When you’re facing an emergency situation or self-isolation, it is vitally important that you are stocked up on non-perishable food and other supplies in case you’re not able to get assistance with having food brought to you. Many of us know this, but we are left wondering how to go about it. Stocking an emergency food pantry is not something most people are familiar with. So what survival foods are the best to store?
I’ve put together a guide on what you should be getting and why in case you have to go into self-isolation or face an emergency situation.
The first thing is that foods should have a long shelf life, meaning they won’t expire quickly.
Some canned foods will stay good for years if they’re kept in ideal conditions. When you’re looking at buying cans, try to avoid ones that have a pull tab to open them. This pull tab will reduce the shelf life of the food in the can, though you may still have many months of life in the can.
Canned food isn’t very healthy, however, because it has a lot of added salt and preservatives. So I don’t recommend relying solely on canned food.
The bulk of the food you’re going to eat in self-isolation is going to come from dried staples like rice, pasta, oats, and beans. These are cheap, filling, and they have a long shelf life.
If you’re trying to decide between canned beans or dried I recommend you always go with dried because of the added preservatives and salts that are in canned food.
Yes, there will be a little bit more preparation required, but you’ll be doing your body a favor.
Next, you’ll want things to go with your fruits, vegetables, and sauces.
Get fresh fruits and vegetables for as long as you can continue going to stores because once an emergency hits or self-isolation begins, you will quickly run out of these things.
Frozen fruit and vegetables are the next best thing to fresh. They are frozen shortly after they’ve been picked which means that they still have many of the nutrients locked inside.
Canned fruits and vegetables should be your last resort, though by all means, do buy some. They are better than nothing.
Make sure that you have plenty of stock, tomato sauce, and herbs on hand as well.
You are also going to want some foods that are easy to cook.
These are things that you can just throw in the microwave or oven and forget about. Why? Well, more than anything this is just in case you get sick. When you’re sick the last thing you want to do is spend an hour making dinner.
It also gives your kids the ability to eat with ease without having to bother you.
Premade soups in a can or pouch are a great option here. As are things like Ramen, or other “just add water” types of foods.
Finally, it is important that you give yourself some comfort food. If you are facing self-isolation it isn’t easy on your mind, body, or spirit.
Little things like a sweet treat will help give you a little bit of a boost when you’re feeling down.
Let us know in the comments below!
