With everything going on in the news lately, being prepared for an emergency is more important than ever. Part of that means keeping a well-stocked pantry. In case the food supply chain gets disrupted or there is a run on the grocery stores, you don’t want you and your family to be left going hungry.
Being without food is pretty much the last thing you want to happen during a disaster. That’s why we’ve made a list of the top survival foods every family should have in their home if they want to be prepared.
From beans and rice to other more exciting things such as jars of local honey, these are the 37 foods that you never want to be without. They’ll keep you well-fed when times get tough, and the best part is that most of them last for years.
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flickr
1. Honey
It’s great for when you need a quick boost of energy to propel you through the difficult tasks required to survive in an emergency. If it’s local honey, it will also help desensitize you to pollen in the area and provide you with some allergy relief. Honey has a pretty much an indefinite shelf life so you never have to worry about it going bad either.
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PickPik
2. Canned Salmon
Salmon is a great source of protein as well as Omega-3 fatty acids. The best type is Alaskan wild salmon as it is less likely to have contaminants in it like some fish from other regions of the world. It comes pre-cooked and you can eat it straight out of the can.
Source:
Susan Slater
3. Iodized Salt
Salt has always been important throughout history and for good reason. Not only can it be used to preserve meats or flavor dishes, but it also provides essential minerals. Most modern salt is iodized which can help prevent thyroid issues.
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Bru-nO
4. Brown Rice
Brown rice is inexpensive, calorie-dense, and as far as grains go, very healthy. If you store it in an airtight container in a dry and cool place, it can last years. However, it’s best to make it a regular part of your family’s dinners and replace the rice in storage every three to six months.
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HighPix_Syb
5. Protein Powder
A protein shake is a great meal replacement option when you are in survival mode and need to feed your muscles. They are really simple to mix up. Just combine water with the powder and shake. The protein will help to satiate your hunger, keeping you feeling full much longer than you would if you ate mostly carbohydrates.
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Pikrepo
6. Canned Fruits
They are delicious and healthy. We recommend something like canned pineapples or peaches as the cans will contain a lot of liquid in addition to the fruit. It will help provide calories while also keeping you hydrated.
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USDA / Bob Nichols
7. Dried Beans
Legumes are calorie-dense food that pack a lot of punch. For their weight and size, you can’t really ask for much better. They are a staple longterm survival food. The only downside is that they must be soaked for several hours before cooking to soften them up.
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PickPik
8. Instant Oatmeal
It’s important to have some foods on hand that are able to be prepared rapidly. Instant oatmeal or oats isn’t high in fat or protein, however, it can be made with very little effort. Simply mix it with hot water and wait two minutes or cold water and wait for 10 to 20 minutes.
Source:
Mx. Granger
9. Dehydrated Milk & Eggs
Milk powder stays good in the pantry for around two years. Egg powder is similar. Both of them are great sources of protein and fats and will do the body good in times of need when you don’t have access to your regular fresh milk or eggs.
Source:
pxfuel
10. Bulk Nuts
Any type will do, but you might as well get a variety. We recommend Brazil nuts, almonds, cashews, and walnuts. However, there are tons of different possibilities. Each quarter cup of nuts often contains a whopping 180 calories or so on average.
Source:
maxmann
11. Meals Ready-To-Eat
In the military, they are commonly known as MRE’s. These pre-made meals are made exactly for high-stress survival situations where you don’t have time to think about food. They are easy to prepare and last a very long time in storage.
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Muttley
12. Hard Cheeses
You want the kinds that are encased in wax as it will help to preserve them. It blocks mold and bacteria out while trapping a little bit of moisture in, keeping the cheese fresh. Parmesan can last encased in wax for up to 25 years.
Source:
pxhere
13. Peanut Butter
You can’t go wrong with peanut butter as a survival food. It’s one of the tastiest snack foods in the world and has a lot of calories. We recommend going with natural peanut butter and avoiding the ones loaded up with extra sugar.
Source:
Penarc
14. Chocolate Bars
Most people would never think of stockpiling chocolate bars, although, you might be happy that you did. When you’re in an emergency situation for the long haul, an occasional chocolate bar is a great way to reward yourself and uplift your spirits.
Source:
Max Pixel
15. Protein Bars
There are a wide variety of options to choose from. The most popular are probably Clif bars and Luna bars. However, it’s best to try some different ones to see which type you like the best. All of them have differing macronutrient ratios, but at the very least, each of them will contain significant amounts of protein.
Source:
Mike Mozart
16. Trail Mix
You can buy it pre-mixed or make your own at home with your individual ingredients. Ask the backpackers and hikers in your family for tips. People in the outdoors community have been surviving on trail mix for generations.
Source:
Summer Woods
17. Canned Meats
We’ve already covered salmon, however, pretty much every type of meat you can think of can also be found in a can. You can even get canned ground beef. In a survival situation, meat is going to be your best bet for a long term source of protein.
