Food Storage

Getting Started - Vegetables

Step Three: Determine how much of each vegetable subgroup to store for your family.

So now that you know how much of the vegetable group to store, now you need to decide how much of each vegetable to store.

Here are some tips to help you:

• Evaluate the vegetables your family enjoys eating. Store those that you will eat.

 

• Experiment with recipes using canned and frozen vegetables. You may find that your family eats a greater variety of vegetables when mixed in dishes such as casseroles.

 

• Consider starting a garden if you don't have one already. Vegetables can be grown in containers and do not require a lot of space. Start with easy plants such as peppers and tomatoes. Do not let limited space stop you from trying to grow some edible plants.

 

• Although vegetables provide many valuable vitamins, minerals and fiber, it is more important to store grains and foods from the meat and beans group. Because vegetables are low in calories, grains and foods from the meat and beans group provide more calories and protein per volume of food. Calories and protein are nutrients essential for survival. If you are not able to store the ideal amount of vegetables for your family, it is a good idea to have a supply of multivitamin supplements to prevent nutrient deficiencies. However you should not rely on supplements on a normal everyday basis. The best way to achieve optimal nutrition is to eat a wide variety of foods.