Disasters by their very nature are unpredictable and cause chaos of all kinds. In particular, an impending food shortage could worsen your situation if it turns out that you are ill-prepared for the aftermath. You need to know which foods qualify as emergency foods and to get them in good time before they run out at the food stores or supermarkets.
Emergency Food Survival Kits
While many people know the best food to stockpile during such times, others make colossal mistakes that lead to food wastage or unplanned overuse doing the period of disaster. One way to avoid this is to consider picking up survival food kits prepared to last several years without compromising nutritional needs and the much-needed high-calorie count. Again picking these up much earlier gives you a head start before public panic kicks in rather than waiting it out.
Below are some of the ultimate survival foods to stockpile when faced with a disaster.
1.Powdered (Dry) Milk
Compared to other foods such as mushrooms and grains, powdered milk includes complete protein levels with all the important amino acids that the body is unable to produce for the regeneration of muscle.
2.Canned Food
One of the best attributes of canned food is a solid shelf life, which can last up to three years. There is also no need to cook them so you also save on gas by just opening and eating. Possible canned foods include chicken, beef, spam, corned beef, fruits, relishes, tomatoes, corned beef, soup, spam, cucumbers, and cauliflower. The rule of thumb with canned food is to buy whatever you can comfortably eat straight from the can.
3.Dried Beans
Beans can last many years and you can choose from kidney beans, pinto, and black beans, etc. They have an estimated shelf life ranging from two to thirty years and you can maximize on this by storing them in a dark, dry, and cool place inside vacuum packaging. Poor storage prolongs their cooking time and you might need a pressure cooker to speed up the cooking.
4.Pasta
Pasta is a favorite food for many. It is rich in calories and iron, vitamin B. Mylar bags that contain oxygen absorbers preserve them well for up to 15 years but they shouldn’t be eaten as a single meal without any other accompaniment.
5.Whole Grains
Wheat, barley, rye are among the whole grains you can stockpile instead of flour since flour has a shorter life than the whole grains. Consider investing in a grinder when stockpiling on whole grains to get a fine product in the end.
6.Honey
Honey also boasts a long shelf life in addition to giving you a lot of energy needed to keep strong during the disaster. Honey is also known for its medicinal properties and these can come in handy when the need arises.
7.Dried Hazelnuts
Nuts have healthy fats and proteins and if you freeze them at 32F or 0C, they will have a long shelf life of almost 2 years. Go for unsalted and shell-cased that pack essential vitamins and minerals, some fatty acids, and a bit of protein.
8.Peanut Butter
Protein contains lots of protein and fatty acids essential for your body but choose brands that are ‘natural’. When it comes to peanut butter, you have to look for a good brand and store it in a dry, cool, and dark place. Peanut butter can last for ten years.
9.Rice
Brown rice is rich in calories and protein with a reasonable shelf life but the preparation time takes longer than white rice. White rice is a better survival food than the brown rice because of its very long shelf life. Brown rice contains oils that oxidize faster hence shortening its shelf life, unlike white rice which boasts a shelf life of 4 years plus. While brown rice may not be as long lasting, it will offer you a long absorption rate, minerals, and vitamins. For stockpiling white rice is better for your family if the pandemic is predicted to last much longer.
10. Pink Salmon
Pink salmon has a shelf life of six years. It normally comes as canned foods and once you open it you should eat it within two to three days. Keep it frozen until you are done with it. They are rich in calories, fat, sodium, protein, carbohydrates, and more nutrients.
11. Sugar
Sugar can stay for life but always ensure that you store sugar in Mylar bags to lock out oxygen absorbers. The main benefit is carbohydrate and energy.
12. Cocoa Powder
Cocoa powder can last for about 2 years, and you can use it for making brownies, chocolate shakes, cookies, chocolate fudge, etc.
13. Freeze-Dried Food
Freeze-dried foods are ideal for the bug out bag as it is very lightweight and you will need to remove water. To eat these foods, you will need a lot of water to get food.
14. Chocolate/Energy Bars
Chocolate is tasty and provides a great source of energy in an instant but might be costly. They pack enough proteins and several nutrients to boost your morale both during and during the disaster period.
15. Water
Although water is not a kind of food, it is also very critical if you are to survive days, weeks, and even months of a particular disaster. Find out if your regular water supply will not be interrupted and plan accordingly for your cooking, drinking, and cleaning water needs.
Conclusion
Despite having an array of survival food options to choose from, you should consider the practicality of their weight, storage space needed, packaging material used, and ease of preparation. The ultimate aim of survival foods is to prevent spoilage while in a state to last long enough to be suitable for human consumption.
Pay attention to food weight. Most people buy survival foods assuming they will stay grounded in one place for long. However, should the nature of the disaster demand evacuation, your choice of survival foods should be the last thing weighing you down because of excess weight.
