Emergency Rations-What to Stockpile

We haven’t talked about emergency rations lately. We need to hear again and again even though it may seem redundant. An emergency or catastrophic event could happen at any moment. Depending on where you live, a tornado, hurricane, tsunami, wildfire, or even an EMP attack could turn your whole world upside down.

Heck, scientists and representatives in office have been crying about global warming for decades now and warning of the dire consequences. I am not talking about global warming today, just emergency preparedness.

One of these days, sooner or later, there is a good chance you or members of your family will be faced with an emergency where we need to have survival food set aside. We often think of disasters as the only type of emergency to worry about and have an emergency food supply for. In fact, more common are loss of job, sickness or accident prompting time away from work, loss of the breadwinner family member, etc. So, how are you prepared to feed your family in these or other emergencies?

Chances are, you’re not. But don’t worry; we’re here to help you figure that out. Here are several of The Best Emergency Preparedness Items You Need At Work

What to Stockpile for Emergency Rations

Did you know you can start saving money by stockpiling food? While I’ve begun my Minimalism Journey, I have no problem having emergency food rations for survival.

Consumable Water

While water is certainly not in the food category, it will prove vital in your survival in the first week after an emergency.

Most people use around one gallon a day to survive, according to some organizations like the American Red Cross. Based on that suggestion and depending on the size of your family, you should try to plan on how much water you’d need to store for a minimum supply of 2 weeks’ worth of water. I struggle to see how you can survive on that amount when you have to maintain sufficient water for hydration and possibly some cooking, minimal personal hygiene, and limited laundry.

For a family of 4, that’s 56 gallons of water at just one gallon a day for each person! That’s to survive for two weeks, not counting for other purposes besides drinking. This is the bare minimum for water. Four people times one gallon for one week is 28 gallons or 56 gallons for 14 days.

I highly recommend 4 gallons of water per person per day. Please store enough water for your family to survive. So, a family of four using 4 gallons daily for 7 days would be 112 gallons for the week. So, two weeks would be 224 gallons. Now let’s talk about this: yes, that’s a lot of water, but you may not use 4 gallons daily. You can skip bathing or washing dishes if you have paper plates. I would rather have too much water than not enough, but you have to have water to survive!

Protein Bars

A quick breakfast meal with protein and protein bars can also help hold you over until your next meal. Plus, you can switch it up with bars containing fruit, chocolate, or extra granola. 

Peanut Butter

Most children won’t know how to cope without peanut butter, let alone dad, who occasionally sneaks a spoon. Peanut butter is one of those foods with a good amount of protein to help with nutrition.

You don’t want to go to the grocery store for peanut butter in an emergency. Get it now so you’re ready.

Nuts and Trail Mix

Nuts and trail mix provide much-needed energy with protein and other vitamins and minerals. It wouldn’t hurt to have a good supply of honey-roasted nuts for a sweeter salty snack. Please store them in the freezer.

Jerky

Jerky is not only a delicious snack, but it’s packed with protein that will help sustain people with a healthier diet of fats. Jerky is preserved to last for a more extended period than other meat products. Check it out. 

Canned Meats

Stocking up on canned meats such as tuna, canned chicken, and beef chunks will be one way of keeping meat on the menu, as it’s preserved to last for years. I buy a lot of Costco canned chicken breast, and I also love the Keystone brand. Check the ingredients; it’s meat and salt in the ones I buy without a bunch of preservatives.

I consider canned meats as shelf-stable items for long-term storage. No, they don’t last 25 years like some of the freeze-dried foods you may have in your food stockpile. However, as non-perishable foods, you can count on most of them to last one to two years.

Canned Soups

Like canned meats, canned soups are quick and easy, but we’re also talking about the cream of soups. Cream of soups provides broth and a base for many meals for more flavor. Some canned foods can also go beyond expiration dates. I’ve had cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, cream of celery, and cream of potato soup varieties in my emergency preparedness kit for years. I inventory and remove or use them before they go bad. I used two cans of chicken soup tonight as we made dinner.

Dried Fruits

For a healthy, sweet option, try purchasing dried fruits to enjoy. If you can get some freeze-dried fruit from a commercial company, they have a long shelf-life, but check before you buy. I like the products from Thrive Life, and they come in #10 and pantry-size cans. We especially enjoy the bananas, apples, and pineapple fruits. You can eat the freeze-dried food products right out of the can as a treat.

Canned Vegetables and Beans

Another great source of vitamins and protein would be canned veggies and beans. From experience, you’ll notice that they also last for a long time! We have corn, peas, green beans, kidney beans, beets, and other veggies we enjoy. The key in storing food is to have items your family likes to eat! We also have several veggies as freeze-dried storage items.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal and oats are going to be a great source of fiber. Plus, they store it for an extended period. This is also a good stored food to have on hand to mix with other food items as you strive to feed your family healthy meals during emergencies and just day-to-day meal prep.

