Who’s Actually Tried Living Off Their Preps Long-Term?

[MeadowWhisperer]

I've read all sorts of theories about rotating food storage and using up preps before expiry, but has anyone here actually *lived* off their stored supplies for a few weeks or longer—no grocery runs, no takeout, just what’s on hand? Curious what unexpected issues or gaps you ran into. Did you find certain foods ran out faster, or maybe you forgot key comfort items? Would be great to hear real experiences, not just plans or spreadsheets.

 

[MarigoldBreeze]

Went three weeks once—ran out of coffee and fresh veggies way too fast, morale dipped hard by week two. Anyone else find the lack of crunchier snacks got to them?

 

[BlueHarborTea]

Tried a month—got bored of beans real fast, and missed crunchy stuff too much. Anyone find any good shelf-stable snacks that actually satisfy that craving?

 

[AquaFern1028]

Six weeks on stored food one winter, thanks to an ice storm that took out roads. Biggest surprise for me was how much I missed not just fresh veggies but herbs—adds a ton to morale and flavor. I’d prepped basics but never realized how monotonous everything would taste after a while. Even tried sprouting lentils for a crunch, which helped, but got old fast.

Ran through peanut butter and saltines way quicker than expected, and by week three, craved variety so bad that canned pineapple started to feel like a holiday dessert. Also, weirdly, I found I underestimated how much I’d miss just *chewing* things—crunch matters. Granola and roasted chickpeas, if stored right, held up decently as snacks.

Another thing, be ready for odd shortages—ran out of dish soap and had to improvise with baking soda. Comfort stuff really matters: a few chocolate bars and good herbal teas go a long way for mood.