Assembling a comprehensive food survival kit is an essential step for new preppers seeking self-reliance in an emergency.
This guide will explore the must-have items for beginner preppers to create nutritious and long-lasting food stores for any crisis situation.
You'll discover the top 10 survival foods to stockpile, the role of MREs and meal replacement shakes, optimal storage solutions for decades of shelf life, and a step-by-step emergency readiness plan tailored for families.
Essential Steps to Assembling Your First Food Survival Kit
A food survival kit contains essential non-perishable food and supplies to sustain you and your family when shelves are bare. This intro explains why beginner preppers need one, and what the best survival food kits include.
Understanding the Role of a Food Survival Kit
A food survival kit is a collection of non-perishable food items and tools packed for emergencies when you cannot leave your home or stores are closed. Having an ample food survival kit ensures you and your family will have sustenance to rely on if a crisis shuts down regular access to groceries.
As a beginner prepper, a food survival kit should be one of your first priorities. It provides insurance against unpredictable events disrupting normal food supplies. Whether due to natural disasters, infrastructure failures, or civil unrest - having long shelf-life foods on hand takes uncertainty out of the equation.
When building your food survival kit, focus on nutrient-dense, non-perishable foods that don't require refrigeration. This includes freeze-dried meals, canned goods, grains, and more. You'll also need water as well as basic tools for cooking and eating without power.
When to Rely on Your Food Survival Kit
You may need your food survival kit during natural disasters like hurricanes, winter storms, floods or earthquakes. Infrastructure failures can also leave grocery stores emptied or without power for extended periods. Global supply chain issues, economic turmoil, pandemics, and civil unrest can all make buying food difficult too.
Having a stocked food survival kit means you don't panic if the unthinkable happens. You'll be as prepared as possible to shelter in place, relying on your supplies until regular grocery access is restored. For added insurance, a 25-year emergency food supply kit provides extensive sustenance through even long-term crises.
Nutritional Sufficiency: What a Food Survival Kit Provides
A well-stocked food survival kit can supply 2,000+ calories daily for each person and meet basic nutritional needs in an emergency. This includes sufficient protein, carbs, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Kits tailored for a Food Survival Kit family of 4 ensure proper nourishment for kids and teens too.
When choosing items for your food survival kit, select ready-to-eat foods as well as staples that only need water. Include high-protein options like beef jerky, tuna kits, peanut butter and dried beans. Carb sources like rice, pasta, oats and potato flakes are essential too.
With the right mix of goods, your food survival kit makes challenging scenarios more manageable - providing reliable, nutritious food until you can restock.
What do you put in a survival kit for food?
When building a food survival kit, especially for newcomers to prepping, it's important to focus on nutritious, non-perishable foods that don't require refrigeration and have a long shelf life. Some essentials to include are:
Ready-to-eat canned goods like meats, fruits, vegetables, soups, and beans. Go for pop-top cans when possible to avoid needing a can opener. Prioritize lean protein, fruits packed in juice (not syrup), and low-sodium veggie options.
Dried fruits and nuts for snacking. Raisins, cranberries, apricots, almonds, cashews, and more hold up well long-term. Trail mixes are handy grab-and-go options.
Cereals, granola bars, crackers for quick carbohydrate fuel. Look for whole grains and products fortified with vitamins and minerals.
Peanut butter and other nut butters pack protein, healthy fats, and potassium. The oils help stick to your ribs when active.
Powdered milk, juices, and electrolyte mixes to reconstitute when water is available. Help avoid dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
When sourcing survival food, prioritize established brands focused on emergency preparedness. ReadyWise, Mountain House, and Augason Farms have reputations for quality and transparency around sourcing, processing, and storage.
Start small with a 72-hour kit, then build up a 2 week supply as your budget allows. Handy tip: calculate food needs for your household based on 2,000 calories per person per day. An excel spreadsheet helps with planning varied meals and tracking expiration dates.
Stay tuned for more posts on building a layered food survival strategy to take your preparedness to the next level!
What are the top 10 survival foods?
When building a food survival kit, it's important to select non-perishable foods that are nutritious and will last a long time without refrigeration. Some of the best survival foods to include are:
Peanut Butter
An excellent source of protein and healthy fats. Choose natural peanut butter without added sugars. Peanut butter is versatile - you can eat it with crackers, fruit, or veggies.
Whole-Wheat Crackers
Provide essential carbs and fiber. Look for crackers without unhealthy hydrogenated oils. Pair crackers with peanut butter, cheese, or canned fish for a balanced snack.
