Are you prepared enough to hole up indoors while a pandemic (hello coronavirus), natural disaster, or a terror attack runs its course? Even if a zombie apocalypse is still only possible in movies, it is still generally a good idea to keep an emergency supply of food to tide you over when things really hit the fan.

Stockpiling has always been an important part of modern life. Earlier generations would habitually stow away food supplies when it was in plenty so that they could stave off future food problems. In the olden days, our grandmothers would strain boiled fruits for jams and jellies while veggies would be pickled and fish salted.

During WWII, the British government would advise citizens to keep personal food stores; a week’s supply of food was deemed appropriate for those times. Leaflets were distributed by the government with recommendations on which tinned foods to purchase, as well as how to best store essentials like cereals, flour, and sugar.

But contemporary life has made human beings complacent. We can easily jump in the car and pop over to the supermarket and purchase whatever it is we need. These are truly wonderful times of plenty that we live in. But what if things don’t always stay this way?

Given the natural disasters that the world has endured in recent years, the desire to stockpile food is understandable. When events start to slip into the abyss, stockpiling is the best way to regain a sense of control over things. It is also easily one of the best ways to ensure that your family is well-fed and taken care of in times of crisis.

Indeed, freeze-dried foods don’t taste as great as fresh ones. But when you are not sure what the next day or week is going to look like, having a few extra tins of peas tucked away in your cupboard is never a bad idea. So which foods are best for stockpiling?

Canned fruits and veggies

The food you keep in your stockpile has to last in the event of a catastrophe or emergency. Generally, preparing for a possible disaster comes down to this- smartly stocking your freezer, refrigerator or pantry so that everyone remains fed-and canned fruits and veggies can do just that for you.

Canned fruits like berries, pears, and applesauce are excellent sources of vitamins, fiber, potassium, as well as other essential minerals and vitamins. It is also best to go for canned varieties that do not have added sugars or syrups. Try and stock up on canned fruits whenever they are on sale or if you can preserve your own cans of fruit at home. 

If you do choose to do your own food preservation and canning, ensure that you are doing it correctly by observing safe canning practices. This is important if you want to keep yourself and your family safe from food poisoning and botulism bacteria.

Veggies such as beans, carrots, peas, and corn can supply your family with plenty of vitamins and essential minerals to keep them healthy. Canned legumes like black beans, white beans, and navy beans are also great to have on standby.

Dehydrated fruits

Dehydrated fruits like raisins and apricots are a great way to add fruits to your stockpile without worrying about spoilage. Try and stick with dried fruits with no added sugar whenever you can. Dried fruits will keep for long as long as you ensure that the storage container remains tightly sealed.

If you don’t have the budget for dried fruits, you can also very easily make your own at home. All you need is a dehydrator, as well as proper storage containers and you’re good to go.

Dehydrated meats 

Dehydrated and dried meats are a great source of protein and best of all, they don’t require any special storage conditions as long as they are packaged properly. Go for beef jerky as well as ham and turkey jerky if your mission is to stay as healthy as possible during a crisis.

Dried and dehydrated meats are easily accessible in your local grocery and convenience stores. Dried meats have a lot of protein but are low in fat. Consider buying your dried or dehydrated meats from healthy food stores that take precautionary measures to eliminate harmful components such as MSG, gluten, and added nitrites.

Canned soups and stews

Canned stews and soups can be particularly nourishing and they are easy to keep in storage. It is a good idea to buy soups that are easy to re-heat or those that don’t need extra milk of water as they could be lacking during an emergency.

Ensure that you maintain a good supply of canned pasta meals as they can be kept for long periods without spoiling. It is worth noting that most canned meals are high in fat and calories, which is something that you want to keep an eye out for when shopping. Also, look for soups and stews that have been made using whole grains.

Protein bars

Having an easily accessible snack on stand by such as a protein bar is a no brainer when stockpiling emergency food. You may not exactly have the resources like running water and electricity to make a meal or snack from scratch during an emergency. 

Protein bars can ensure that you have something healthy and quick to eat whenever hunger pangs strike. Many protein bars are low in sugar which means that they will not spike your blood sugar levels, which is the last thing anyone wants in a high-pressure and stressful emergency.

Final Thoughts

Food preparedness might sound extreme for certain people. However, the food situation in the world is a lot more insecure than a lot of people realize.  The food supply chain is vulnerable and local food production has steadily been dropping in the past few years. As such, to avoid staying hungry in dire times, the best thing that you can do for yourself and your family is to keep a stockpile.

In the event of a catastrophe, you could easily find yourself missing many of the modern luxuries that you have likely taken for granted over the years. In a disaster situation, stores may be closed for weeks on end and the roads may not be drivable. 

Keeping a healthy emergency supply of food at home for all inhabitants is a great way to ensure that every one of your family members is taken care of in an emergency. The list of food listed below enjoys impressive shelf lives so that you don’t have to worry about wastage.