Mobile Menu

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchit Italianes Spanish
  • 🍹 LOCAL RESTAURANTS
    • DENTON
    • FLOWER MOUND
    • FRISCO
    • GARLAND
    • LEWISVILLE
    • MCKINNEY
    • PLANO
    • PROSPER
    • 🌮 ALL Restaurant News
  • 📍 LOCAL NEWS
  • Kids + Family
    • DIY HAND SANITIZER
    • NATIONAL PARKS – VIRTUAL TOUR
    • 🧪 KIDS SCIENCE
    • EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS
    • 151 FREE HOMESCHOOL IDEAS
    • ART MUSEUMS – VIRTUAL TOUR
    • DIY BABY WIPES
    • TOILET PAPER ROLL CRAFTS
    • 🍔 2020 KIDS EAT FREE LIST
  • 💰 SAVE MONEY
    • HOME + GARDEN TIPS
  • 📩 STAY IN THE LOOP
  • 📣 Submit A Story
  • PARTNERSHIPS
  • MEET THE TEAM
  • ✈️ Travel
    • FREE Guide: Ultimate Texas Bucket List
  • ✨ Culture
    • Dallas Culture
    • Sports and Entertainment
    • 📍 Places To Go
      • FREE Guide: Ultimate Texas Bucket List
      • Spring Break
    • Charities and Causes
  • 🥳 Celebrate!
    • New Years Eve
    • Super Bowl Sunday!
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Spring Break
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
  • Shopping
  • 🏠 Your Community
    • dallas
      • dallas tourist spots
      • dallas design district
      • deep ellum
      • downtown dallas
      • highland park
      • preston hollow
      • state fair of texas
      • trinity groves
    • fort worth
      • fort worth museum
      • fort worth stockyards
      • fort worth water gardens
      • things to do in fort worth
    • arlington
    • irving
      • las colinas
    • denton
    • frisco
      • frisco sports
      • the star
    • plano
      • legacy west
      • things to do in plano
    • mckinney
    • flowerplex
      • double oak
      • flower mound
      • highland village
      • lantana
      • lewisville
      • argyle
      • bartonville
    • corinth
    • hickory creek
    • lake dallas
    • little elm
    • north dfw
      • addison
      • allen
      • carrollton
      • colleyville
      • the colony
      • coppell
      • fairview
      • farmers branch
      • garland
      • grapevine
      • roanoke
      • richardson
      • rockwall
      • southlake
      • terrell
    • waxahachie
    • south dfw
      • cedar hill
      • crowley
      • grand prairie
      • mansfield
    • mid-cities
      • euless
    • ellis county
      • ennis
    • decatur
    • palo pinto
      • downtown mineral wells
      • mineral wells
      • mineral wells state park
      • possum kingdom lake
  • Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchit Italianes Spanish
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Metroplex Social

Metroplex Social is your daily source for breaking news, trending topics, culture, entertainment, and more!