Nuts and Trail Mixes
Great sources of protein, healthy fats, and antioxidants. Trail mixes with dried fruits and dark chocolate make tasty, nutrient-dense snacks. Just watch your portions since nuts are high in calories.
Breakfast Cereal
Choose whole grain cereals that are fortified with vitamins and minerals. Opt for low-sugar varieties to avoid an energy crash. Cereal can be eaten dry or with shelf-stable milk.
Granola Bars
Provide a quick energy boost and convenience. Seek out bars with at least 3-5 grams of protein and fiber, and minimal added sugars. Larabars, Kind bars, and Rx bars are healthy options.
Dried Fruits
Raisins, apricots, apples, cranberries, and bananas make portable, tasty fruits rich in antioxidants. Avoid sugary, processed fruit snacks - opt for unsweetened varieties. Pair dried fruits with unsalted nuts or seeds for fiber.
Canned Fish
Tuna, salmon, chicken, turkey, and other canned meats provide essential protein. Look for canned options packed in water rather than oils for heart-healthy omega-3s and convenience.
Canned Vegetables
Green beans, carrots, peas and other canned veggies provide key micronutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Rinse canned vegetables to reduce sodium content.
What foods should I stockpile for survival?
Food survival kits are a must-have for any prepper looking to ensure they have reliable access to nutritious, long-lasting food options when an emergency strikes. When building your food stockpile, focus on non-perishable foods that provide protein, fruits/vegetables, grains, and calcium. Great options include:
- Canned meats: Canned chicken, tuna, salmon, turkey, and stews are protein-packed and full of essential nutrients. Beef and beans also provide fiber and protein.
- Canned vegetables: Stock up on a variety of canned veggies like corn, peas, mixed vegetables, beans, carrots, and potatoes for vitamin-rich meals.
- Canned fruits: Canned pineapples, peach slices, pears, mixed fruit, and applesauce provide key nutrients and sweetness.
- Dried grains and cereals: Pastas, rice, oats, quinoa, and whole-grain cereals give you carbs for energy and fiber for good digestion.
- Shelf-stable milk and milk alternatives: Powdered milk, canned evaporated milk, and milk alternatives like almond or coconut milk supply calcium. Shelf-stable milk also works for cooking.
- Water pack: Stockpile bottled water, water pouches, or water packets. Plan to have 1 gallon of water per person, per day. Water filters and purification tablets are also essential survival gear.
Rotating your stock and storing foods properly is key to ensuring a long shelf-life for your food survival kit. Focus on staples with long expiration dates to get you through any short or long-term emergency.
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Why is Costco selling emergency food kits?
Costco recently began offering emergency food kits on its website, including a 6,200-serving Nutristore meal kit priced at $999.99. This may seem surprising given Costco's focus on bulk goods, but the retailer identified a growing consumer demand for disaster preparedness products.
As one Costco buyer explained: "The idea came about making a great starter kit for a family who wanted to prepare for any kind of disaster. This is a great value with shipping included."
Many families want to have an emergency food survival kit ready in case of natural disasters, power outages, or other crises. Costco's kits offer nutritious food with a decades-long shelf life at affordable prices. Even Costco's lower-end 6,200-serving kit provides ample survival rations for most households.
The demand clearly exists amongst Costco's customer base. And as major weather events become more common, more families seek emergency food supply kits as an insurance policy.
Costco caters well to disaster prep needs with value bulk pricing. So they intelligently expanded offerings to include full meal kits - meeting customer demand while staying true to their business model.
Tailoring Your Food Survival Kit for a Family of Four
When stocking your food survival kit, prioritize nutrient-dense non-perishables with a long shelf life that your family will actually eat, especially if you're prepping a food survival kit for a family of 4. Choosing foods that provide a balance of macronutrients while accommodating any dietary restrictions is key.
Selecting Staple Foods for Long-Term Storage
Include rice, beans, oats, wheat, pasta, peanut butter, nuts, dried fruits, bouillon cubes, and other non-perishable basics to form the foundation of your stockpile. Opt for whole grains whenever possible and choose items with a shelf life of at least 10 years. Storing staples in airtight containers will prolong freshness. Consider adding some comfort foods like chocolate, coffee, or tea bags to lift spirits during an emergency.
Balancing Nutrition with Comfort Foods
Though comfort foods like candy, cookies, coffee, tea, and cocoa can provide emotional support during stressful times, it's important to limit these items to less than 10% of your food survival kit. The majority should consist of nutritionally dense foods like canned fish, fruits, vegetables, soups, and nut butters. Shelf-stable milk, dried eggs, and meat bars also supply protein.
