Comprehensive Guide to Survival Food Storage:
Understanding Emergency Food Storage Basics
Before diving into specific recommendations, let’s start with some fundamental principles:
- Plan for a minimum of 2 weeks of food supply (FEMA recommendation)
- Calculate 2000 calories per person per day
- Consider dietary restrictions and preferences
- Account for pets and their specific needs
- Plan for both short-term and long-term storage options
Water Storage: Your First Priority
Recommended Quantities:
- 1 gallon per person per day (drinking and sanitation)
- Additional 0.5 gallons per pet
- Extra for food preparation and hygiene
Storage Solutions:
- Commercial Water Containers:
- Waterbrick (3.5 gallon stackable containers)
- Aqua-Tainer (7 gallon portable container)
- Legacy Premium water storage boxes
- DIY Storage Options:
- Clean 2-liter soda bottles
- Food-grade 5-gallon buckets
- Glass containers with tight seals
Water Treatment Options:
- LifeStraw Family water filter
- Berkey water filtration systems
- Aquatabs water purification tablets
- Sawyer Mini water filtration system
Non-Perishable Food Selection
Ready-to-Eat Basics:
- Protein Sources:
- Mountain House freeze-dried meat cans
- Kirkland canned chicken
- Wild Planet wild caught tuna
- SPAM (various flavors)
- Bush’s canned beans
- Carbohydrates:
- Lance Captain’s Wafers (individually wrapped)
- Ritz Crackers in stay-fresh packs
- Nature Valley granola bars
- Quaker instant oatmeal packets
- Healthy Fats:
- JIF Natural peanut butter
- Justin’s almond butter packets
- Trail mix with nuts and dried fruits
- Planters mixed nuts
Heating-Optional Foods (If You Have a Heat Source)
Recommended Equipment:
- Coleman Portable Butane Stove
- Jetboil Flash Cooking System
- Weber portable charcoal grill
Food Options:
- Quick-Cook Items:
- Mountain House freeze-dried meals
- Backpacker’s Pantry meals
- Instant rice packets
- Cup Noodles
- Beverage Options:
- Starbucks VIA instant coffee
- Swiss Miss hot chocolate packets
- Lipton tea bags
- Gatorade powder for electrolytes
Long-Term Storage Solutions
Storage Containers:
- Mylar bags with oxygen absorbents
- Food-grade 5-gallon buckets with gamma seal lids
- Vittles Vault stack-able containers
- Mason jars with oxygen absorbents
Bulk Storage Items:
- Grains:
- White rice
- Quick oats
- Pasta
- Flour (white)
- Legumes:
- Pinto beans
- Black beans
- Lentils
- Split peas
Comfort Foods and Treats
Shelf-Stable Options:
- M&Ms (plain, last longer than peanut)
- Twinkies (surprisingly long shelf life)
- Oreo’s cookies in individual packs
- Hard candies
- Chocolate-covered coffee beans
Organization and Rotation System
Storage Tips:
- Label everything with:
- Purchase date
- Expiration date
- Contents
- Serving size
- Organization Tools:
- Brother P-touch label maker
- Clear storage bins
- Shelf risers for visibility
- Whiteboard for inventory
Rotation Schedule:
- Check dates monthly
- Rotate stock quarterly
- Update inventory list
- Replace expired items
Special Considerations
Dietary Restrictions:
- Gluten-Free Options:
- Kind bars
- Thai Kitchen rice noodles
- Larabars
- GF crackers
- Dairy-Free Alternatives:
- Shelf-stable almond milk
- Coconut milk powder
- Dairy-free chocolate options
Family Input and Planning:
- Regular Family Meetings:
- Review food preferences
- Taste test new items
- Update storage based on changing needs
- Assign responsibilities
- Documentation:
- Keep a food inventory spreadsheet
- Note family preferences
- Track rotation schedule
- Document storage locations
Budget-Friendly Tips:
- Build gradually:
- Buy extra items during sales
- Use coupons and bulk discounts
- Watch for seasonal clearance
- Join store loyalty programs
- Start with what you eat:
- Begin with familiar brands
- Rotate through regular meals
- Add specialty items gradually
Remember: The best emergency food storage is one that your family will actually eat and that you buy regularly. Start small, build gradually, and focus on foods that align with your family’s preferences and dietary needs.