Best Food for Catastrophic Emergency Events

Image provided by Jamin Gray
Every year the weather seems to be getting worst, causing more catastrophic events and natural disasters to occur. There are many reasons why the weather is getting worse. One of the most important reasons is the state of our planet Earth. As long as we keep on destroying our planet, natural disasters will keep on increasing. Because of the increased in natural disasters, it would be wise to stock up a few months of food. To be on the safe side, you should stock up on at least a year supply of food.

Another reason why you should start thinking about storing more food is because of the world’s economy. The collapse of the world’s economy will occur because there is no way countries can pay off the debt they own. It is just a matter of time before it happens. In fact, this collapse has been happening quietly behind the scene for more than a decade. Unfortunately, it is now happening in front of our face. If you live in Europe, you are probably feeling the effects of this collapse more than other industrialized countries. How bad the world’s economy will collapse depends on our thoughts and actions.

To prepare for the economic collapse, food and water storage are a must. Besides storing water, I highly recommend getting a water purification system that is portable. Berkey makes one of the best portable water purification systems. You can purchase it at my EnergyFanatics.com Store. Food and water shortages are going to be big problems from here on, even in industrialized countries. The shortages will also cause food to become very expensive. This dramatic increase of food price is already happening. Below is a list of some of the best foods for catastrophic and emergency events because of their long shelf life.

Best food for emergency events

• Dehydrated food: One of the best foods for storage because of its long shelf life. Dehydrated food contains very little moisture because during production about 98 percent of its moisture is removed. Once the dehydration process is done, the food is put into airtight sealed packages or containers to protect the quality and keep them from spoiling. Dehydrated food is lighter and usually takes up less space and last longer than non-dehydrated food. Depending on the types of food and packages, dehydrated food can last anywhere from 1 to 10 years and up to 30 years if frozen. The bad thing about dehydrated food is that there is little water. You may need water to prepare the food. Make sure you have extra water because you can live longer without food than water. You may want to check out efoodsdirect.com or yourfoodstorage.com for some of the best selections of dehydrated and freeze dried food.
• Canned food: The most popular cans for storing food are tin-coated steel or aluminum can because they are cheaper to make. Both of the cans do a good job keeping the food fresh but overtime the cans are vulnerable to corrosion. Glass jars are usually better at storing food than cans and plastic packages. Unfortunately, they are harder to find because they are more expensive to make. Glass jars are usually better for non-commercial packaging which is why it is popular at homes. Canned food does not last as long as dehydrated and freeze dried food but it is cheaper. For best shelf life, store canned food in a cool place with little moisture.
• Food bars: These specially formulated nutrition bars are non-thirst provoking and are usually high in protein, vitamins and minerals. Protein, vitamins and minerals are crucial for survival because without them your body will start to breakdown. Without protein you will start to lose body mass quickly and your body will have a harder time repairing itself. Unfortunately, many food bars are full of synthetic vitamins and cheap protein. Please read the ingredients list before purchasing them.
• Rice: It is cheap, easy for storage and a 50 pound bag can feed a small family for weeks. Brown rice is healthier but has a shorter shelf-life than white rice. Brown rice can last up to 6 months. After that it can become rancid because of the oil in the bran layer. White rice can last over a year because the bran layer is removed leaving only the endosperm. The inconvenient thing about rice is that you need water to cook it, which is something that you may not have in abundance during catastrophic events.
• Dried nuts: They are easy to store and some can last up to a year or more. Most nuts are high in calories and nutrients, such as protein and essential fatty acids.
• Meals-Ready-To-Eat (MREs): These are what the U.S. military use for surviving long battles. Unfortunately the U.S. government does not sell them to the general public but there are alternatives. MREs usually contain many different food, such as spaghetti, corn, rice, beef stew, cookies, candy, shakes, tea, etc. The great thing about MREs is that they are ready to eat, are complete meals and you do not have to cook them. MREs have a shelf-life of up to 3 years but can vary depending on the temperature where they are stored.  For more information on MREs and other military rations visit the MRE Info site.
• Canned processed fruit or vegetable: They are not the healthiest fruit and vegetable but will do the trick to keep you alive. Canned fruits and vegetables have a longer shelf-life than regular fruits and vegetables but still do not compare to dehydrated food. Depending on the room temperature, canned fruits and vegetables can last up to 6 months.
• Junk food: Most junk food has a long shelf life, is cheap and easy to store. I do not recommend going this route because most junk food has little nutrients, full of chemical preservatives and is not good for your health.

Food tips

• Before microwaving or heating dried food, sprinkle some water on top of it to bring back some of its natural textures.
• Consume foods that are perishable first before moving to the non-perishable food. Milk, cheese, beef, poultry, fish, bread, fruits, vegetables and eggs are some examples of perishable food.
• If you have a way to freeze food, do so because it will extend its shelf-life.
• Avoid storing food in hot and humid places.
• Make sure you have plenty of fresh water. I recommend buying a portable water filter system.
• Most canned food should be eaten within a year or before the expiration date.
• If you live in the colder region of the planet, you may want to store more foods that are high in calories, proteins and healthy fats (unprocessed fats that are free of synthetic chemicals and non-GMO).
• Keep oils in dark containers or places to extend their shelf-life.
• If possible, store food in airtight containers because oxygen can spoil the food quicker.

All the techniques and information on this page are to help increase your chance of survival during catastrophic events. Using the techniques do not guarantee that the food will stay fresher and last longer. If the food smells funny or is discolored, it is best to throw it away to avoid food poisoning. Keep in mind that having clean water to drink is more important than food because you can live longer without food. I highly recommend purchasing the Berkey water purification system because it is portable and is one of the best water purification systems in the world. You can purchase it at my EnergyFanatics.com Store or at Amazon.com (aff. link).

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