6 Emergency Foods Every Family Should Store

  There are many people in the world that walk around with an “it won’t happen to me” attitude; they feel like a crisis situation is only something they see other people go through while they watch the nightly news and enjoy a slice of pizza. The truth is… no one is immune to disaster. Mother Nature is a beast and her wrath comes in many forms; floods, fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes can affect you and your family’s lives in a big way, and they will often show up unannounced with destruction on their agenda.   This year has been especially chaos-filled in the disaster department and it is giving people a lot to think about.

One question on many peoples mind is: “Do I have enough (or proper) food storage for survival?” Your diet may consist of frozen dinners and fast food (no judgment, we all love a quick burger and fries), but what happens when disaster strikes and the power goes out? ; Here is a look at survival foods that every person/family should have in their home. Better safe than sorry (or hungry, right?)  

1. Dried Fruit

  Fresh fruit is super delicious, but the keyword in that statement is “fresh.” In an emergencysituation it will most likely be something that is difficult to find. Fruits pack a large vitamin punch and give the body a healthy dose of necessary fiber. Freeze-dried fruit can be a healthy alternative snack in a time of crisis.  

2. Canned Goods

  Canned foods, in general, have a long shelf life and the variety of tastiness available is endless. It is a great way to have a supply of fruits, vegetables, and protein. The bonus factor of canned foods is (although it is often more delicious when heated) most canned foods are fully cooked and ready to eat as is. This can be a blessing when electricity is not an option.    

3. Peanut Butter

  Packed with protein and fatty acids, which are both important nutrients for a healthy body, peanut butter is not only delicious but can have a big impact on your energy level.  

4. Freeze Dried & Dehydrated Food

  Dehydration and freeze-dried food techniques have come a long way in the past few years. These significant advancements have improved the amount of moisture that is leftwithin each product, which gives them a much higher shelf life.   It is difficult to remove all moisture from dried food, but this is where Mylar storage bags really shine…   Mylar is a trade name for a polyester film called BoPet (are you bored yet? don’t be…) it was first used by NASA. Its high tensile strength provides optimal insulation against moisture, light, gas, electrical disturbances, and aroma barrier properties. Mylar is basically “the Cadillac” of long-term food storage. Other “leaps and bounds” that food storage has made is that it is actually quite tasty. No longer do you simply have to choose from dry blocks of WTF? masquerading as hearty-beef stew, technology has given food storage products a “yum” factor. Your taste buds will thank you for adding them to your arsenal of disaster preparedness.  

5. Water

  Humans cannot go long without filling their bodies with H2O. Not having water will literally turn into a life or death situation. When possible, stock your home with clean water storage. When not possible, water should always be boiled to remove harmful stuff and junk before consuming.  

6. Salt, Pepper, Sugar, Lemon Pepper, Garlic Powder, Cayenne… you get the idea

  Ok, this one is not exactly “necessary,” but they can sure help out in an already not awesome situation. They can turn a bland meal into something tasty. We are only human after all and why shouldn’t our food be seasoned properly to make it more enjoyable?   The world has taken some serious hits lately, and if history has taught us anything… the hits will keep on coming. The more prepared you are, the softer the blow will be. Start preparing now because, well… you just never know what sort of disasters Mother Nature (or foolish human behavior) will bring your way.