Welcome to the forum.essexsurvivor wrote:So I guess the key to storing food long term is keeping sealed bags to useable sizes like 0.5lbs or 1lbs bag/jars
Yes the key with dried food is small packets. Mylar bags are the way forward
I'm not sure that home dehydrated food stuffs last as long as the commercial Mountain House type stuff though (MH claim their food lasts 20 years). So don't dry and forget! There's nothing wrong with having a few Mountain House type packets, or Meals Ready to Eat (MRE), they're light and compact albeit expensive. They're also quite techie and appeal to the inner gear-head - there are some that heat themselves! 
But buy a small packet first and try it - don't want to reach for the packet in an emergency and discover that you can't stand it! Remember you also need to have a supply of water for dried foods, so don't forget about stocking potable water. One noted side-effect of a diet comprising solely MH and MRE food is constipation, according to most military types who have to spend time on exercise eating such things...However, as others have suggested, buying ordinary tinned foodstuffs together with ordinary dried stuff like rice, oats and lentils, particularly when they're on special offer, is the usual route. I always try to buy when they're on special offer - I love basmati rice and eat it most days, but it is much more expensive than standard long grain, but at the moment as it's Diwali Tesco is selling a 10kg bag of basmati for £10! A pound a kilo is as good as you're going to see anywhere! I currently have around 40Kg of rice - which is enough for 18-24 months!
When you start food storage it always seems like a giant hurdle that has to be got over as quickly as possible, but don't panic. Try not to fall into the trap of buying a year's supply of rice, then a year's supply of lentils, then a year's supply of something else. If something happens tomorrow, you can't live on a just rice!. So concentrate instead on getting a varied stash that will feed you and yours for just two weeks, then start keeping an eye out for BOGOFs and other bargains, whilst building up to a 4 week stash. After that you can relax and add each week to your stash taking advantage of offers. Oh and don't forget to stock salt and tin openers; and don't forget any pets - if you don't stock for them, they're eating your food!