How to build an emergency food supply: 20 items to kick start your food storage plan
Buy you own emergency food supply vs Creating your own food supply
Buy You Own (Pre-Built Food Storage Packages)
The easiest way to build an emergency food kit is to just buy one. You can go to Amazon or other online sites to find them, or places like REI and outdoor stores will have pre-built emergency food supply kits.
Create Your Own (DIY Food Supply)
For the best experience, do it yourself! Making your own kit assures that you have the supplies you like best.
Checklist: What to look for when shopping for survival food?
- Shelf life
- Nutritional value
- Easy preparation
- Product weight (if you have to evacuate)
- Yummy factor!
20 Items to Kick-Start your food storage plan
You can run out and buy this today and just have your kit created! Buy brands that you actually eat now, so you can use them up and replenish them and they won’t expire.
- 20 pounds of rice
- 20 cans of pinto beans
- 20 cans of high nutritional value, ready-to-eat meals
- 20 cans of fruits
- 10 cans of desserts
- 4 pounds of oats
- 2 large jars of crunchy peanut butter
- 4 units per person of pre-sealed containers of water
- 5 pounds of powdered milk
- 5 pounds of salt
- 10 pounds of pancake mix
- 2 boxes of protein bars
- 10 pounds of pasta
- 10 cans or jars of spaghetti sauce
- 20 cans of soup or broth
- 10 chocolate bars
- Spices and condiments
- 5 pounds of coffee or 100 tea bags
- 2 large bags of raisins or dried fruits
- 2 frozen loaves of bread
And don’t forget your pet! Buy at least 10 pounds of pet food!
10 simple strategies for building your emergency food supply
- Build up slowly: in addition to spreading out the cost, this method will help you avoid having large amount of food that expires at the same time
- Rotate and replenish items: As you buy more supplies, place the new goods at the back of a shelf or on the bottom of a pile. This way, you’ll know which food needs to be used next.
- Store wisely: You probably want to keep most of your supplies at home. But, having some in a weekend cabin or self-storage unit can protect you if your home is damaged or you have to evacuate.
- Keep health in mind: Look for vegetables such as green beans, carrots and mushrooms. Stock up on canned corn and beans as well. Other healthy food sources include canned tuna, chicken, salmon, shrimp and crab.
- Remember water: consider the amount you’ll need for cooking, as well as other activities, such as bathing. For animals, take into account their water needs as well.
- Focus on safety: Be mindful of the food storage conditions: temperature, oxygen, light, pests and time. Always check the expiration date and throw out any foods that have been damaged. Also, you probably will want to consider a climate-controlled storage unit.
- Research: You can google around the internet to find all sorts of emergency food and food storage advice. Be an informed consumer. This will save you time, effort and money.