Header Right

  • Local News
  • SEARCH Local
    • SEARCH Local
    • Get Your FREE Local Guide
    • Submit a Business
    • Submit a Charity
  • Submit a Story
  • Meet Our Team
  • Partnerships
  • Your Community
    • dallas
      • bishop arts district
      • dallas arts district
      • downtown dallas
      • highland park
      • preston hollow
      • turtle creek
    • fort worth
      • sundance square
      • benbrook
      • haltom city
      • kennedale
      • north richland hills
    • arlington
    • irving
      • las colinas
    • denton
    • flowerplex
      • flower mound
      • highland village
      • argyle
      • bartonville
      • double oak
      • lantana
      • lewisville
    • grapevine area
      • grapevine
      • colleyville
      • southlake
      • roanoke
    • lake cities
      • corinth
      • hickory creek
      • lake dallas
    • mid-cities
      • euless
    • north dfw
      • addison
      • allen
      • carrollton
      • the colony
      • coppell
      • fairview
      • farmers branch
      • little elm
      • Melissa
      • parker
      • richardson
    • south dfw
      • cedar hill
      • crowley
      • garland
      • grand prairie
      • rockwall
      • terrell
    • frisco
    • mckinney
    • plano
      • legacy west
      • things to do in plano
    • ellis county
      • ennis
      • waxahachie
    • decatur
    • denison
    • palo pinto county
      • mineral wells
      • mineral wells state park
      • palo pinto
      • possum kingdom lake
    • weatherford
  • LOCAL NEWS
  • 🍹 RESTAURANTS: LOCAL
    • DENTON RESTAURANTS
    • FLOWER MOUND RESTAURANTS
    • FRISCO RESTAURANTS
    • GARLAND RESTAURANTS
    • LEWISVILLE RESTAURANTS
    • MCKINNEY RESTAURANTS
    • PLANO RESTAURANTS
    • PROSPER RESTAURANTS
    • ALL RESTAURANT NEWS
  • Travel
    • FREE Guide: Ultimate Texas Bucket List
    • Spring Break
  • CULTURE
    • PLACES TO GO
      • FREE Guide: Ultimate Texas Bucket List
      • Spring Break
    • DALLAS CULTURE
    • Charities and Causes
    • Sports and Entertainment
    • PARENTING IN QUARANTINE
    • Celebrate!
      • New Years Eve
      • Super Bowl Sunday
      • Valentine’s Day
      • St. Patrick’s Day
      • Spring Break
      • Thanksgiving
      • Christmas
    • Social and Lifestyle
  • HOME + GARDEN
  • KIDS + FAMILY
    • DIY HAND SANITIZER
    • DIY BABY WIPES
    • 151 FREE HOMESCHOOL IDEAS
    • KIDS SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
    • HUGE LIST of VIRTUAL TOURS
    • TOILET PAPER ROLL CRAFTS
    • EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS
    • MAKE SOCIAL DISTANCING FUN
    • HOMESCHOOL P.E. IDEAS
    • NATIONAL PARKS – VIRTUAL TOUR
    • ART MUSEUMS – VIRTUAL TOUR
You are here: Home / Places to See / This Is How Much Food You’ll Need For The Next 3 Months
how-much-food-storage-3-months-stuck-at-home-2

This Is How Much Food You’ll Need For The Next 3 Months

April 11, 2020 //  by Allie//  Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
8 Shares

How long will the coronavirus shut down last? When will I be able to return to work? It’s the questions on everyone’s mind. Perhaps the answer everyday Americans really want to know is how long will it take for things to return to normal?

Since no one has an answer seeing as the pandemic crisis is unprecedented, what we can do is focus on our basic needs such as shelter, clothing, utilities, and food. Keep reading to find out how much food you’ll need over the next three months.

Planning on growing a garden this year? Here’s How To Grow Your Own Amazing Garden In North Texas.

Some would say the uncertainty about how long the coronavirus shut down will last has caused more panic than any other reason. No one really has a solid answer to the question so we must prepare and plan to have food for a few months while those in charge figure things out. Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Planning Your Three Month Food Supply:

How Much Food You’ll Need For The Next Three Months

In order to determine how much food you’ll need for three months while you’re stuck at home, the first thing you need to do is determine how many calories you’ll need. This is perhaps the most important step.

The recommended daily allowance for an average adult is around 2,000 calories per day. This amount will be higher or lower depending on factors such as your activity level, gender, and age.

The average adult person is going to need 180,000 calories over 90 days. Two adults will need 360,000 calories. That’s a lot!

Feeling overwhelmed yet? Start off with a daily menu and work your way up to a weekly menu to make sure you’re staying on track.

Daily Budget-Friendly Menu Ideas

Day 1Day 2Day 3
Breakfast
Pancakes
Sausage links
Milk
Fresh fruit
Grapefruit half
Oatmeal with fresh
Yogurt
Orange Juice
Scrambled eggs
Bacon
Canned fruit
Buttered toast
Milk
Lunch
Tomato soup
Grilled cheese sandwich
Milk
Tuna fish sandwich
Apple
Celery sticks
Canned ravioli
Carrot sticks
Milk
Dinner
Chicken-rice casserole
Green beans
Steamed carrots
Fresh fruit salad
Peanut butter cookies
Hamburgers
Potato salad
Garden salad
Baked beans
Cantaloupe
Chicken enchiladas
Spanish rice
Black beans
Corn on the cob
Watermelon
100% fruit juice
For 1 adult = about 2,000 calories

