Get the kids involved!
There is no better way to help a child embrace food storage than by allowing and expecting the child to be completely involved. In too many homes, food storage is something that mom and dad take care of. The chidren are aware of the concept of food storage, but other than the occasional "force feeding", the children are disconnected from the process of using food storage as a way of life. As a result, when the children have homes of their own they start their food storage plans more or less from scratch, and the same struggles repeat themselves for another generation.
There is a better way:
#1 Make sure as a parent that you speak openly and honestly about why food storage is important for your family. Share your plan with your children. It has been my experience that when I am straight forward with my children about a serious issue they become supportive, creative, and a source of encouragement.
#2 Ask and expect your children to be an active participant of the family food storage team. When I was a child, my mother made all of us process fruit and toil in the vegetable garden. I must admit that I did not love it at the time. Today I can put up 90 quarts of peaches and still have dinner on the table. I don't dislike it anymore; I do it with feelings of satisfaction, accomplishment and peace.
#3 Let your children share in the responsibility of food storage. On this website you will find a Food Storage Inventory. Print it off and put it on a clip board. Hang the clipboard in an obvious location: the pantry, kitchen, bulletin board etc. Ask a child or two to assist you in taking inventory each month. Not only does it make you all acutely aware of what you have, and what you need, but it also teaches your child that managing food storage is a natural way of life.
You'll be surprised when your child reminds you that it is time to purchase powdered milk!
#4 Set food storage goals with your children. For example, make it a goal to have a one year supply of powdered milk by a certain time. That will take some focus and special budgeting. There have been times when I have had to remind my children when they are in the grips of "the gimmies" that we have already decided as a family to spend our money on food storage. They quickly remember and agree that food storage is our family goal.
Make it a goal to cook from your food storage a few times a week. Make whole wheat pancakes, bread, or cookies and let everyone help. Don't decide to do without something because it tastes different. Incorporate it into your diet. Taste buds adapt. Your children will be better off if they adapt sooner rather than later. The only way to adapt is to cook with it now.
#5 Kids love to be in the kitchen, especially when they are young, and that is the best time to train them. I know that it is ALWAYS harder to have little inexperienced hands, or big ones, involved. It seems to double the work load, but very soon those same hands will be carrying the work load. You will be patting yourself on the back for the good job that you did training them.
#6 Make fun food storage items! Many have fallen into the trap of thinking that food storage is boring, and you don't want to pass that false idea on to your children. Try the Pretzel Recipe on this site and use it as a family activity. Get the whole crew around the table and talk about how important your food storage is while you roll and twist your pretzels. Offer a variety of topppings from your storage: coarse salt, cinnamon and sugar, or garlic and butter. It is a multi sensory family activity and your kids will not forget it.
Do your children know that popcorn does not come from the microwave? Keep and use popcorn from your food storage. Show your children what it was like when you were a kid and pop it on the stove top. Get really crazy and pop it over a campfire. Make popcorn balls, or caramel corn!
Store chocolate chips, pudding, and fruit punch powder. There is no rule that says you can only store wheat. That would be boring!
#7 Be an example. I keep and use food storage because my mother did, and still does. At the age of 67 she maintains a quarter acre vegetable garden, several fruit trees, berry and grape plants, and a coveted rhubarb patch. She has raised or is raising, chickens, turkeys and rabbits to process for meat. She makes her own jams, jellies, syrups etc. Her pantry, which is the size of most women's kitchens, is stuffed to overflowing with every possible food item you can imagine. She grinds her own whole grain flours and cooks from scratch. My mother has been an incredible example. Thank you Mom.
Proverbs 31:13-17, 27-28
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and also a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and stengtheneth her arms.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.