What if we are new to prepping? (andy es I know it's probably too late now!)

[GabrielleChanel]

So obviously can't stockpile toilet paper as everyone else has gotten it all but where should one start?

you could start with freezing some things? such as:

frozen fruit (tesco do frozen pineapple, pomegranate, cherries and berries)
frozen veg
eggs (how to freeze them is linked here)
mince
chicken breasts
white fish (cod, haddock) fillets
butter (wrap tightly in tinfoil- salted butter lasts 12 months)
bread- those partbaked rolls take up less space than a loaf
cheese (for cooking purposes) how to do so here

Depending on what sort of things you eat - for the cupboards:

Rice
Dried noodles
Pasta (if you can find some)
Dried or tinned beans
Baked beans
Tinned spaghetti
Tinned tomatoes
Passata
Tomato puree
Herbs/spices
Oil
Vinegar
Coconut milk
Nutella/choc spread
Jam
Marmalade
Soy Sauce
Sweet Chilli Sauce
Pesto
Harissa
Peanut butter

Would it be worth keeping pen and paper handy for the next 24 hours and noting down everything you use as a snapshot of what you actually like now.

Sounds daft but I never thought of getting icing sugar, it’s far from essential but would be nice to have.

I have got more washing up liquid than I need though because a few weeks I asked someone to get me some Laundry liquid on their way over as I’d run out. 2 large bottles of green fairy liquid duly arrived. 😁

Think breakfast, lunch, tea, snacks, drinks,treats

Toiletries and self hygiene. ( Spare deodorant toothpaste and toothbrush etc.)

Laundry.

Cleaning, dishwasher and washing up.

If your usual breakfast and lunch is not available, what will you eat instead?

Get some easy to prepare food. Eg, cupasoups, mugshot, tinned soup, cous cous.

Get condiments, herbs and spices.

Vitamins.

yes, but for how long do you stock?

Start with 3 days, then go from there bluebell

Be creative. Asda out of pasta? Buy noodles or crackers or oat cakes.
Digestives are supposed to be good with cheese.

Get fresh veg, blanch it and freeze it yourself.

Buy fresh garlic, it keeps ages in the fridge.

Buy a whole chicken, cook, strip it down and freeze.

Ps I would aim for a minimum of Seven days but you will have to do that over several shops and pick things that are well stocked up.

I went shopping at 14:30 today and the shops were relatively quiet and staff had had time to restock shelves. There wasn't much normal pasta but lots of gnocchi and tortellini etc which keeps well. The loaves of bread were I. The process of being stocked but there was lots of art baked rolls, tortilla wraps, naan bread etc. Its like people are buying all the same stuff.

I also packed my and Dds hospital bag, it is very unlikely that we'll need it but I normally keep one ready to go, as I was once hospitalised away from home with nothing and no one to get anything for me.

In my bag are 2 x sets up PJs, underwear, slipper socks, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes and toothpaste, a hair brush and hair bands. A book each and a couple of sticker and colouring books (bought ages a go but Dds it touched yet). A multi device charger and plug.

First of all I would say it’s never too late to prep.

Don’t think “look how far behind the other Preppers I am”, think “look how far in front of everyone else I am”.

Yes it’s nice to have full cupboards, grab bag ready to go and loads of kit with a certain BG signature on it (I prefer Ray and the gear I have had in my pocket since the 1980s). But in reality software beats Hardware 9 times out of 10. It’s no good having a pantry full of dried food if you don’t know how to cook or a top end bush craft knife if you don’t know how to sharpen it.

If we look at the present hot topic of toilet roll; ok I have the normal (or us) amount in the house, but what happens if I couldn’t replace it?
Well what alternatives do we have? Growing up in the 1960s school toilet paper doubled up as tracing paper and probably grease proof paper to. We could save old newspapers and cut those into squares or go Roman with a sponge on a stick. Ok I think I would prefer a big bag of sponges, with a good wash between uses, rather than a communal sponge stored in a bucket of salt water.

So think problem then think what can I do instead? It is what’s between your ears, rather than in your cupboard that counts.

To make your loo roll last longer wash after using the loo like they do in Japan, Middle East & Asia. You don't need to invest in a fancy toilet hose, just buy a platic jug. Dry wipe as usual, pour water in between your legs and behind you. Then wipe clean and wipe dry. More hygienic and eco friendly than using moist toilet wipes.

I have always been a bit of a prepper mainly as I live rurally and it’s hard to get anywhere in snow or in case of illness.

But I think it’s important not to start food prepping too much at the moment or it’s going to make things worse for others.

