The weather this time of year can bring long days stuck at home. Is your pantry ready to help you through a snowstorm or frigid winter days?

The first thing you need to do is take stock of what you already have at home. Then, use your food budget or your SNAP/FNS benefits to purchase what you might be missing. If you would like assistance to apply for SNAP in North Carolina, please use our “Contact Us” page or call us using the numbers at the bottom of this blog post. Splitting such purchases across multiple weeks can help reduce costs as well.

When prepping your pantry for an emergency or winter weather, look for foods that have a long shelf life, such as:

• Dried and canned beans: black beans, garbanzo, lentil, kidney, white beans, pinto, etc.
• Whole grains: brown rice, quinoa, millet, amaranth, wild rice, oats, pasta, etc.
• Oils: vegetable, olive, canola, sunflower, etc.
• Spices and herbs: bay leaves, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.
• Dried fruit: dates, raisins, cranberries, cherries, etc.
• Sugars and other alternative sweeteners.
• Nuts and seeds (including nut or seed butters): almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, etc.
• Potatoes and sweet potatoes.

These items can be used for recipes such as beans and rice or lentil curry, which will keep you warm on those cold winter days. If you would like some other meal ideas that can come from these and other shelf stable items, consider the following:

• Noodles: spaghetti, mac and cheese, homemade hamburger helper, plain noodles.
• Oatmeal: banana pudding overnight oats, three ingredient cookies, oatmeal, meatloaf.
• Bread: grilled cheese sandwich, hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly.
• Tortillas: quesadillas and tacos.
• Lentils: soup, rice, carrots and hot dogs.
• Beans: add them to rice, meats, chili or eat it plain.
• Eggs: quiches or add it to rice or toast.

You don’t have to give up on healthy meals during the winter months or even during an emergency. The goal is to have ingredients on hand, so that you still have filling and nutritious meals, even if you’re stuck at home.  Follow these and other tips from our past blogs on how to prepare for low temperature months to be ahead of the game in ensuring your family stays healthy and well-fed all year round.Source: extension.umd.edu - Stocking Your Pantry for Winter

For questions about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or to receive SNAP Application Assistance contact the More In My Basket staff:

Visit: morefood.org

English Toll Free: 1-855-240-1451

Spanish Toll Free: 1-888-382-7105