Food

   Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
   Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water
   Pack a manual can opener and eating utensils
   Bottle opener
   Camp stove or other cooking device and plenty of fuel. Use canned fuel, not charcoal or white gas.  NEVER use indoors.  Avoid butane, since it will not burn at freezing temperatures.
   Two ice chests - one for food and another to go get ice.
   Ice.  You don't need to buy ice if you plan far enough ahead.  You can freeze it yourself.  And remember that block ice will last longer than cubes.
   Paper plates
   Plastic cups, knives, forks, spoons
   Paper towels
   Choose foods your family will eat
     Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables
     Protein or fruit bars
     Dry cereal or granola.  Get an air-tight water-tight container to keep it fresh.
     Peanut butter and Jelly
     Dried or fresh fruit.  Remember that many fruits, such as bananas, will last the three days that you are planning for.
     Nuts
     Bread & Crackers.  Get an air-tight water-tight container to keep them fresh.
     Canned juices or juice boxes.  Make sure they're the type that doesn't need refrigeration.
     Non-perishable pasteurized milk.  If you have small children, consider getting some powdered milk for emergencies (it tastes much better these days than it used to.)
     High energy foods
     Vitamins
     Food for infants
     Comfort/stress foods


Shelf-life of Foods for Storage
Here are some general guidelines for rotating common emergency foods.

         Use within six months:
  • Powdered milk (boxed)
  • Dried fruit (in metal container)
  • Dry, crisp crackers (in metal container)
  • Potatoes
Use within one year:
  • Canned condensed meat and vegetable soups
  • Canned fruits, fruit juices and vegetables
  • Ready-to-eat cereals and uncooked instant cereals (in metal containers)
  • Peanut butter
  • Jelly
  • Hard candy and canned nuts
  • Vitamin C
May be stored indefinitely (in proper containers and conditions):
  • Wheat
  • Vegetable oils
  • Dried corn
  • Baking powder
  • Soybeans
  • Instant coffee, tea and cocoa
  • Salt
  • Noncarbonated soft drinks
  • White rice
  • Bouillon products
  • Dry pasta
  • Powdered milk (in nitrogen-packed cans)