In the event of a natural disaster or another type of crisis, you may find yourself in a situation where you do not have access to the grocery store. In addition, since natural disasters can often cause power outages that last for days, the food in your refrigerator can quickly go bad and become inedible. In these situations, you need to stay stocked on reliable sources of ready-to-eat, non-perishable food that can last as long as possible.
What Do You Do When An Emergency Cuts Off Your Access To Groceries?
Staying stocked up on non-perishable foods is one of the most important aspects of emergency preparedness. This post serves as your go-to guide to non-perishable food, from canned goods to energy bars and everything in between. When you have a pantry full of dependable non-perishable food sources, you can rest easy knowing that you will be ready if an emergency leaves you homebound and without a working refrigerator.
Over 60% of Americans have no plan for if and when an emergency hits. By stocking up on shelf-stable food, you are doing your part to protect yourself and your family in the event of a crisis that leaves you without power or access to the grocery store.
These types of emergencies can happen no matter where you live – natural disasters have been recorded in every state in the US. That means you can most definitely benefit from keeping your pantry stocked with food that will be ready to eat if a natural disaster knocks out your power.
Canned Food Is A Must For Emergency Preparedness
When it comes to prepping food for emergencies, a shelf full of canned goods is probably the first image that pops into your head. Canned food has long been praised by many as a reliable source of nourishment to turn to in a crisis thanks to canning’s ability to give food an extremely long shelf life. Some canned goods can last for half a decade without going bad, meaning that if you stay stocked up, you will not need to replenish your supply of emergency food for a long, long time.
In a crisis that knocks out your power and causes the food in your fridge to go bad, it is a huge relief to be able to quickly open a can and get the nourishment you need to keep you and your family going. Cold canned goods may not taste the best, but they can save your life in a worst-case scenario. While it would certainly be ideal to have great-tasting food at all times, staying well fed in an emergency is a higher priority than how good your last resort food tastes.
The canning process can massively increase the shelf life of otherwise perishable food and eliminate the need for refrigeration to keep the food fresh. You can find cans of everything from fruits and vegetables to meat and grains.
When you are looking for canned goods to serve as your last resort food supply, some of the best options are foods that are high in macronutrients and calorically dense. Macronutrients are carbohydrates, fat, and protein, the three major types of nutrients that your body needs to function well.
Canned chicken and fish are rich in protein, whereas a can of beans or lentils will provide a combination of mainly carbohydrates and protein. Your body needs a well-rounded combination of the three macronutrients to stay healthy, and it is important to eat a balanced diet even when you are recovering from a natural disaster or another emergency.
Choose Prepackaged Foods That Are High In Calories To Replace Meals
When the power goes out, and you don’t have access to the grocery store, non-perishable foods that are high in calories will help you and your family stay full for longer as you ride out the crisis. Some of these foods are not things you would typically want to eat regularly under normal circumstances, but when you need the highest amount of calories and nutrients possible to sustain yourself in an emergency, your priorities regarding eating are far different from what they are in your day-to-day life.
Because your body needs plenty of calories and macronutrients to keep going, prepackaged snacks like energy bars can be a great option to keep you full in an emergency. These bars are designed to take the place of a meal and are typically packed with a balance of carbs, fat, and protein.
Most energy bars have a long shelf life, and nearly all of them can stay fresh without the need for refrigeration. You definitely want to steer clear of food that needs to stay in the fridge to stay fresh when assembling your emergency food supply.
Look for energy bars that are non-perishable and high in calories. Many of these bars are in the 200-400 calorie range, and the ones on the higher end are likely a better option in an emergency. When you need to make a small amount of food last a long time, calorically dense foods are the way to go.
Non-Perishable Water
Water bottles can expire, making them a less reliable source of hydration for emergencies. Water bottles are not considered non-perishable because of the material they are made from, which can weaken and degrade over time, causing seepage of chemicals into the water. This seeping of chemicals makes the water inside a plastic bottle unsafe to drink after a certain point.
Instead of stocking up on plastic water bottles, opt for non-perishable emergency water pouches. These pouches are designed to stay fresh for years without negatively affecting the quality of the water inside. In addition, they are less bulky and cumbersome than bottles, making them a much better option for situations where you need to evacuate your home.
Other Sources Of Non-perishable Nutrition
If you are looking for other shelf-stable foods to stock up on, you’re in luck. There are plenty of options for non-perishable food to turn to in a crisis. Below is a list of several of the best options for other non-perishable foods to store in your pantry in case of an emergency.
- Jerky.
Jerky can be made from numerous types of meat and provides a high amount of protein, which can help you stay full and preserve your muscle mass. Jerky does not need to be refrigerated and tastes delicious without any heating, so you can still enjoy it if your power is out.
- Nut and seed butter.
Peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower seed, and many other forms of nut and seed butter are readily available at your local grocery store. These spreads pack a major caloric punch and are high in fat. They also give you a protein boost.
Overall, though, the biggest benefit of stocking up on nut and seed butters for emergencies is how a little bit goes a long way. You don’t need much peanut butter to fill you up for a few hours.
Evacuation-Ready Food
Canned goods and other forms of shelf-stable nutrition are extremely helpful when a crisis leaves you homebound and without power. But what about if you need to evacuate your home in an emergency? When a natural disaster or another threatening event forces you and your family to seek shelter outside of your home, you need a source of food that is easy to grab and take with you.
We highly recommend keeping a go bag packed and ready in your home so that you can quickly evacuate in an emergency and have the resources you need to survive. Go bags, also known as bug out bags, contain up to 72 hours worth of survival supplies, including non-perishable food and water. Keeping emergency supplies at the ready can make a major difference in your family’s ability to stay safe in a crisis.
JUDY’s emergency kits are pre-stocked with 72 hours’ worth of shelf-stable food and water in the form of high-calorie energy bars and water pouches. These supplies can be lifesavers in a crisis, providing you and your family with the nutrition and hydration you need to survive if the worst were to happen.
Staying prepared with an emergency kit in your home is always a good idea, regardless of how susceptible your location is to natural disasters. You never know when you might need to quickly leave your home, and it is well worth it to always be prepared with the most necessary supplies so that you and your loved ones can stay afloat and ride out an emergency.
Sources:
https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/emergency-foods
https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/what-are-macronutrients-.h15-1593780.html
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