As we turn the calendar to September, we also begin National Preparedness Month—an excellent reminder to take stock of our homes and make sure we are as prepared as possible for whatever unexpected circumstances may come our way.

In this post, I talk about preparing our homes and pantries and provide you with videos to help you stock the supplies you need for emergencies and the unexpected.

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Table of Contents

Getting Peace of Mind

When I talk about preparedness, I’m certainly not talking about living in fear or worrying about what might happen. Quite the opposite! I think being prepared helps bring us peace of mind. When we know that we have food in the pantry, water on hand, basic necessities tucked away, and a plan for our family, we can face life’s unexpected bumps with a little more confidence.

Preparedness doesn’t have to happen all at once, either. In fact, one of the best ways to build a well-stocked pantry is slowly and steadily. Add a few extra cans of food this week. Pick up an extra bag of beans or rice next week. Check your flashlights, replenish your first-aid supplies, and make sure you know where everything is.

Over time, those little steps add up!

September is National Preparedness Month

September is the perfect month to get started—or to simply take inventory of what you already have and fill in those areas where needed.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Ready Campaign offers helpful information for preparing your family for emergencies, including creating a family plan and assembling emergency supplies. You can learn more at Ready.gov. National Preparedness Month in the United States encourages all of us to think ahead before an emergency happens.

Survival Foods to Stock in Your Prepper Pantry

When we think about preparedness, food is naturally one of the first things that comes to mind. But what foods should we actually stock?

In my “27 Best Survival Foods to Stock NOW in Your Prepper Pantry” video and accompanying blog post, I walk you through 27 of the best survival foods to keep in your long-term Prepper Pantry. Rather than simply accumulating random cans and packages, I like to think in terms of food categories so we can provide our families with variety and good nutrition, even in difficult circumstances.

We’ll look at everything from beans, whole grains, pasta, fats, canned proteins, fruits and vegetables to seasonings, sweeteners, beverages, and other staples that can help turn basic pantry foods into satisfying meals. And remember—you don’t need to purchase everything at once. You can build your Survival Pantry gradually as your grocery budget allows.

27 Best Survival Foods with free checklist

One thing I especially like about taking this approach is that these aren’t strange “emergency foods” that your family would never ordinarily eat. These are useful pantry staples that can become part of your everyday traditional foods kitchen.

That’s exactly how a Prepper Pantry 😉 should work!

Essential Prepper Pantry Items You Don’t Want to Forget

Once we have our basic foods tucked away, it’s easy to think we’re finished. But there are some very useful items that we traditional foods cooks can sometimes overlook. In my next video, I share 10 essential Prepper Pantry items that can serve more than one purpose in your kitchen and home.

You’ll discover why I like keeping things such as dried herbs, honey, nourishing fats, chickpeas, dried mushrooms, flour, canned tomatoes, shelf-stable protein, and even some plain old-fashioned iodized salt on hand. We also talk about beeswax—an especially useful addition to your Healing Pantry when you’re making homemade salves and other natural remedies. 

These are the kinds of humble ingredients I love because they’re versatile. In uncertain times, versatility is one of the best qualities any pantry item can have.

And while you’re reviewing your pantry supplies, don’t forget one of the most important essentials of all: water.

Keep an ample supply appropriate for your household and circumstances, and remember that having some extra can also put you in a position to help family, friends, or neighbors if the need arises.

Pack a Three-Day Emergency Food Kit

Most of the time when we talk about a Prepper Pantry, we’re preparing to stay safely at home—or “bug in.” But there are circumstances when we may have to leave home quickly because of severe weather, wildfire, flooding, or another emergency. That’s why every household should give some thought to having an emergency backpack ready. And that doesn’t mean your three-day food supply has to consist entirely of highly processed snack foods!

In my “How to Pack Your Emergency Backpack Food Kit with Real Food” video and blog post, I show you how to put together an emergency backpack food kit using real food that provides protein, good fats, and carbohydrates to help keep you nourished during what could be a very stressful few days. We also talk about water, important medications—including those requiring refrigeration—and supplies for our beloved four-legged family members.

In the accompanying blog post, be sure to download the free printable checklist to help make putting your emergency backpack together easy. The checklist is designed to help you organize a three-day supply of real food and water for each family member, along with reminders for medications and pet supplies.

Preparedness Is Really About Taking Care of One Another

Whenever September rolls around and we begin talking about National Preparedness Month, I’m reminded that preparedness isn’t really about cans stacked neatly on shelves or buckets of grain tucked away in a closet.

Those things are certainly useful. But the real reason we prepare is people.

We stock our pantries because we want to be able to feed our families. We store extra water because someone we love may need it. We organize our medicines because when someone isn’t feeling well, the last thing we want to do is run around searching for what they need.

Preparing a Little Extra

And whenever possible, I like to prepare with a little extra.

Maybe that’s the Italian in me. 😉 My sweet mom Gloria raised me with an understanding of abbondanza. The word translates in English as “abundance,” but to my mom, it was the idea that there should always be enough food for one more person (or more!) at the table. You never knew who might stop by, who might be hungry, or who might need a little help.

I think preparedness carries that same spirit.

Yes, we prepare for ourselves and our immediate families. But if circumstances allow, perhaps we keep an extra jar of peanut butter, another package of pasta, a few more cans of soup, or another gallon of water so that we can help a neighbor who wasn’t quite as prepared.

A Prepper Pantry That’s More Than Shelves

That’s when a Prepper Pantry becomes more than shelves filled with food. It becomes an expression of hospitality.

And maybe that’s one of the nicest ways to think about National Preparedness Month. We aren’t preparing because we’re afraid of tomorrow.

We’re preparing so that whatever tomorrow brings, we can calmly say, “Come in. We’ll be all right. And there’s enough to share.”

That’s the heart of a well-prepared home! 😊

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Backwoods Home and Self-Reliance

The Backwoods Home and Self Reliance printed magazines are two of our favorite publications, especially since they deal with topics of interest to traditional foods cooks and modern pioneers.

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Guideposts

Guideposts is a faith-based inspirational magazine with stories about ordinary people who overcome life’s challenges through faith and hope. An earlier issue of Guideposts magazine featured my Faith, Love, and Grace story. I’m a subscriber, and I know you’ll enjoy this uplifting publication too. Be sure to take advantage of the discounted rate below for new subscribers.

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The Modern Pioneer Cookbook

Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.

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The Modern Pioneer Pantry

Simple ingredients, timeless techniques, and a well-stocked pantry. Discover over 100 nourishing recipes to preserve food and turn pantry staples into homemade meals. Build a wholesome, traditional pantry—just like a modern pioneer!

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Start Your Traditional Foods Journey

Sharing my passion for traditional cooking goes beyond my YouTube cooking school—it also comes to life in the pages of my cookbooks. Both of my books, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook and The Modern Pioneer Pantry, are proudly published by Penguin Random House.

The first is filled with time-honored recipes to help you create a traditional foods kitchen, while the second is your complete guide to home food preservation. Order both books today to start or continue your traditional foods journey.

Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List

For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!

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  4. Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook - Get a hardcover book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.
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