The How & Why Behind Survival Food Stockpiling

We've talked a lot about specific foods you should stockpile for an emergency. And we'll go over those again briefly today, but my main focus in this communication is about the "how" and "why." In other words, what is the logic behind these decisions?

Why is this topic important? Two reasons. One, we're already seeing food shortages and soaring food prices. Just think what's going to happen next time your area gets smacked with an extreme weather event or other crisis.

Two, understanding how and why you're stockpiling certain foods will make it second nature when it comes time for replenishing your emergency food supply. You'll automatically gravitate toward foods that make the most sense for you to store and access when needed.

The other thing to consider is how much to stockpile. We'll go into more depth on that subject in a future communication. But we need to realize the next crisis might not be resolved in a few days or a week. It could go on for months. We need to be prepared for that.

What will your family eat? 

The first step I'd suggest in storing survival food is determining which foods you and your family enjoy most. As well as which ones you'll eat, even if they're not your favorites.

There is absolutely no reason to stockpile food you're sure your household will not consume. Even if those foods are healthy or are easy to store. (The only exception is for bartering purposes.) 

Having said that, eating healthy foods will be even more important during an emergency situation than it is now. It will be crucial to keep your strength up and your immune system in good shape. 

So, decide which healthy foods your family will eat and load up on them. You can't beat freeze-dried fruits and vegetables when it comes to healthy – and great-tasting – survival food.

Another key factor here is variety. If the crisis you're dealing with lasts longer than anticipated, variety will be essential. Both for the different nutrients a variety of foods provide, and for your sanity. Nobody wants to eat the same thing over and over again.

Protein and digestion

Speaking of variety, pre-crisis is a great time for you and your family to experiment with different types of foods. 

For example, you may want to try going a week gaining all your protein through non-animal resources. If you've stockpiled freeze-dried chicken, beef, etc., great. But if not, you may need to provide yourself with protein from other sources during a crisis.

In addition, try cooking your food in different ways. Such as frying, boiling, or baking. And use different cooking oils. You may find that some help you digest your food better. 

Something else to add to your diet to see if it eases digestion is herbs. Such as fennel, cumin or ginger. Once you discover which herbs do the best job of enhancing the taste of your food, stockpile plenty of them.

Think about your storage area

One thing you don't want to do is stockpile a bunch of food that requires freezing or refrigeration. The reasons for this are simple: power outages and equipment failures. 

Almost every weather emergency involves a blackout. Often the only question is, how long will it last?

Which foods you store and in what quantities will be partly determined by your storage area. If you have a basement that stays relatively cool regardless of the time of year, that will be a big advantage.

But if your only storage areas are rooms where temperatures could get too warm – especially when the power goes out – your strategy will be different.   

11 popular survival foods

As promised, here are a few survival foods I'd call "musts." At the very least they're the most popular ones. And even if you and your family don't care for some of them, having them will be helpful in an emergency because you could use them for bartering.

In no particular order, here are 11 popular survival foods.

Grains – Wheat, spelt, rye, barley and corn can be soaked, cooked, and eaten without grinding into flour. Some can be sprouted to increase nutrition.

Beans – High in nutrients, they provide plenty of protein. Beans and legumes also contain complex carbohydrates and fiber.

Rice – Inexpensive and long-lasting, rice is one of the world's chief staples. It goes great with just about every meal. 

Freeze-dried & dehydrated vegetables – There is a huge variety of vegetables you can acquire that have been freeze-dried or dehydrated.

Pasta – This has a great shelf life and is found in a wide variety. Including spaghetti noodles, fettuccine, ribbon pasta for lasagna, and pasta shells.

Peanut butter – It's tough to beat something that tastes great on its own and tastes even better when it's spread on something like healthy crackers or bread.

Honey – It lasts a very long time and can be used in a wide variety of ways. It's a great, healthy way to sweeten foods. And much better for you than sugar.

Coconut oil – You're going to need oils for cooking, and this one has a longer shelf life than most. It's healthy and great for frying foods.

Canned soup – Sometimes you need something you can eat in a hurry, and canned soup fits the bill. 

Canned tuna – It has plenty of protein and a very good shelf life for something in the meat category.

Coffee – It can keep you awake in a survival situation and will be a great bartering tool during a crisis.

So, there you have it. The how, why, and what behind your emergency food supply. Let's get started.