Recommended Daily Food Intake Guide

Food GroupPortion Size Considered 1 Serving
Dairy
Adults – 2 servings
Kids – 3 servings
Teens – 4 servings
8 oz (1 cup) milk
1.5 oz (4 dice) cheese
1.5 slices cheese singles
1 cup yogurt
Fruit
Everyone – 2 servings
Focus on whole fruits that are fresh, canned or frozen. 1 cup or 1 whole piece such as apple, orange, pear, grapes, banana. 100% fruit juice. 1/4 cup dried fruit, i.e. raisins
Vegetables
Everyone – 2.5 servings
Focus on dark green leafy and colorful vegetables. 1 cup = 1 serving size. Fresh, frozen or canned such as spinach, carrots, beans, avocado, broccoli, squash
Grains
Everyone – 3-5 servings
Half should be whole grains. 1 serving = 6 oz. Whole grains = oatmeal, popcorn, whole wheat bread, etc. Refined grains = cereal, pasta, grits, tortillas, etc.
Protein/Meat
Adults – 2-3 servings
Teens – 3-5
Kids – 2-3 servings
Serving = 1 oz of meat, poultry or fish, ¼ cup cooked beans, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, or ½ ounce of nuts or seeds.
Based on USDA Food Plate guidelines
Very young children will require less.

What Kind Of Food You Should Store

Now that you have a good overall idea of how many calories you’ll need, the next thing to do is determine what kinds of food you’ll purchase and/or grow.

You and your family should be buying and storing the food you actually like to eat above all else. There is no point in storing food you don’t like and that may go to waste because no one wants to eat it.

Your food storage plan is exactly that: YOUR food storage plan.

It should be contain as many multipurpose and highly nutritious food items. However, if you hate oatmeal, then don’t buy it!

Here are the basic pantry foods you should store:

  • Rice
  • Beans
  • Eggs
  • Oatmeal
  • Cornmeal
  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Oil
  • Shortening
  • Yeast
  • Baking Powder
  • Baking Soda
  • Vinegar

Remember how when I said that if you don’t like oatmeal, then you shouldn’t store it? I know the above list contains “oatmeal” but you could always switch it out for more flour, grits, more dried beans or rice, etc.

Even if you aren’t a big bean eater now, don’t discount storing beans. Not only are they inexpensive, but they are also high in protein and nutrients. Beans can also be easily sprouted. Add sprouts to salads, sandwiches or grow if it’s the right season.

Personally, I don’t really like beans–and I definitely don’t like cooking them! However, I’m happy to store canned ranch-style beans, dried lentils, dried peas, etc as an alternative to pinto, black, and navy beans.

Above all else, store what you and your family will actually eat.

More Pantry Food Ideas You Can Store

There’s actually quite a bit of “convenience” type foods that you can store in your pantry that are inexpensive and comforting.

These foods are handy and can be bought at most supermarkets. Try stores that sell bulk items like WINCO or Sprouts for more selection.

  • Muffin mix
  • Pancake/waffle mix
  • Baking mix (such as Bisquick)
  • Cheese sauce mix
  • Gravy mix
  • Broth granules
  • Powdered milk (use to make your own baking mix)
  • Jello
  • Packaged cookies like Oreos, animal crackers, etc
  • Dried pasta, noodles
  • Top ramen
  • Nut butters
  • Jelly and jams

No matter what you choose to buy, store everything in air-tight containers!

Grow A Garden To Extend Food Budget

You can expand your nutritional intake and the variety of food you eat by growing a small or large garden. Growing a garden is also a great way to save money.

Joy of Gardening is by FAVORITE gardening book and I recommend it to anyone thinking about starting their own garden. It will show you how to garden virtually anywhere. (affiliate link)

In the city, you may only have enough room for a patio or container garden.

Those in the suburbs probably have room for a much larger garden. You could even consider using your flower beds to grow some herbs or food this year.

Food Anyone Can Grow In A Garden This Year

  • Radishes (take just 3 weeks to grow!)
  • Herbs like basil, oregano, rosemary, sage, and lemon balm (great for container gardens)
  • Tomatoes (indeterminate types can be cut back in August and will continue to produce until the first cold snap)
  • Peppers such as banana peppers, poblanos, jalapenos, and bell (love heat)
  • Butternut and spaghetti squash (more hardy than other squashes, require space and more water)
  • Onions (you can plant sprouting onions in your pantry and eat the green tops)
  • Eggplant (long, skinny varieties produce for longer and more prolifically than the round ones)
  • Okra (will grow tall, doesn’t require a lot of water, at their peak they will need to be harvested almost every day)

How Do I Store Meat In My 3 Month Food Plan?