Accommodating Special Dietary Requirements
If anyone in your family requires gluten-free, diabetic friendly, or other specialty foods, be sure to stock nutritionally equivalent items tailored to meet their needs. Shelf-stable almond milk, gluten-free oats, sugar-free candy/snacks, and high protein, low carb bars can help accommodate restricted diets.
Estimating the Necessary Quantities for Sustenance
Experts recommend stockpiling at least a 2 week supply of food per person, but expanding that to 3-6 months’ worth is ideal. Calculate amounts based on daily recommended calorie intake needs per family member. Adults require ∼2,000 calories per day minimum. Don't forget to account for any pets in your household as well! Regularly cycle out and replenish items before expiration dates.
Integrating MREs and ReadyWise Food into Your Survival Plan
In addition to traditional food items, MRE survival food and ReadyWise Food options can offer convenience and variety to your emergency provisions. When building your food survival kit, consider integrating some MREs and ReadyWise meals.
The Convenience of MRE Survival Food
MREs, or Meals Ready to Eat, are portable, shelf-stable meals commonly used by militaries and preppers. MREs come in a variety of entrees, sides, and desserts, offering convenient nutrition when you don't have electricity or refrigeration.
Some benefits of MRE survival food include:
- Long shelf life - MREs can last 5+ years when stored properly
- Self-contained - No refrigeration, prep, pots/pans, or utensils needed
- Portable - Lightweight and compact for bug out bags or vehicles
- Weather resistant - Won't spoil due to heat, cold, or moisture
- Calorie dense - Each MRE provides about 1200 calories
When stocking your food survival kit, MREs make excellent additions alongside traditional canned and dried goods. They provide convenience and portability if you need to evacuate quickly.
Consider storing a 2-week supply of MREs for each family member. Favorites like chili mac, chicken breast, and blueberry cobbler offer comfort food in an emergency. 🍲
Exploring ReadyWise Food Solutions
For long-term emergency planning, ReadyWise Food offers freeze-dried meals with a 25-year shelf life. These buckets contain varieties like breakfast scrambles, chicken Alfredo pasta, cheesy broccoli soup, and more.
Benefits of ReadyWise Food include:
- Extreme shelf life - Stays fresh for decades
- Space efficient - Just add water to prepare
- Emergency power outage plan - No cooking/cooling needed
- Nutritious comfort foods - Favorite meal varieties
ReadyWise makes an excellent addition to a food survival kit. Their Entree Variety Bucket provides 32 servings of assorted entrees to supplement other canned goods. For larger families, the 1 Year Food Supply contains over 300 total servings.
Having a multi-year stock of freeze-dried foods ensures you can wait out long-term disasters or food shortages calmly. 💪
Tools for Food Preparation and Consumption
To get the most out of your food survival kit during an extended power outage, consider packing the following:
- Camp stove, propane burner, or Sterno - Allows heating food without electricity
- Pots, pans, knives, can opener, plates, cups, utensils - Needed to prepare meals
- Reusable water bottles and water purification tablets
- Paper towels, napkins, wet wipes
A simple camp stove and mess kit will enable you to heat up canned food, boil pasta, make coffee, and more even without power. Stocking the preparation and cleanup tools helps keep your food survival kit ready for action.
Illuminating Your Space in the Dark
It's frustrating trying to cook and eat in the dark! Ensure you can illuminate your space with:
- LED flashlights and headlamps so you can see
- Battery powered lanterns for ambient light
- Glow sticks, candles, matches to quickly add lighting
- Hand crank or battery powered radio for news and weather alerts
Safely seeing your food, water, stove, and surfaces prevents spills or burns. Plus a radio helps you stay updated if the power outage grows prolonged. ⚡️
With some planning, your food survival kit can keep your family nourished for days, weeks, or even years when catastrophe strikes. Combine traditional canned goods with convenient MREs and long-shelf-life ReadyWise meals for optimal emergency eating. 🍴 Bon appétit!
Storing and Preserving Your Food Survival Kit for Decades
Use best practices like rotation, labeling, mylar bags, and oxygen absorbers to maximize shelf life of emergency food and aim for a 25-year emergency food supply.
Optimizing Storage with Food-Grade Containers
When building your food survival kit, it's crucial to store your food properly to maximize freshness and longevity. Food-grade plastic buckets with gasket lids are ideal for protecting emergency food supplies from moisture, pests, light exposure, and other elements that can cause spoilage.
Look for buckets designed specifically for long term food storage, made from #2 high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. They should have a gamma seal lid with an rubber o-ring gasket to create an airtight seal. Popular brands used by preppers include Gamma Seal lids and Snapware plastic buckets.
