When you’re in a disaster situation, you do not have the luxury of time to really think about things. This is why disaster preparation has always been vital.
One of the greatest ways for you to be prepared for any disaster is to have a disaster supply kit. One of the many things that you can store in your kit and is one of the most important, is food.
The Types of Food to Pack
Fortunately, thanks to advances in the fields of science and the greater knowledge of how the world works, food can now last much longer than it once did. Unfortunately, on the other hand, everything still has an eventual expiration date.
One thing that might be on your mind about storing food in your kit is what kinds of food to store. When it comes to emergencies, you want to be a little specific and choose food that will be fitting for survival.
The ideal foods should be:
#1: Nutritious
For obvious reasons, you want to stay as healthy as possible to, last long and to be able to work during survival circumstances.
In addition, if you have suffered any sort of physical damage, having nutritious meals will promote and increase the healing process.
#2: High in calories
You certainly want to get food that is high in calories. When you’re surviving, you want to have as much energy as possible, so you can keep moving.
You never know how far you’ll have to go or how long the disaster will last for. Keeping your energy levels up can also make a difference in staying emotionally strong.
#3: Minimal spoilage
Another thing to keep in mind when deciding what food to get is to choose those that will last for a while. Food that will have minimal spoilage will be more rewarding as the days increase during a disaster.
#4: Easy to store
Lastly, you want food that is easy to store in your disaster supply kit. Despite its necessity, you don’t want to fill your kit full of food, especially food that would take up a lot of space.
You will also need to bring some handy tools and useful equipment to help improve your survival chances. Canned foods are typically the perfect choices for long-lasting storage.
Just bear in mind, however, the weight of the food you choose so that they’re not too heavy to carry.
9 Tips on Disaster Preparation
Now that you’ve decided on which food to pack in your disaster supply kit, its time to learn some of the tips that can help your food stay fresh and clean. In other words, make it safe for you to eat when that impending disaster strikes.
To help you prepare well, here is a list of 9 disaster preparation tips for storing food.
Tip #1:
When you’ve purchased your emergency food, remember that you don’t have to store them in a plastic box or cardboard boxes.
It’s actually advised that you store them on shelves so that when the time comes, it’s easy to grab them. You also want these foods to be away from direct sunlight and not get too hot.
Tip#2:
When storing food that is not canned, you need to make sure that they’re stored in a closed container of some sort. Zip-lock bags are perfect examples.
Tip #3:
When it comes to opening the jars of food or whatever container they’ve come in, make sure to open them gently so that they can be easily closed again.
The last thing you want is for the family to get sick during a disaster because of bacterial infection.
Tip #4:
One item that may prove very handy to have in your disaster supply kit is zip-lock bags or sandwich bags.
Whenever you have left-over food, rather than throwing it away, you can keep them safe inside the bags for later use.
Tip #5:
If you have dry food or ingredients, such as salt or sugar, it’s recommended that you remove them from their plastic bags. Place them in a more durable and larger container for easier and longer use.
Tip #6:
Even if the food you’ve bought hasn’t expired, you should still check them before consuming them. As they say, it is better to be safe than sorry, especially in an emergency.
Tip #7:
It is highly recommended that the food in your disaster supply kit should be replaced every half a year, or six months.
The food you have may last longer, but the idea is that when the disaster comes, the stored food is as close to being fresh as possible.
Tip #8:
Along with your nutritious food, you should include at least one bottle of multivitamins.
This will ensure your family has access to a good source of vitamins and nutrients during a prolonged disaster.
Tip #9:
When you’re in a survival situation, rationing your food is definitely a wise idea.
However, you and your family should at least have one solid or full meal a day. This is to prevent anyone from feeling fatigued or sluggish.
Conclusion
These 9 disaster preparation tips on food storage will not only help you be prepared for a disaster, but will also help you get through it. After all, disaster preparation is only half the battle.
You can learn more about disaster preparation in this article: 2 Vital Factors when Preparing for Disasters
