Every journey starts with the first step!

If you are new to food storage, don't feel that you have to 

"eat the whole elephant in 1 bite"! (weird saying...)

I used to find myself at times feeling  bad because I didn't have all that my family needed in our emergency supply. But knew that I should have one! But like saving money, a little at a time builds up and soon, (usually sooner than you thought, you start to see progress).

But like with my savings, I had to have a plan.

Where are you at in your food storage? 

What is your goal?

What are your needs?

If you go here to our Thrive food Planner, you can see just how much your family even needs!
If it's been one of those things on your mind...try out the Q for a few months, you set your own budget and start to get food delivered every month. No commitment (And it's delicious!) After a few months, you see a stack of boxes or a can rotating system start to fill up and you realize... it all started with the first step.

(1 Case=6 Cans)

Good Luck!! Please feel free to e-mail or contact me with any questions!

How I came to love Freeze Dried Foods and Emergency Prep

One of the things that made me fall in love with Shelf Reliance was the Q.

Every month I was trying to set aside a bit of money sometimes $50 and sometimes more like $200, depending on what I thought we needed to add to our families Emergency Food & Supplies Storage. 

So I would have to reevaluate what our family needed every month, and would find those things on sale and save them.

PROBLEMS:

• Re-evaluating every  month
• Remembering to set the money aside
• Playing catch up when I'd forgotten to neglected for several months.
• BIGGEST problem...When I did find things on sale... Shelf life is typically 2yrs or less.
• Buying food my family didn't typically eat because the food we eat dosn't store for long periods of time! ("foodsaving" a few bannanas and check back in 2 years... LOL)

HOW DID THE Q ANSWER ALL THESE PROBLEMS?

1. I was able to set a budget and count on that every month!!
2. I had a saved food plan and didn't have to double check every month. And this food plan was LEGIT!
3. Since it was automatic and at a set budget...I never have to play catch up (which isn't fun for play month in a budget)
4. Hooray the food I was buying was going to last 25 years!! 
• With NO PRESERVATIVES
• NO SUGAR
• NO SALT!!!
• With the same (sometimes better) nutritional value than what I would get fresh at the store!
• I wasn't relying on canned corn and chili in time of emergency!
5. Now I was buying the food my family ate like broccoli, strawberries, bananas, peas, white chicken, sausage...
6. TADA!!!!!!!!!! It's delivered to your door with excellent shipping prices!! You can't beat that! $7-$15 ships a typical Q!

What I DIDN'T realize...

(When I started I thought I was saving for my family and making an investment...But I was in a for a happy surprise)
(And I'll try no to make this part to long....)

1. I was going to  be saving sooooo much time by using these
2. I was going to be able to make FAST, HEALTHY and delicious meals my family would LOVE.
3. I was going to love these as much or more than the fresh foods...
4. I would save money not running to the store for milk which always resulted in 2-4 bag of other "must haves" equaling $30-$60 (The milk is the BEST powdered milk you have HAD!)
5. I would always have on hand items that I was always running out of... milk, eggs, apples, onions, peppers, bannanas...
6. I would love the EGGS...I was terrified the first time I used powdered eggs...now I can't live without them!!
7. I could pull together a delicious meal in 5-10 mins! (and it would smell like I'd just spent an hour chopping fresh foods!)

Thank goodness for these THRIVE foods and Shelf Reliance, they have helped me:

• Be a better mom, with good for you snacks
• Be a better cook, with healthy foods on hand for my "go-to's" and "hurry and make something for dinner" meals
• Run a safe household...Knowing that my children and family are prepared is a great feeling!

Zesty Italian Cream Sauce

Served with THRIVE Brocolli and THRIVE Peas (Both Freeze Dried)
Grilled Chicken Breast

Mix in with THRIVE freeze dried Chicken Chunks
and pour over noodles for a complete Meal!

2 C. Water
2/3 C THRIVE Butter Powder
1/2 C THRIVE Non-fat Powdered Milk
3 Teaspoons THRIVE Chicken Bullion
2 teaspoons Thrive FD Onions (I like even more, add to taste)
Mix together and let Boil slightly, turn down temp and let it simmer 10 mins. Stirring to avoid scalding.

1 C. Water & 1/2 C THRIVE White Flour mixed well
1T THRIVE Red & Green Bell Peppers (Crushed in a Cuisinart or small blender or table top chopper)

Whisk in the Water/flour/Peppers will gradually thicken.
Add more Water as needed.

Season with salt and Pepper to taste. May Add Garlic or other seasonings as available.

Crushed Green and Red Bell Peppers

Whisk everything together. 

At this point make it your own, adding a little garlic or other spices. Sometimes I'll add a pinch more bullion instead of salt, depends on how I'm pairing it!

Add this to the top of noodles, chicken breast, raviolis, or mix with curly noodles and veggies for a super fast meal that kids will approve of!

Sour Cream in your food storage? YES!

Q Special of the Month!

THRIVE Sour Cream Powder is ready to be whipped into shape at a moment's notice. This multi-functional addition to your food storage can be used in beef stroganoff, as a topper for baked potatoes, or as an ingredient in desserts.

The Q specials are a great way to build your storage and try new items at great prices!

Green and Red Bell Peppers

March's Q Club Special is Green and Red Bell Peppers. At $10.57 you can't beat the price!

These Delicious Sweet peppers are a good addition a variety of meals!

Just last night I made my special THRIVE tomato soup (recipe to come) and it these peppers were the perfect match! Make a simple Salsa or Guacamole in minutes, add them to your omelets.

Opening the Lid on these beauties is always a treat as the aroma fills the air!