I haven’t really talked about meat yet, but it’s definitely something many of us enjoy having in our diet.

Meat is one of the most expensive food items to purchase. You can however buy meat and store it for three months while staying in budget if you watch grocery store sales, buy in bulk, and are willing to try different cuts.

Here’s Nutritious And Budget-Friendly Meats You Can Store For 3 Months:

  • Canned fish (tuna, salmon, sardines, clams)
  • Canned meat (spam, mini wienies, chili, raviolis)
  • Liver (freeze in serving portions, eat fried or pate)
  • Ground beef bought in chubs or tubes (freeze in serving portions)
  • Chicken, dark meat (freeze)
  • Rotisserie chicken, cooked, bought at the end of the day when they’re discounted (debone and freeze)
  • Eggs (sell by date is not an expiration date, eggs should last at least 4-5 weeks after the sell by date printed on carton if kept at 40 F to 45 F; obviously don’t eat eggs that smell bad or look weird)
  • Hotdogs (can be frozen)
  • Bacon (purchase bits and ends, use in soups and sauteed vegetables, freeze)

What If I Can’t Afford To Feed Myself Or My Family?

There are many families that are worried about where their next meal will come from and that number is increasing every day the COVID-19 shut down continues as people lose their jobs and food budgets are stretched ever thinner.

Simply put, many Americans don’t have money for food to feed their families.

We’ll be updating this section soon with local places you can get free food for yourself or your family. For now, check with food banks, churches, neighbors, and your local school if you have children.

See if you qualify for SNAP (formerly food stamps) benefits or WIC (Women, Infants, Children program).

Many school districts are providing two meals a day per child and some are even busing in food to neighborhoods. This is often an extension of the USDA federal program to provide meals to children up to the age of 18.

Check with your school district, but most go on the honor system and don’t require identification or for the student to be present in order to receive food.

how-much-food-storage-3-months-stuck-at-home-2

This Is How Much Food You’ll Need For The Next 3 Months

We all want to know when life will return to normal after the coronavirus shut down. Since no one can answer that question definitively, planning where you’ll get your food for the next three months will help you feel some control over your life right now. Here’s how much food you’ll need for the next months.

Here’s More On Metroplex Social:

  • Here’s How To Grow Your Own Amazing Garden In North Texas
  • How To Make Texas Style BBQ Sauce
  • These Texas Native Plants Will Make Your House Look Amazing
  • How To Make Delicious Mimosas At Home

Has the coronavirus shut down changed your shopping habits? Are you cooking at home more? Leave us a comment below.

Share
Tweet
Pin
8 Shares

Category: Featured, Home and Garden, Kids and Family, Metroplex Life, Money Saving Tips, Places to See, Shopping, Stuck At HomeTag: budget, container gardening, coronavirus, covid 19, food, food pantry, food storage, garden, gardening, money saving tips, north texas, shut down, stuck at home

About Allie

Hi, I’m Allie! A pioneer in viral storytelling, I've been helping local, national, and global brands since 2008. I’ve worked with hundreds of local business owners, PR professionals, and marketers. I've been featured on CBS, the Dallas Morning News, and various online publications. Born in Dallas, raised in the DFW metroplex.. I'm not afraid to speak my mind. You can email me at [email protected]

Sign up. Get more. Do more.

Weekly updates to your inbox. Because you want to see what's out there.
Previous Post: «clean-sleep sanitize face mask reuse ppe This Dallas Company Makes Face Masks Reusable With Technology That Kills 99.99% Of Viruses
Next Post: Here’s The Best Grocery Store Survival Foods To Buy During The Shutdown And How To Store It All shopping list grocery store survival foods shut down fb»

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Trending News

Here’s All The Virtual Tours Available That Are Totally FREEHere’s All The Virtual Tours Available That Are Totally FREE8K Shares
Who Is Shelley Luther The Dallas Salon Owner That Decided To Reopen During A Global Pandemic?Who Is Shelley Luther The Dallas Salon Owner That Decided To Reopen During A Global Pandemic?5K Shares
Big Companies Got Loans Meant For Actual Small Businesses And It’s A Slap In The FaceBig Companies Got Loans Meant For Actual Small Businesses And It’s A Slap In The Face4K Shares

