If we were all completely honest, we’d realize that the majority of people either have an emergency kit with expired food in it or they don’t have an emergency kit at all. Here is a way to remedy both situations.
Create a super simplified menu that rotates easily. This way you’ll at least have edible food!
Menu for each day:
Breakfast – Instant Oatmeal, hot cocoa packet
Lunch – Ramen noodles
Dinner – two granola bars, apple cider packet
Snacks – bag of animal crackers, hard candy, lollipops
WATER (at least two quarts, but more is better)
(This menu was designed with items that can be eaten even if a heat source isn’t available –ie. The ramen noodles can be eaten by sprinkling the flavor packet on the dry noodles. If you add water to the oatmeal and let it sit for a while it will soak up the water even if it is cold.) 
Our emergency kit is for three days so…..each person needs 3 instant oatmeal packets, 3 hot cocoa packets, 3 pkgs of ramen noodles, 6 granola bars, 3 apple cider packets, animal crackers, and a few hard candies and lollipops.
I buy the food and leave it in its original packaging (I just round up if it doesn’t come out exact…for example my family still at home needs 18 packages of ramen total, but each box has 12 so I just put in two boxes—in an emergency I bet we could use the extras :) Then the food gets put it in a plastic tote with a note of top of when each item expires. Add the date the first item expires to the calendar. The food is simple enough that you can switch it out with little effort.
As a side note, two of my favorite things about this menu are the hard candies/lollipops and the apple cider. The hard candies never expire! And the apple cider powder dissolves immediately even in cold water. The brand I found also contains vitamin C.
I have been a mom for almost 21 years. I have read and listened to a lot of info on what is best to store. I have come to this conclusion: You don’t need to pack a kit that resembles a night in a first-class hotel. You only need enough to survive. If you don’t have serious health issues you could live well on the food above for 3 days.
May we all get a little more prepared for the uncertain future.
Add This Item to your Emergency Kit! is another post you may benefit from reading.
Leave a Reply