I mostly, but not totally agree.
Hence my constantly aspiring to modify our regular diet. But rotation isn't easy where reserves are primarily long life foods that don't dovetail with accepted regular diet. I wouldn't be without my NIDO milk stash, for example. But using that in place of fresh milk is an expense in itself. The cheap stash of hot dog sausages* bulks out our protein reserves to give us quantity held at the expense of quality.
Imagine if you had a serious stash of military MRE's and tried to rotate them into daily diet. I can't see that working, or being nice.
Things in reserves, seldom used: Powdered milk: Corned Beef: Tinned Soup.
Some, I just write off as an 'insurance'
There's probably some equation or formula for getting max VFM out of such insurance, but it could be tricky maths. Thinking out loud....
I think I have the makings of a formula..
Entering Nerd Mode !
If shelf Life=L (in weeks)
And units Acceptable in a week of regular diet=A units per week
then max practical Holding to never have wastage=H units = LxA,
H=LxA
Now if post apocalypse units Consumed per week=C units
then your Survival reserve (S) would last you max of S=H/C weeks
S=H/C
S=(LxA)/C=LA/C
Worked example for NIDO Milk shelf life of a year
L=52 weeks
Tubs per week that you can sneak into regular diet A=1
A=1
You can Hold
H=LxA=52x1=52 Tubs
Tubs per week that you would use post apocalypse C=4
C=4
Therefore
Your survival reserve of NIDO would last
S=H/C=52/4=13 Weeks
Worked example for Military MREs shelf life of 20 years
L=1040 weeks
MREs per week that you can sneak into regular diet A=1
A=1
H=LxA=1040x1= 1040 Meals
MREs per week that you would use post apocalypse C=14
C=14
Therefore
Your survival reserve of MREs would last
S=H/C=1040/14= 74 Weeks
Worked example for Fresh Milk shelf life of 2 weeks
L=2 weeks
Litres of milk per week that you can sneak into regular diet A=4
A=4
H=LxA=2x4= 8 Litres
Litres per week that you would use post apocalypse C=4
C=4
Therefore
Your survival reserve of Fresh Milk would last
S=H/C=8/4= 2 Weeks
Conclusions:
I overthink some stuff and need to get out more.
It's mathematically impossible to store enough short shelf life goods while expecting it to last well into a long crisis.
If you store long shelf life goods you CAN hold enough to last through a reasonably long disaster, but you have to coax some into your regular diet.
If you have the same regular consumption pattern pre and post apocalypse then your emergency rations will last you (1 x Shelf Life of product)
"Eat what you store: Store what you eat" is the mantra. But it isn't easy.
* We consumed one tin of Hotdogs for dinner yesterday. They were 'meh'
