And don’t forget to have a can opener on hand at all times—all that food won’t be of any use if you can’t open it. You can make a fairly nutritious diet out of grains, beans and canned goods. (First In, First Out) Inspect your food periodically for signs of damage, pests, and mold. Even if cheese forms mold, it will only be on the surface. You want foods that will give you the maximum nutrition for the minimum bulk. Many of us don’t function well before our second cup of coffee in the morning. Having at least some coffee on hand can make a rough time a little bit easier. 10 Nonperishable Foods You Must Stock for a Power Outage Situation – If you are wondering what foods to stock up on for a power outage or other emergency situation, do not fear. These non-perishable food items (or close to it) have lengthy expiration dates, so you can stash them away for long periods of time, even if it’s not hurricane season or tornado season. This isn’t buying your regular week’s groceries multiplied by 10, but rather buying food that you will use instead of your regular groceries. Be sure to stock up on the types of spices that your family likes, so that you can make food that they’ll like. Which foods should you stock up on in case of an emergency? That may require eating things that your family isn’t used to eating. Survival food storage you can get from the grocery store Shopping list of 37 foods to hoard. If someone in your household has dietary restrictions, look for gluten-free pasta or pasta made from chickpeas (or another alternative). (Think of how an emergency fund functions differently than a savings account.) Moreover, vacuum sealed packs may come in handy if you don’t have a can opener. Generally lasting at least two years in the pantry, canned meats provide essential protein. The biggest problem in deciding what to stockpile is that there is no way of knowing for sure what type of disaster is likely to strike; so there is no clear way of determining what to buy. Meat will be the hardest type of food to find during a crisis, so stock up well. Buy the whole grain rice, not the quick rice. Due to their higher fat content, whole-wheat or whole-grain crackers have a shorter shelf life than their plain counterparts (check the box for expiration dates), but the extra fiber pays off when you’re particularly hungry. Brown Rice is high in calories and protein, as well as essential vitamins and minerals like iron. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. Don’t throw the packing water away, as it will contain vitamins as well. To ensure everyone stays hydrated, purchase a case of water that comes with essential minerals added to it. Close the distance with fun games you can play from the comfort of separate homes. If you’ve been given ample warning that a storm is coming, there’s still time to run to the market and pick up more hurricane food: fresh produce and other items that have shorter shelf lives. The toasted crackers give a bit more of a healthful kick and are made without high-fructose corn syrup as well. Real Simple is part of the Meredith Home Group. Hard candies keep for years as long as they are protected from moisture. As a long time prepper (my kids say hoarder), I know the best food to buy for a power outage, quarantine, or natural disaster. Healthy and filling, these portable snacks usually stay fresh for at least six months. Like pasta, there are a lot of things you can do with rice. 10 Foods to Have in Your Pantry for Emergencies. Shelf-stable foods, in particular, are your smartest buy for an emergency food supply. Soups and chili can be eaten straight out of the can and provide a variety of nutrients. Almost all dairy products require refrigeration, so stock this substitute for an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D when fresh milk isn’t an option. Several books have been written about the subject, none of which offer exactly the same advice. Stock up on these high-energy foods—they’re healthful and convenient for snacking during a hurricane, tornado, or other emergency. Keep your eye open for sales as well, as that will provide you with needed opportunities to save money. To get the most bang for your peanut butter buck, purchase a two-pack of Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, which comes in 80-ounce jars. To buy: $6; walmart.com. If you buy them unripe, tomatoes will last several days at room temperature. Unopened, they will keep for up to six weeks in the pantry, says Van. Natural disasters—a flood, hurricane, blizzard—often come with little or no warning. If the emergency is disease-related (as in the coronavirus pandemic of 2020), it is especially important to eat nutritious foods that will help you maintain good health. When you buy food supplies, you must be sure of two things: The food items can last for some time, and; the diet must be balanced, that includes proteins, carbs, fats, fiber, and vitamins. Don't waste your money on a costly ebook to learn about the right food supplies for emergencies. Most preppers start out by building a stockpile of food and other supplies to use in case of emergency. this website. Because you’ll probably expend more energy than you normally would during your emergency plan, you should eat high-energy, high-protein foods. Protecting Your Family By Bugging In Or Bugging Out? Spaghetti sauce – With pasta and spaghetti sauce, you’ve got the start of a meal. Dried fruit – A great way to keep fruit on hand. Breakfast cereal – This falls into the category of comfort food, especially for kids. In other words, if your family uses a loaf of bread every two days, and your survival plan includes that much bread, then how much of each of the ingredients do you need to make that much bread? Offers may be subject to change without notice. To pack in as many of those healthy vitamins and minerals as possible, order a case of mixed vegetable cans. Try stocking up on a few packages of dry-cured salamis such as sopressata, a southern Italian specialty available at most grocery stores. Nuts store amazingly well and add a lot to baked goods, vegetables and even meat dishes. Multiplying that out will give you an idea of how much food you need to last your family for any period of time. Nature Valley’s Family Pack will provide you with a full 30 individually-wrapped bars in both peanut butter and oats ’n honey flavors. This stockpile is based on you bugging-in, rather than bugging-out. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Here is my list of foods that you should stockpile to get your family through a crisis: I realize that this list seems rather extensive, but I’m assuming that you’re going to be stockpiling enough food to last you several months, if not a year. If you have a secure, private bug-out location, you’ll want to duplicate your home stockpile at that location as well. Pasta – High carbohydrates and stores extremely well. Most of these foods will last at least a week after they’ve been purchased and will give you a fresh alternative to all that packaged food. If you think about it for a minute, that’s the only way to do it, which really makes sense. Simply cut that part off and the rest of the cheese is still good. Make sure you have a stock of baking powder, baking soda and yeast on hand. 34. Keep your pantry cool (not cold) and dry. “A normally active person should drink at least a half gallon of water each day,” Andress says. Flour/Wheat Berries. With all of these foods on hand, you’ll be eating well no matter what happens. Make a list of everything in your stockpile and check expiration dates every 6 to 12 months to keep things fresh. Buy replacements for your emergency food supply and use the old stuff before it expires. You can’t beat nature’s methods for making things that are both good and good for you. When the real deal isn’t an option, canned varieties can provide you with essential nutrients, making these a great hurricane food or natural disaster option. While you can get by for short periods of time with much less, for a prolonged period of time you’ll need to have a well-balanced diet. If you’re stuck indoors, keep a can of Sterno handy: Essentially heat in a can, it requires no electricity and can warm up small amounts of food in cookware. Nevertheless, eating strange food is better than not eating anything at all. I’m not talking about stocking up on Chicken Noodle soup here, but rather soups like cream of mushroom, which can be used for making casseroles. However, even with repackaging, not all foods will keep well for long periods of time.