Emergencies happen when you least expect them. Earthquakes, hurricanes, blizzards, forest fires and man-made disasters can happen at any moment. Be sure to put together an emergency plan for your family with a designated meeting area, keep important documents accessible and prepare a list of survival foods that can make a difference to how well your family fares during a disaster.
Canned Foods
Most canned and jarred foods have a long shelf life and are available across most of the food groups, making them appropriate survival foods. Purchase canned foods that do not require cooking, and avoid those that require the addition of milk, water or other liquids. The Alabama Hurricane Center recommends canned fruits packed in juice instead of syrup, vegetables, pre-cooked meats and fish, like tuna, chicken or ham, soups, stews and chili. Be sure to include a manual can opener in the survival kit.
Packaged Foods
As with canned foods, avoid packaged foods that require cooking, the addition of liquids or other special preparation. Purchase crackers, breakfast cereals, melba toast, bagel chips, granola or trail mix, chips, nuts, dried fruits, breadsticks and cookies. FEMA recommends purchasing salt-free crackers, breadsticks, and biscuits, as highly salted items may make you thirsty and water could be in short supply. Foods with a high fiber content help to make you feel full for a longer period, so purchase whole grain items whenever possible.
Condiments and Spreads
An assortment of condiments might seem excessive, but they can help to make even canned vegetables taste a bit better. Ketchup, honey, mustard and soy sauce might not have much nutritional value, but they may help to make some of the foods you stock a bit more palatable. Avoid condiments that require refrigeration after opening, like mayonnaise. Jarred spreads, like peanut, almond or cashew butter, are good sources of protein, and can substitute for sandwiches when spread on crackers or bagel chips.
Beverages
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that a person can live without food for more than one month, but he can only survive for roughly one week without water. Bottled water may be the most important thing that you pack in your survival kit, and you should pack plenty of it. Diet soda, juice boxes and packaged non-refrigerated milk or soy milk should also find their way onto your survival foods list. To help make plain water more palatable, pack powdered drink mixes, bouillon cubes, instant coffee, tea bags and hot cocoa mix.
Special Dietary Needs
Be sure to account for special dietary needs when preparing a survival food list. Pack sweets, like hard candies, for diabetics, powdered infant formula and jars of baby food for babies and gluten-free items for those with celiac disease.
Pet Food
Do not forget Fido and Kitty when packing your survival kit. Make sure that you stock up on canned and dry pet food, and count them in when planning your water supply.
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