Right now we are getting DIY materials in case of lockdown, plenty of red diesel for our emergency generator and I also think I’m going to start trying to grow some salad leaves and maybe some fruit and vegetables. I’m also determined to start using some of the weird and wonderful things I bought to try but haven’t gotten around to yet.

@GabrielleChanel It’s absolutely fine if you start prepping now. But given the situation, instead of buying foods in bulk you can start prepping slowly by adding few or couple of more items everytime you shop and learn how to reuse and practice zero waste ideas. Save the top and tail of veggies in the freezer to make stock later, use the peels for compost, Batch cook and aim to freeze a portion daily to reuse if someone gets too poorly, freeze a portion of veg and fruits you buy every week, prep a covid isolation area at home, start a veg patch, raise chickens, plant fruit trees, prepare hospital bags, prepare a list of diy stuffs to do and collect the items, prepare an inventory of fridge, freezer, pantry with dates, prepare a medical list and have a medical cupboard and so on. Ps: welcome to preppers board 🙂

Start simply extra every day things buying 2 sanitary ware an extra box of matches if it's something you use weekly grab 3 then you start thinking do I have torches, extra batterys candles sleeping bags things build up quickly making thick soups, stews, curry's and freezing half iv always tended to have extra in just follow the scout/guiding motto BP=be prepared. And think differently to everyone in the shops instead of baked beans get any other white bean dried/tinned things that you have wanted to try that is cheap but unsure of then simply look up on line how to cook

Some great tips, thanks.
Re the freezer - do you all have massive freezers or are you creative with storage?

Do you take everything out the packaging when possible?
Would you freeze fresh milk or simply buy longlife (not that I can find it).

This board has helped me to prepare for this somewhat thanks.
Does anyone make their own pasta?

One fridge freezer. About 6. Foot tall, 60cm wide. Bigger won't go up the stairs.

I bought tins and packets months ago, some a year ago.

As one can't really prep food now, try and get other things ready as K9 said.

I’m keeping lists and notes of things I either forgot or hadn’t thought about. For next time. I’m also rethinking my storage space. It’s too late to prep now, but thinking about what you could have done is useful for planning for the future.
Oddly enough, communal cooking is becoming a positive mental health benefit in my 4 adult household.

Some good advice upthread. I agree there is no point prepping for food stuff you can buy in shops, that just adds to the general panic buying issue. But definitely think (calmly! ) about how you would prep for all the shops apart from supermarkets and chemists closing, as I think that is what is next and some people haven't though enough about that.

So for example before it becomes too unsafe to go out and postal deliveries stop altogether, I am trying to accumulate:

New board games our family is already into board games so picking up a few fresh ones has been a great thing.
Colouring books and felt tips for me, for mindfulness and also as a way of dealing with crushing boredom.
Seeds and compost as others have said, growing some stuff is going to the next thing people think of and lots of folk are already buying gardening things and seeds in their droves and they are getting harder to find, especially salad leaves seeds etc.
Non food household essentials Like laundry liquid, washing up liquid, drain cleaner, and perhaps more towels so you can ensure everyone in the household always has their own towel at all times.
Music I have two musical instruments which I have neglected learning to play, now could be the perfect time. Is there something you've always wanted to learn to do?
Books - our local library has already closed it's doors but for now you can still buy books online and of course there is always audible and kindle books etc.
Exercise stuff so you can stay fit and active even inside. I'm sticking with youtube (Yoga with Adrianne) but if you need a physical item in order to exercise, get it now while you can.

It's worth thinking about what you would want to have if you have to stay in your house for the next few months. There are so many more aspects to that than just food, in terms of having good physical health, mental health etc.

Please start gardening. Even in pots on the window. Currently growing pea shoots in an old plastic supermarket box on the window.
Sprouting is also easy. You don't need special gear - I did it in the 70s with a large jar and some net curtain held on by an elastic band. An old muslin sheet will do the same job.
Sling something like broccoli seeds in the jar. Put some water in and slosh it around. Fasten the bit of clean muslin sheet on as a kind of kid. Tip the jar upside down to let the water drain into the sink. See if you have a way of keeping the jar rested at a sort of angle to let water drain out but in the sunshine. Wait a day or two. Maybe sloosh some water around again to keep the seeds wet. They will start sprouting. Eat them whole, root, sprout and all in a salad or a sandwich.

Lid not kid

Bellini, I’m still sprouting seeds the same way I did in the 70s! But I find keeping the jar in the dark makes the shoots less bitter. (Mung and aduki beans)

@middleager I have only one normal freezer that’s under the fridge. I vaccum pack and freeze to free up space. You can get vaccum sealer and bags online in amazon. I use aobosi one.

It’s not prepping now, is it? Doing it now is panic buying.