When we start to think about preparedness, sometimes we get ahead of ourselves and forget what things are truly important. Without food and water none of your other gear matters! Yes, I should have mentioned that if you do not have access to water, this step should include the equivalent amount of water needed for 2 weeks.
As a society we have become so comfortable with living week to week. Not too far in the past, people had far less substantial supply chains and as such had to prepare for times there was no food available. There were times of plenty and times of less. Most likely, your grandparents still maintain a capable pantry from the cultural norm they grew up with. The generation prior to them, canning was a household skill. There was no fast food, most food was cooked at home, family gardens were the norm and communities relied on each other heavily for food production and trade. And forget about having access to exotic foods or even foods that were out of season. All this to say, our ability to live with so little preparedness is a fairly recent phenomenon. It is a luxury that we do not see as the normal human experience though history. Food used to take a significant amount of the individuals attention. Perhaps it helps us to contextualize our preparedness if we acknowledge some of these details.
So this step, it is worth repeating, is for the individuals who are starting from zero - many of whom may never have considered food planning past this week. Don't over think it! Long term food storage is easy with these premade solutions; it is one of the steps that can be so simple and, with the most ease, offer some legitimate security. Or, if you want to put a bit more effort in, try to build a varied and capable pantry. Buy items that you will use, and that have good nutritional value! Get used to cycling through them. Yes, this may mean you have to learn how to cook a little more, so two birds with one stone!
As mentioned in the video, having a cushion like this, offers so much comfort, security, and flexibility even in regular life situations. I have seen people who fall on a tight financial spot and cant afford groceries for the week. With a reserve in place, you never have to worry about that. Prepared individuals also have a unique ability to fulfill their calling in investing in their community. When another family or individual is in need, prepared individuals can help without the concern of effecting their own situation.
For me personally, this value was instilled long before I got into firearms and "prepper" type stuff. Everyone I was influenced by growing up had separate freezers that stayed stocked. My mother and my grandmother both canned and stored vegetables from their family gardens. This didnt seem like preparation, it just seems like normal living. I am so thankful for that. It was also instilled as a Biblical responsibility in my life, which is why it carried into adulthood as a value. All through the Word, we see compliments toward those who prepare ahead "like the ants" (Psalms, Proverbs) and we see, sometimes even harsh, correction given to the "slacker" or one who is lazy and fails to prepare.
1 Timothy 5:8 - But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Lastly, many people do not realize that being preemptive with food can even save money. Buying foods in bulk, especially when good sales are on, often can make a considerable difference to your grocery bill. For example, a local store recently had beef strip loins for sale at 3.99/lb. We bought two totaling almost 40lbs. A big initial investment, yes. But, cutting these loins down to steaks on my own nearly 40 steaks. Just doing the work myself and buying in bulk saved me $8/lb as compared to strip steaks at the store. (thats a $300 total savings if you're doing the math). And, I had a good reserve of meat in the freezer for a good time.
At the end of the day though, this step isnt really aobut waiting around for deals or building a good system. To get started, just get SOMETHING that will last a good while, and will give you a 2 week reserve. Dont skip these steps! We have to be honest with ourselves about our preparation.