As tempting as it might be to fill a duffel with treats and call it a day, unfortunately when it comes to stockpiling three or more days worth of food ( the recommended amount) food for your go bag that’s not going to cut it. Because you are packing for a situation that could happen in a month or a year, you’re going to want food that you don’t have to constantly replace. You also want foods you can get the most mileage of– meaning they aren’t too inconvenient to pack but will keep you satisfied.
Here are some foods that have long shelf-lifes:
10+ years: rice, instant coffee, powdered milk, potato flakes,and dehydrated carrots
5-10 years: canned fruit, grains, molasses
3-5 years: spices, canned tuna, unopened pickles
1-3 years: dark chocolate, dried pasta, jerky, oats, oils, ramen, tea, tomato sauce, unopened jams and jellies, chia seeds, unopened mustard, red wine, canned coconut milk and quinoa
You also have to think about preparation. Often in the case of an evacuation you’ll have limited access to water and may not even have a heat source to cook with. For instance, if you are sheltering from a tornado the last thing you want is an open flame when there could be broken gas lines– that could cause an explosion. It’s best to choose foods that don’t require cooking or water (if it’s a very minimal amount of water that’s ok, but you’ll want to save water for hydration and sanitation).
Just to recap: you want three-days worth of shelf stable food that require little-to-no cooking equipment, water, or overall preparation. With those rules you will be well on your way. But, we’re not going to leave you hanging of course. To get you started, here are some foods perfect for your go bag:
- Canned or pouched food ( meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, beans)
- Protein Bars
- Granola bars
- Dry cereal
- Dried meats and fish (beef jerky, salmon jerky)
- Nut butters (jarred or in individual packs)
- Dehydrated fruits
- Crackers
- Pop Tarts ( if you need some comfort food, these have a shelf-life of 6-12 months past expiration date)
- Nuts and seeds
- Oatmeal packets*
- Ramen*
- Ready Meals*
- Instant Potatoes and rice*
(*If you will have access to a safe cooking method and water ( for instance if you are sheltered in a hotel with a kitchen and clean water) then you can consider options that require cooking. Marked with * above.)
Now that you have some rules to follow and a list of foods that are easy to find, easy to pack, and will be at the ready in case of emergency you are ready to start packing a food supply that suits your family.
