Get Ready for Extreme Weather: Week 13
Shelter in Place – 3 Days of Food
Snowed in? No car? Your home should have a minimum of 3 days of stored food for each person. This week we are going to set aside 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners, plus 3 snacks.
Some people buy special “emergency preparedness” foods, things like powdered milk, powdered potatoes, or powdered eggs for their emergency food supply. This is typically more expensive and you really don’t need to do that for your 3-day supply.
For this level of preparedness, you want to pick food items that you like, that won’t expire quickly, and that you will want to keep in regular rotation (putting newest food at the back of the pantry shelf and eating older food first). Remember, if you are facing a crisis and need your emergency food supply, you will want food you are comfortable with and know how to prepare.
Good emergency food choices will require no refrigeration (in case the electricity is out), and little or no cooking.
Good Emergency Food Choices
- Breakfasts: oatmeal, cereal, dried fruit
- Lunches/snacks: peanut butter, jarred salsa, boxes of crackers, corn chips, soups
- Dinners: dried pasta, beans, soup or stew mixes, packaged rice/bean side dishes, cans of fruits and veggies
- Drinks: hot cocoa, coffee, tea, water
Example 3-Day Food Supply for 1 Person
- 3 breakfasts: 3 granola bars
- 3 lunches: a jar of peanut butter, a jar of jelly, a box of crackers
- 3 dinners: 2 cans of ready-to-eat soup, chili or stew. a can of tuna, 1 bag of chips, 1 jar of salsa, 2 cans of fruit
- Snacks: sunflower seeds, nuts, dried fruit, energy bar, crackers,
- 3 gallons of water
- Drink mixes, shelf-stable milk, powdered milk
- Miscellaneous: CAN OPENER!! condiment packets
This is just the start of your emergency food supply. Later this year you will receive emails helping you creating a larger food supply, bit by bit.