Source:
USFDA
18. Jerky
Beef jerky is what most people go for, but there is also turkey jerky, pork jerky, and even alligator jerky. We recommend the teriyaki flavored kind. Because of its dehydrated nature, you can chew on some types of jerky for hours.
Source:
Keegan Evans
19. Coffee
The last thing you want to have to deal with during an emergency is caffeine withdrawal. You can either get coffee beans or instant coffee. If the containers are unopened, both of them have a very long shelf life.
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1195798
20. Crackers
Wholegrain crackers have higher nutritional value than sugary crackers. They might not be calorie-dense, but they are an excellent snack food. They can even be used to replace bread when you are eating your canned meats and cheeses.
Source:
Thomson200
21. Drink Mixes
Certain drink mixes like Tang have been a survival staple for as long as we can remember. They are a nice change of pace from water. In addition, they provide necessary vitamins such as Vitamin C, as well as electrolytes.
Source:
Jorge Lascar
22. Sea Vegetables
These superfoods are flying off the shelf in health food stores. Although, you’ve probably never heard of them. They are often dried and sold as powdered super greens and contain kelp, chlorella, etc. They are all full of nutrients.
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Rhinopias
23. Cereal
You can either buy it in bulk or get smaller individual cereal boxes. It depends on how fast you plan on eating it. If it’s just you in a survival situation, you might want to go with single-serving boxes. However, a family will likely need big boxes.
Source:
Mads Bodker
24. Cooking Oil
It’s an often overlooked but crucial survival item. Coconut oil is a great one as well as olive oil. Both have a shelf life of around two years. You can cook pretty much anything in these two oils. Butter can be stored longterm also but must be frozen.
Source:
AngelaMButsch
25. Canned Vegetables
Vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. Unfortunately, if you start a garden, it’s going to take a while to see results. A good supply of canned vegetables will hold you over in the meantime.
Source:
ParentingPatch
26. Whole Wheat Flour & Bread Mixes
Flour is a great multipurpose kitchen item. White flour is okay too but has less overall nutritional value. Although, it’s not a bad idea to include some indulgent items in your pantry as well. We recommend pancake mix.
Source:
congerdesign
27. Leavening Agents
While we’re on the subject of baking, you’ll also want to stock up on baking powder, baking soda, and dry yeast — instant dry yeast has the longest shelf life. These leavening agents are required if you want to make good bread.
Source:
Lou Sander
28. Dried Fruit
Fresh fruit will likely be hard to come by in a disaster. After all, depending on where you live, it only grows during very limited seasons. However, dried fruit can easily be stored for at least a year or more.
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yamada taro
29. Dried Corn
It comes in many different forms including cornmeal, grits, and even popcorn (buy the kernels and pop it fresh). Corn is essentially both a vegetable and a grain. It’s a two-for-one deal.
Source:
Bill Ebbesen
30. Multivitamins
These are good to have on hand just to cover all of your bases. It’s likely you won’t be getting a lot of variety in your diet if you are in a crisis situation. A multivitamin can help to fill in for whatever you’re missing.
Source:
Kelly Perazzolo
31. Stuffings & Bread Crumbs
Stuffing is a great side dish for any meal. It is a filling comfort food that will remind you of good times from the past. You can also mix the bread crumbs up with your cans of meat to make salmon cakes or crab cakes.
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torange.biz
32. Condiments
You don’t want to forget the condiments. Sure, they aren’t absolutely necessary. However, some bottles of ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and soy sauce will really make your life a lot better.
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marthacorona
33. Soups
Soup is a full meal that is ready to go when you buy it in canned form. If you are desperate, you don’t even need to heat it up. If you have a bit more prep time, there are also dried soup mixes you can store and turn into a tasty lunch sometime down the road.
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Van Tan Tran
34. Pastas
You can store pasta for pretty much forever. Feel free to store some tomato sauce with the pasta too. However, it’s not entirely necessary. It’s easy to make a simple sauce in the future out of olive oil, garlic, and fresh tomatoes. If you want something even simpler, they also sell pre-made macaroni and cheese mixes as well as casserole mixes at supermarkets.
Source:
pxhere
35. Herbs & Spices
The seasonings are an important part of every meal. Some simple herbs and spices will help to keep you sane in a time of emergency. After you’ve been eating bland food for months, a splash of spices can make you feel like you’re in a five-star restaurant.
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pxhere
36. Jellies & Jams
If you are feeling up to it, you can make your own jellies and seal them longterm in mason jars. That’s what a lot of prepping enthusiasts do. However, store-bought jellies are certainly fine as well.
Source:
Max Pixel
37. Sugar
If you are baking bread, you will need a little bit of sugar. It’s what makes the yeast rise. It’s a very useful thing to have on hand (as well as molasses). However, if you are buying it in the paper or plastic bags, make sure to transfer it to a jar for storage. It will last much longer that way.
Source:
Zeyus Media
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