Shreveport Grocery Stores Are Packed—Here’s What You Need Before the Winter Storm

A pretty big winter storm is headed our way. If we lose power for any length of time, you will want to have supplies on hand to make sure you will be ok.

Cars were jam packed at local grocery stores today and they will probably have big crowds tomorrow. What should you be buying? At the top of that list should be water. Go ahead and collect water now from the tap so you have it for emergency use later. Fill bottles, buckets or whatever you have around the house.

The next thing you should definitely have in your home is a manual can opener. You will need this if the power goes off and you want to open canned goods.

READ MORE: Take a Look Back at the Big Snow Storm of 2021

Back during Snowmageddon of 2021, many people lost power for 2 weeks. Are you prepared for that? It probably won’t happen. But it’s always best to be prepared.
If we do lose power and you can’t cook, what are some things you need to have in your pantry to sustain your family.

What Proteins Should You Stock Up On

Let’s talk about proteins first. I would be sure to have canned tuna, salmon, and chicken. You can eat these things plain or you throw in some pickles, onions and mayo and make a spread. Be sure you have a new container of mayo and mustard that don’t have to be refrigerated yet.

Next on my go-to list is peanut butter. You can put this on crackers. You can make a great peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This is a good protein to always have around the house. Get a big jar. It lasts a long time.

Some of my friends like to keep cans of beans on hand and tell me they will eat them right out of the can. I’m not sure I would enjoy that. But I guess it’s best to have “just in case”.

I feel the same way about canned chili. It doesn’t sound very appetizing to me to eat chili from the can, but if you’re hungry, you’ll do it.

The next thing you should stock up on are protein bars. There are so many varieties out there. I always try to find one that is lower in sugar content. You have to experiment with this one if you don’t already have a favorite.

Another great food item to have on hand is nuts. My absolute favorite is pistachio nuts. But I also try to keep a large can of mixed nuts in my pantry. I always look for the low sodium variety because many of these are loaded with salt.

One of the best protein items to have available is beef sticks. Beef jerky is a a great source of protein, but again watch the salt. I like the Ostrim beef sticks. They are very tasty, but a little bit pricey. Vienna sausages are also an option to have on hand, but they are not the healthiest of canned meats to be eating.

What Carbs Should You Stock Up On

Be sure to have plenty of bread and crackers. I will also grab some of that ready-to-eat rice. If I have to eat chili or beans from a can, it might be better over rice. I don’t like oatmeal, but that’s also a good carb to have handy, but be sure you buy the instant kind that can soak in water.

What Fruits and Veggies Should You Grab

I will be getting bananas, apples and oranges. Those are always great choices. But you can also pick up your favorite canned fruits. I like the canned pineapples and peaches. For veggies, I will snap up a bag of carrots. But my pantry is usually packed with lots of canned veggies from green beans to corn to peas. Not sure I would really want to eat these straight outta the can, but you never know.

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At work this morning, we were debating whether or not you would want canned soup. I’m not so sure how good these soups would be straight from the can. But if I do that, I would want to find soups that are high in protein.

You might want to grab some paper products like paper plates and cups. If we lose water and power, you won't have to worry about doing the dishes.

But one thing you don't really need to stock up on is toilet paper. One pack should probably get you through this storm.