When natural disasters strike, people in the affected areas are left with no access to food and clean water for drinking. This might take days or even weeks before help arrives and you get rescued. Prior preparation helps you navigate through the calamity while waiting for the disaster to pass. To sustain your family during an emergency situation, here are some of the important food items that you should have in your survival kit.
What food should be in a survival kit?
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Clean drinking water
Every survival kit must have a supply of cleaning drinking water. You can either use small bottles or get a large water jug that holds enough water to last your family members for at least 3 days. To ensure that every member of your family including yourself stays hydrated, get water cases that come with essential minerals added to them.
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Jerky and other dehydrated meats
You’ll need to eat food rich in protection and jerky or dehydrated meats are some of the best sources of protein. While these foods have been made to last long, make sure that you store them in sealed, airtight containers to preserve the freshness.
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Canned fruits, vegetables, and legumes
You should continue having a balanced diet even in an emergency situation. Get some canned fruits, veggies, and legumes from the local grocery store and pack them in your survival kit. Make sure that they have an extensive shelf life.
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Dried fruits
You can also opt to go for dried fruits as well. Like jerky, dried fruits last a long time when sealed in an airtight container.
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Crackers
Unlike bread, crackers have a longer shelf life. This makes them a good fit for an emergency food kit. Eat them with canned meat and you will be good to go. However, since most crackers will only stay fresh for a few months, check on their expiry dates regularly and replace the expired ones.
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Shelf table drinks
Shelf table drinks such as non-perishable pasteurized milk, rice milk, soy milk, and juices are great beverage drinks that don’t require refrigeration unless they are opened. Electrolyte drinks also come in handy especially if you have children.
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Canned meat
Numerous canned meats are readily available for you to choose the one that you prefer. Long-lasting canned meats include Tuna, Freeze-Dried Chicken, and Salmon among others.
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Granola and protein bars
No quick snack beats protein bars or granola when it comes to emergency situations. You can keep a packet or two in your emergency food kit depending on how much space you have.
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Nuts and trail mixes
Nuts and trail mixes are high-energy foods ideal for snacking during a survival situation. Go for nuts put in sealed, airtight containers that preserve their freshness and prevent them from oxidizing.
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Canned soups and stews
Canned soups and stews are rich in sodium, but still deserve a slot in your emergency survival kit. Look for soups that are low in sodium, rich in nutrients, and ready to heat and serve.
Note. Remember to check on the condition of the food stocked after 6 months or 1 year. Check on the expiry date of the perishable food and any food that has its expiry date getting close should be eaten or thrown away and restocked.
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