economic, and health effects every day.
Food Storage Preserves Nutritional Quality
The most compelling reason to value food storage is that it preserves nutritional quality. As foods age, many of their vitamins and minerals can degrade. Then, when we consume them, we absorb fewer nutrients, leading to deficiencies we would not have if we were eating fresh food. By valuing food storage, we can ensure that we always have nutritionally dense, healthy food on hand.
We can preserve the nutritional quality of most foods if we sharpen our skills and store them properly. These skills include knowing which foods are appropriate for long-term storage and what containers are the best. Furthermore, some storage methods, like fermentation, can even increase the nutritional value of certain foods by adding valuable microbes that keep our microbiome healthy.
Reduces Food-Borne Illnesses
Foods spoil when we do not store them properly. This process may result in an unpleasant taste or diminished nutritional value in the early stages. However, spoiled food can be hazardous. Even deadly. Botulism, salmonella, and other foodborne pathogens can render an entire stockpile inedible. Therefore, valuing food storage enough to learn how to do it the right way can prevent your family from becoming ill from contaminated food.
Reduces Physical and Economic Waste
Food waste is a massive drain on the economy, the environment, and your finances. Even people who try not to waste food get into trouble if they don't value proper food storage. We must replace food that spoils. If we don't, our family will not get the nutrition they need. However, we spend more money replacing spoiled food and put double the strain on our infrastructure. If our society were to value food storage, our consumption could have a much smaller negative impact on the food infrastructure and economy.
Valuing Food Storage Brings Long-Term Benefits
For some people, just listing the benefits of something is too abstract. They may need more concrete reasons why something is worth doing. As it turns out, valuing proper food storage has several positive consequences for those who do it.
Proper Food Storage Balances Nutrition Year-Round
There are several positive consequences of placing the correct value on food storage. The most important for day-to-day living is that you will be able to enjoy out-of-season foods year-round. For example, adequately stored fruits and vegetables can taste great and still pack a nutritional punch when we store them well. Having balanced nutrition year-round, even when certain healthy foods are out of season, is one of the keys to healthy living.
Instills the Idea of Delayed Gratification
Proper food storage can be a fun hobby, but, more importantly, it instills a crucial message. Delaying gratification, saving for later instead of enjoying immediately, is an excellent approach to many things in life, not only food. People who delay gratification generally find that they have enough whenever it matters, and they enjoy things much more than if they let their appetites control their behavior.
Promotes Safety and Security
Long-term security and peace of mind may be the most critical consequences of valuing food storage. Natural disasters like earthquakes and storms or societal disasters like war and financial collapse could sever us from our food and power supplies. Ensuring that your family has a large stockpile of nutritious food preserved will keep them healthy in an emergency. Furthermore, it will save you from paying hugely inflated prices when the food supply shrinks. Families who value food storage will protect their physical and financial health.
Valuing Food Storage is Good for Your Family and Community
The reasons to value our food storage are compelling. Preserving nutrition into the future can keep our families healthy. However, it also instills a vital lesson about preserving essential things until later. People who value food storage and preservation understand that if they properly store at ease, when things are going well, they can eat at peace under any circumstances.
How do you value your food storage ?
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