Honey

Stock up on it even if you don’t eat a lot of honey. It’s a sweetener that will make your oatmeal taste so much better. Honey can also be used for several medical purposes, including healing a sore throat and boosting your immune system. 

Sugar

You gotta have sugar! It will be nice to have something sweet to eat, but it can also help preserve food. Get it in the 5-25 pound bags and save money. Please remember not to use oxygen absorbers with sugar or salt; they will become bricks. 

Salt

Another seasoning that will keep food from tasting bland is salt, which is also a preserver. You might not have known it, but it can also help kill bacteria. BBC Science Focus

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar will create a salad dressing, clean and preserve food, and remedy endless medical problems.

It’s even helpful in losing weight, although, after an apocalyptic event, you’ll probably be losing weight just fine without it. 

Rice and Beans

Rice and beans are every prepper’s go-to cheap foods that can create a complete meal with far less. Plus, beans can provide plenty of protein in your diet. Instant rice might not be as nutritional, but it stores better than brown rice. We all love fresh foods, but fresh means perishable food that won’t last long, even in the fridge. Get used to the idea of having foods with a long shelf life and learn to plan meals around their use.

Pasta

Pasta lasts forever, so it would seem to be a good food item to stockpile. While it might not be great for your diet, it will help your meals be more filling, especially if you’re rationing meals for an extended period. 

Whole Grains/White Flour

How are you supposed to have bread if you don’t stock up on whole grains? The answer is you won’t. Whole grains are a healthy option that lasts for an indefinite amount of time. When you store wheat berries, you’ll need a wheat grinder, and you’ll need to know how to make whole wheat bread; that is, if you want to, there will be no pressure from me.

If you store white flour, you can make bread, and trust me, it’s easier than you think, my friends. White Bread

I realize some people have Gluten issues, and they know what to do for their health needs. I have never had good luck making GF bread. It costs too much to make anyway. I have a few family members who can’t have gluten, and they don’t eat any bread, ever.

As you plan your ration of food products, consider those who may have food allergies.

Coffee/Hot Cocoa

Just imagine going for the rest of your life without coffee. For some of you, that’s unimaginable and is an end-of-the-world scenario in and of itself. Instant coffee lasts longer than the beans I have heard, so I stock this brand. Jacobs Velvet, and here is my favorite Hot Cocoa

Some people can’t even function without it, so if you’re one of those people, ensure you have a healthy supply. It also can be a great barter item if you want to trade for other valuable items to complete your meal prep efforts.

Cooking Oil 

Without cooking oil, you won’t be able to do a lot of baking. Some cooking may not even be an option. Please remember most oils only have a shelf-life of one to two years.

Coconut oil will last a little longer. When in doubt, stock powdered shortening has a three-year shelf-life (Thrive Life). Crisco Shortening USDA (8 months unopened and 3 months opened), yikes, that’s not very long.

Vodka

Now, we’re not telling you to drink your problems away or for you to “tap out,” in other words. No, vodka will help relieve any pain you might be in, including an awful toothache. It also might be an item you can cook with or barter with. 

Chocolate Chips

While chocolate chips don’t provide many health benefits to your diet, they could improve your morale, especially if you’re a huge chocolate lover. Today, you can get 32 ounces of Nestle Tollhouse dark chocolate chips for around $12.99 plus taxes at Costco, but cheaper than the 11-ounce bags at grocery stores.

Being able to open a bag of chocolate might work wonders for you and your family mentally by helping you return to some normalcy.

Chocolate chips can usually be stored for around one year, but hey, it’s chocolate; you’d probably eat it no matter how outdated.

Powdered Milk or Instant Milk

For some families, milk is just as important as food and water. Make sure you’re prepared to have milk on hand for emergency rations.

I only buy Thrive Life instant freeze-dried milk because it has a 25-year unopened shelf life and 2 years opened. I store my opened can in the fridge. So please check your brand if you stock milk.

Infant Formula

If you have little ones in your home, don’t forget their needs. If they are toddlers, baby food is also a must.

Quick Meals and Treats

Mark has cereals of various kinds every morning. They aren’t a long shelf life item, but he rotates his bags and buys enough for about two months each time he shops for cereal at Walmart. We also have a drawer with a variety of crackers we rotate as needed to keep them fresh. I love crackers with homemade cream cheese and pineapple dip when I feel like a late-night treat. Don’t tell anyone, but that’s my go-to treat to enjoy in bed!

Final Word

These are several emergency ration items that you need to start stockpiling shortly. Just remember to rotate your supply every year or two, or shorter, if necessary. I would stock several #10 cans of freeze-dried food, but only the kind your family will eat. UPDATE: I only buy pantry-size cans from Thrive Life and canned goods from stores when they are on sale during case lot sales.

If you’ve been stockpiling for a long time, what foods are you storing in your emergency pantries? Let me know your ideas so I can share them with my readers. May God bless this world, Linda

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