Properly sealed buckets keep oxygen and humidity out. This prevents the growth of bacteria, molds, and yeasts that require air and moisture to multiply. An airtight container also keeps pests out, eliminating concerns over insects or rodents getting into your food reserves.
The opaque plastic protects the contents from light exposure which can degrade vitamins and nutrients over time. The screw top lids make containers easy to open and reseal as needed during rotation or when accessing your food supply during an emergency.
Having multiple smaller buckets allows you to open only what you need at a time. This reduces air exposure and prevents wasting any unused portions. Label each individual container with contents and date to efficiently rotate your stock.
Enhancing Longevity with Mylar Bag Packaging
While plastic buckets provide excellent protection, adding a layer of defense with mylar bags can extend shelf life even further. Mylar bags create an additional moisture and oxygen barrier that enhances food preservation.
Mylar is an extremely durable, puncture-resistant metallic plastic film. When used with an oxygen absorber inside, mylar bags prevent air and moisture from reaching the contents. This effectively puts the food in a state of hibernation, stopping the chemical reactions and biological growth that cause spoilage.
Popular brands like MylarBags.com provide high-quality bags designed specifically for food storage usage. Look for thickness of at least 5 mil to withstand potential sharp corners or edges from the contents inside.Include an oxygen absorber in each bag before sealing to maximize freshness.
Mylar bags make it easy to visually identify contents at a glance. Using a permanent marker, be sure to label with product names, quantities, and pack date for efficient rotation. With proper packaging, food can last over 25 years stored this way.
Securing a 25-Year Shelf Life with Oxygen Absorbers
When paired with airtight food grade buckets and mylar bags, oxygen absorbers are the final step to ensuring long term viability of your emergency food supply.
Oxygen absorbers are small packets containing iron powder that actively absorbs oxygen from the enclosed space where it is placed. This arrested state with no available oxygen essentially stops the spoilage process.
Look for 2000cc capacity oxygen absorbers to place in 5 gallon buckets, and 500cc absorbers for smaller 1 gallon containers. Activating the packets requires exposing them to air, so only open them right before placing in your container and sealing it.
With an oxygen absorber inside, foods can be preserved for decades. Over a 25 year shelf life is possible for items like grains, beans, rice, pasta, dried fruits and vegetables. The lack of oxygen also prevents oxidation which protects against degradation of vitamins and prevents rancidity of fats. By absorbing ambient oxygen, it also helps prevent rust and corrosion of any metals or utensils stored inside the container.
Maintaining Order with Clear Labeling
When building large food stockpiles spanning months or years of reserves, organization is critical. Clearly labeling each individual container maintains order and ensures efficient rotation through your supply.
Include key details like contents, quantity, and pack date. When you open a container to use items from your reserves, you can note the date opened. This allows easy identification of which packages have been exposed to air and should be used next before opening a new supply.
An organized, detailed labeling system prevents food waste by ensuring that older items get used first. You can efficiently cycle through supplies as you continually expand reserves. Proper labeling also allows you to take inventory and identify when certain products need replenishing in your stockpile.
With each food type stored in dated mylar bags inside sealed buckets, you can feel confident your survival supplies will remain fresh and usable for decades to come. Follow this comprehensive food storage strategy and you'll be fully prepared even in extended emergencies.
Conclusion: Step-by-Step Readiness for Long-Term Food Security
As a new prepper, take small steps over time to compile your food survival kit. With some planning now, you can rest assured your family will be cared for during difficult times ahead.
Crafting a Comprehensive Emergency Response Plan
Having an emergency response plan is crucial for ensuring your family's safety in a crisis. Start by outlining key communication protocols in case family members are separated, including designated meeting spots and contact methods. Also consider evacuation routes, shelter-in-place strategies, and contingency plans tailored to different disaster scenarios like earthquakes, storms, or prolonged power outages. Getting everyone on the same page ahead of time leads to quicker, more decisive action when it matters most.
Approaching Prepping with a Measured Budget
Stockpiling enough emergency food for your household can get expensive quickly. To avoid overwhelming your budget, break costs down into smaller monthly targets for purchasing key items over time. Prioritize necessities like water, freeze-dried foods with long shelf lives, and fuel for cooking. Spread non-perishable grocery items into your normal shopping lists as well. With some discipline, you can build comprehensive food reserves without breaking the bank.
Ensuring Freshness through Regular Rotation
To get the most value from your food survival kit, make it a habit to check expiration dates and conduct an inventory check twice per year. As you approach expiration on certain items, incorporate them into regular meal planning to ensure freshness. Then replenish your stock with new supplies. This rotation system prevents waste so your kit contains only what your family is likely to depend on in an actual disaster scenario.
