Easy Stockpiling: Starting with "Let's Buy One More"
Seeing disaster preparedness messages on TV or the internet often brings the thought, “This time, I must prepare an emergency stock properly!” However, the hassle of making special purchases tends to lead to procrastination.
The solution to this dilemma is "Rotating Stock." It’s a stockpiling method that can be easily maintained as part of daily life without extra effort.
At "A Spoonful of Enjoy for Your Life," we bring you small yet meaningful touches to enrich your everyday life.
This time, we’ll be introducing rotating stock together with Nakazawa from Seven-Eleven Japan's Risk Management Office and our editorial team member, Mezamē.
Easy Start to rotating stock
Mezamē
What is rotating stock? What kind of items should I buy? Since it's for emergency preparedness, do I need about a week's worth of supplies?
Nakazawa
You don't need to buy a lot at once. Simply stock up a little extra on the foods you regularly eat, consume the ones nearing their expiration date first, and replace what you've used. This way, you always maintain a consistent supply of food at home. This method of stockpiling is called "Rotating Stock."
Stock up → Eat → Restock
Mezamē
No need to push yourself! If that's the case, it seems like I can start without any pressure!
Have Fun Stocking Up with Your Favorite Foods
The key to the rotating stock method is choosing foods that you actually want to eat. It's as simple as stocking up a little extra on everyday items like cup noodles, retort-pouch curry, pasta, or snacks that you typically use in your meals.
Nakazawa
"Choosing what you love without pressure" might be the key. For me, my favorite spaghetti and udon noodles are essential items because they have a long shelf life. Even if you can't use a microwave, you can heat up packed rice with a portable gas stove.
Stock up a little extra on the foods you regularly eat.
By pairing items together, like pasta with pasta sauce or rice with retort-pouch curry, meal preparation becomes easier. It's a good idea to stock up on your favorite flavors. If you're concerned about nutritional balance, consider choosing options like meat sauce, beef curry, or canned mackerel as side dishes that provide protein.
Snacks are also a great addition to your stockpile! Nourish your soul, too.
Mezamē
It can be anything, right? I think I'll stock up not just on my favorite coffee, but also on some snacks. It’s reassuring to have a comforting cup when you need it. By the way, Nakazawa, what do you stock up on? Please share!
A warm drink to help you relax too♪
Nakazawa's rotating stock: For a household of two
No matter how much you prepare, it might never feel like enough. That said, it can be hard to know exactly how much you should stock up. So, we asked Nakazawa to show us the rotating stock he regularly uses.
Nakazawa
It's often said that the standard is three days' worth of supplies per family member, but when it comes to water and food, there should be at least a week's worth, including what's in the fridge. It's essential to take responsibility for your own safety, so it's fine to stock up as much as you can, as long as it's within a manageable limit.
Mezamē
It looks like you're stocking up on a variety of foods, but there seems to be a lot of noodles!
Stocking up on dried noodles and ready-to-eat canned food
Nakazawa
The reason I have more noodles is because I love them. The tea-flavored rice seasoning is also delicious on pasta. Besides that, my freezer is stocked with plenty of mochi (rice cake). I also make sure to stock up on water for cooking, a portable gas stove, and gas canisters. Our family lives in an apartment and we're planning for home-based evacuation, so we haven’t specifically prepared items to take to a shelter. Other than that, we have water and portable toilets.
Mezamē
I completely forgot about water and gas! I wonder how much Nakazawa has stocked up on?
Water, portable gas stove, and gas canisters are essentials!
Nakazawa
A family of two, we stock up on 4 boxes (24 bottles) of 2-liter bottled water and 9 gas canisters. Even if the water's expiration date passes, I don’t throw it away because it can still be used for washing hands or dishes. I store it alongside camping supplies. Of course, water and gas canisters are also part of our rotating stock.
Since rotating stock is made up of everyday foods, the storage location is something you want to take care of. You can organize a corner of your pantry to create space or use a kitchen cart. Choose a spot that's naturally visible in your daily life.
Nakazawa
By placing items with longer expiration dates at the back and those with closer expiration dates at the front, and taking items from the front, you can easily manage expiration dates. For example, if you line them up horizontally, you can set a rule like "take from the right." This way, you can do rotating stock without even thinking about it. Plus, it helps avoid food waste.
Mezamē
Food, water, and gas canisters. The rest is about how to store them… note taken. With this, even Mezame might be able to do rotating stock! Thank you, Nakazawa!
Try to make it a habit of buying one more!
By simply making it a habit to buy "one more" during your regular shopping, rotating stock becomes easy. How about starting to be a little more mindful during your shopping tomorrow? This way, you won’t have to rush to stock up after a disaster strikes.
"A Spoonful of Enjoy for Your Life" will continue to bring you little "touches of life" that gently fill your daily routine. Stay tuned for the next one!
This text has been translated using an automatic translation tool.
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