Goals
One - Help people learn more about nutritious foods. Most people don't realize they are not eating nutritious food. When processed food is fortified with vitamins, it means that during processing virtually all vitamins were stripped. Processing plants fortify with vitamins, but forget to tell you that your body will only absorb about 20% of fortified vitamins, even though the box says 100% of your daily value. No, you cannot eat more vitamins, that will make you sick because your body will not absorb it. Once your body absorbed the 20% the rest will go to your stomach.
However, your body will absorb 100% of the vitamins from fresh fruits and veggies, iron and complete proteins from fresh (not raw) beef, chicken and fish. Calcium from fresh dairy and fiber from whole grains. Plus, you won't eat the additives that help you put on weight or the simple carbohydrates that leave you feeling hungry.
Don't get me wrong, I am a big advocate of taking daily multi-vitamins, but it should be in addition to eating well.
Two - Help people learn how to use nutritious foods. I'll let you in on a little secret, it takes the same amount of time to cook fresh as it does to cook out of a box, with the exception of frozen pizza. Most people don't know how to use fresh/raw ingredients, and cook everything out of a box or can. They don't know anything about spices, flavor, or nutrition. I commend people for storing a year's supply of mac & cheese and Prego, but at the same time feel sick thinking about eating either of them.
Three - Help people save space. I want to store food so it is available but doesn't take all my kitchen space. I want a utilitarian, but stylish kitchen. I plan to set up schedules that will rotate the food and when to buy ingredients in bulk.
Four - Above all I want to help people save money!!! If you buy items in bulk, you will save money. Start thinking of your kitchen, with a year's supply of ingredients, as a restaurant and you'll see some great savings. As it is now, I usually spend between $40 & $70 a week (non-food items included) because I buy fresh or raw ingredients. If you don't have a family larger than 4 there is no reason to spend any more than that. Just think of what you could do with all the money you save on food!
Please take everything I say with a grain of salt. I will be diligent about giving references for the information that has helped shape my opinions and encouraging of people who have different opinions. Please take the time to share experiences and tips that you may have about food storage.
-Patricia