Restaurants Offering CURBSIDE + DELIVERY

Featured

  • restaurants-uptown-dallas-curbside-delivery-covid-19
  • list-restaurants-garland-stuck-at-home
  • list-restaurants-lewisville-stuck-at-home
  • list-restaurants-mckinney-stuck-at-home
  • list-restaurants-plano-tx-coronavirus-stuck-at-home-2
  • what-to-do-if-you-get-coronavirus-covid-19
    What To Do If You Get Coronavirus According To The CDC
  • work from home
    Work From Home TIPS
  • how to make hand sanitizer
  • how-to-make-baby-wipes-diy-3
  • dfw schools closed to due coronavirus
    List of DFW Schools CLOSED Due To Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Search Metroplex Social

Sign up. Get More. Do More.

Weekly updates to your inbox. Because you want to see what's out there.

Trending Stories

Here’s All The Virtual Tours Available That Are Totally FREEHere’s All The Virtual Tours Available That Are Totally FREE8K Total Shares
Who Is Shelley Luther The Dallas Salon Owner That Decided To Reopen During A Global Pandemic?Who Is Shelley Luther The Dallas Salon Owner That Decided To Reopen During A Global Pandemic?5K Total Shares
Big Companies Got Loans Meant For Actual Small Businesses And It’s A Slap In The FaceBig Companies Got Loans Meant For Actual Small Businesses And It’s A Slap In The Face4K Total Shares
Dream Park is the New Fort Worth Playground Everyone is Talking AboutDream Park is the New Fort Worth Playground Everyone is Talking About3K Total Shares
This Hidden Croatian Village in McKinney TX Will Make You Feel Like You’re In EuropeThis Hidden Croatian Village in McKinney TX Will Make You Feel Like You’re In Europe2K Total Shares
Why Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Should Be On Your Summer Must Do ListWhy Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Should Be On Your Summer Must Do List2K Total Shares
Gov Abbott Hinted At Keeping Alcohol To-Go Drinks In Texas ForeverGov Abbott Hinted At Keeping Alcohol To-Go Drinks In Texas Forever2K Total Shares
ENTIRE List Of Denton Restaurants Offering Curbside And Delivery Due To CoronavirusENTIRE List Of Denton Restaurants Offering Curbside And Delivery Due To Coronavirus1K Total Shares
You Can Take Your Photos In This Sea Of Sunflowers In North TexasYou Can Take Your Photos In This Sea Of Sunflowers In North Texas1K Total Shares
This Hidden Swimming Hole Near Fort Worth Will Let You Make a Splash All SummerThis Hidden Swimming Hole Near Fort Worth Will Let You Make a Splash All Summer1K Total Shares

Latest Local News

klyde warren park dallas fountain

Nancy Best Blew $10 MILLION On A Water Fountain In Dallas During A Global Pandemic

December 4, 2020

list holiday events in dallas

Here’s The Entire List 2020 Holiday Events In DFW

December 4, 2020

best holiday gift ideas dallas no batteries required

Here’s The Best Holiday Gifts That Don’t Require Batteries

December 4, 2020

dallas catering thanksgiving holiday christmas

These 4 Festive Holiday Recipes Will Help You Celebrate The Season

December 3, 2020

Footer

Recent News

klyde warren park dallas fountainNancy Best Blew $10 MILLION On A Water Fountain In Dallas During A Global Pandemic
list holiday events in dallasHere’s The Entire List 2020 Holiday Events In DFW
best holiday gift ideas dallas no batteries requiredHere’s The Best Holiday Gifts That Don’t Require Batteries
dallas catering thanksgiving holiday christmasThese 4 Festive Holiday Recipes Will Help You Celebrate The Season
top breweries in dallasHere’s The Top 19 Breweries In Dallas Fort Worth You Need To Visit This Year
snowday-in-dallas-holiday-escape-2020SNOWDAY In Dallas Lets You Have Your Own Holiday Escape!

Listen to the Good Morning Metroplex! Podcast!

Featured On

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Texas Hill Country

Voyage Magazine

Life & Lana

Mamá Contemporánea

Kids Activities Blog

Sign up. Get More. Do More.

Weekly updates to your inbox. Because you want to see what's out there.
  • Local News
  • SEARCH Local
  • Submit a Story
  • Meet Our Team
  • Partnerships

Site Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Privacy Policy + Disclosure

Copyright © 2021 Metroplex Social · All Rights Reserved