Survival foods have gotten a great deal of publicity as people have gotten more aware of the terrorist threats and the havoc that can be caused by natural disasters. Having a survival foods supply on hand that can be used in case of emergency is a good idea for any family. Ideally, emergency food kits should include non-perishable foods that do not need to be heated before being consumed. Foods such as peanut butter, crackers, energy bars, granola bars, cereal, nuts, canned fruit, dehydrated fruit, canned tuna, canned chicken, and canned meats are good to use as emergency foods.
It is recommended that a family have enough stored food to be able to feed everyone in the household for 72 hours following an emergency or natural disaster. Essential to this plan is remembering to include a can opener with the survival food supplies in case some cans do not have tops that can be popped open. Be sure to keep them in a place that will not be damaged emergency food by wind or water and that will be accessible. The family must also be vigilant about making sure the foods in the emergency kit remain usable. This may require periodically checking the supplies and replenishing anything that has gone beyond its safety code date. In addition to non-perishable items for sustenance, a survival foods kit also needs to include enough water or other liquid to keep family members alive.
There are many emergency food survival kits available for purchase, but most people can create their own emergency stores. The advantage to purchasing a kit rather than creating your own is that most kits are stocked with freeze-dried foods. They allow the user a choice of what they will eat that will be pleasing to them. At a cost of between $100 and $200 per kit for a 72-hour two-person supply of food, they are inexpensive and most arrive in tightly packed containers that take up little space.
While everyday foods can certainly provide the basis of your foods kits, there are also freeze-dried and meals ready to eat (MREs, that are used by the military) that can be purchased and added to a home survival food supply. Many foods designed for camping may also be appropriate to include in a survival kit. While some of the meal offerings are basic, some offer gourmet quality dishes. Most of these ready-made meals are designed to offer a high number of calories in order to provide as much energy as possible.
Included along with the emergency food should be a means of heating the products, if possible. This can include a camping stove and fuel supply, a propane gas grill, or a charcoal grill. Care needs to be taken that none of these items is ever used indoors. They all release carbon monoxide and without proper ventilation, this can be deadly in an enclosed space. Once a storm or threat passes, these cooking surfaces should only be used outdoors to heat survival foods.