A disaster can strike without a moment’s notice or you may have days to prepare for it. Whatever the case may be, when a disaster hits, your life changes…forever! There’s no way to stop what Mother Nature is going to throw at you but that doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared for her wrath.
When there is a crisis (nature-made or man-made), the first thing people go after is food. Understandably so! Hungry people will crowd corner stores and supermarkets to get the food they need to keep their families fed. It can be a real mad house!
How You Can Be Prepared For A Crisis On A Budget
When there is a catastrophe, you don’t have a lot of time to react, and you must go into the do or die mode. However, with a little preparation on your part, you don’t have to be one of the millions that flock to the stores when that disaster is about to strike or has struck.
Now, you might think that preparing for a disaster means you need a bunch of money to purchase what you need. Not so! Just whenever you go to the grocery store, purchase those all-important storm-ready essentials. Then, if a disaster does occur, you’ve got food on hand to sustain you and your family for a period of time.
So, now that you know how to prepare for a crisis before a crisis hits, you might be wondering what foods should be among the disaster kit. There are three things to keep in mind when buying foods:
They can be easy to store (definitely helpful if you don’t have extra room in your home). Buying them won’t cause you to go broke. The foods will provide nutrition to you and your family so you can survive the disaster.
Top 10 Essential Foods You Should Have During A Disaster
You might be wondering what foods you need to ensure yours and your family’s survival during a disaster. The first two foods listed are your staple foods – rice and beans. Yes, these foods will be bland but will provide you with the protein and carbs you need to maintain your health during this difficult time..
1 – Rice
One of the best things about rice is that it’s cheap to buy, is easy to pack away and will last a significant amount of time before going bad. It’s loaded with carbohydrates, which is important to survival. If rice is properly stored, it can last 10 years.
2 – Beans
Beans are loaded with protein, fiber and antioxidants. On top of that, they’re not very expensive to buy. If stored properly – dark, cool places – beans can last approximately 10 years. Beans, like rice, are regarded as the perfect food for survival.
3 – Oatmeal
Oatmeal is another food good to have on hand, especially if you’ve children. Oatmeal can easily be stored, is loaded with fiber and has numerous health benefits such as lower cholesterol levels. Best of all, it’s cheap. And, there are all kinds of things you can make with oats. It’s important to remember that kids eventually get tired of eating beans and rice.
4 – Pasta
Pasta, like rice and beans, has lot of carbohydrates in them. It’s a cheap food that can last a long time when properly stored. And, it’s simple to make.
5 – Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is one “must-have” in your food survival arsenal. After all, it’s got lots of Vitamin E, protein and monounsaturated fats that are necessary in regulating cholesterol levels. Plus, it’s another worthwhile food option for your kids… and even yourself.
6 – Cornmeal
Cornmeal is another cheap, easy to store food that’s filled with iron, fiber and carbs. Cornmeal is better than flour because it has oils that help in its long shelf life (usually two years). There are all kinds of recipes that use cornmeal as an ingredient.
7 & 8 – Canned Vegetables and Fruit
When it comes to survival, you need vitamins to ensure that you stay healthy. Vegetables and fruit are wonderful to fight against diseases and are enjoyable for consumption. The problem with canned fruits and vegetables is that they’re not very practical for three key reasons:
Cans tend to take up a lot of space, They’re not cheap to buy and they can go bad after some time. Bear in mind that if society does collapse, you do have the option to grow your own fruits and vegetables.
9 – Honey
Honey, while not cheap, is loaded with sugar and will provide you with the energy you need to survive a crisis. Honey tends to last much longer when it’s stored properly; more so than sugar. Again, it’s not cheap so if you find yourself on a real tight budget, consider substituting brown and white sugar for the fix.
10 – Salt
Salt is one flavoring you need in your survival kit. It’s useful in bringing out the foods in your beans and rice and can cure and dry meat too. Salt has a tendency to last…forever. This is certainly a must-have.
How Much Should You Save In Survival Food?
You might be wondering how much and type of survival food you should have on hand. Ask yourself these questions:
How many people are in your family? Will you need to survive for a long period of time?Is there anyone in the household with food allergies?
If you’ve never prepped for a disaster, you may feel overwhelmed. Don’t feel that way! You don’t have to purchase everything all at once. Each time you visit the store, buy a little extra to pack into the survival food kit.
For example, if you need beans, buy two bags instead of one. Use one bag and pack the other one away. You’ve just started your survival kit. One Final Note: When you’re buying for your survival kit, you need to have an inventory of everything you have.
Be sure to write down the dates the food was purchased, as this will let you know how long the food is good for. Plus, you’ll know the amount of each product you have in reserve and when to rotate your stores.
The editor of Resounding Earth, and pursuer of relatively interesting information, Simon has a Masters Degree in Creative Writing and Journalism from the University of Wales, and is a photo-journalist and writer whose written and photographic work has been represented by the AFP news agency and appeared in newspapers across Europe and Asia.