It's important to have food with a long shelf life in case of an emergency situation.
The types of food one should have in case of an emergency generally boil down to one thing: longevity. The longer the expected shelf life on a product is, the better off the person living through the emergency will be. The reason a long shelf life is important is because, in an emergency situation, most people will have absolutely no idea how long they'll be surviving off those foods. Imagine a scenario where people are forced into their basements and there is nothing but emergency foods surrounding them. Aside from the dire situation, those people, whether they planned ahead of simply lucked out, will be able to survive for weeks if the food is properly rationed.
Food Bars
Food bars are specially formulated cookie bars that are designed to induce the least amount of thirst possible while still providing vital nutrients and energy. Their shelf life is up to five years and they tend to come in three-day packages that contain nine bars. They're even utilized by the U.S. Coast Guard on life rafts. Examples of these bars are energy bars and cereal bars. Energy bars are a great choice, as they typically contain a large amount of protein and essential minerals.
MREs
MRE stands for Meals-Ready-to-Eat and were employed by the army to feed soldiers. They have a typical shelf life of five to seven years, but it seems to only apply to cool temperatures. If a person leaves an MRE out in the sun for too long, the shelf life decreases dramatically. MREs are perfect in a survival situation when you don't want to sacrifice quantity or quality. The only problem with these is that if you want to stay mobile, you have to carry them in small amounts because of their bulkiness.
Canned Food
The problem with canned food is, once again, mobility. While they have a moderate shelf life of two years in optimal conditions, the problem lies in their combined weight. Having 20 cans on a shelf in an underground shelter is fine, but having to evacuate that shelter while carrying those same cans in a backpack is an entirely different matter altogether. That fact aside, canned foods offer a familiar and tasty alternative to the other emergency foods. Buying cans of baked beans is a great idea, due to the protein found in them. Canned vegetables are also a good idea to maintain your nutritional levels. Also, remember to check for mold/rodent infestations and always keep an eye on the expiration date.
Freeze Dried Foods
FDF are quite possibly the best alternative to anything else on this entire list due to their simplistic nature and long shelf life. Freeze dried foods can last up to 30 years and are incredibly easy to cook; one only has to add water. Once water is added, the taste is remarkably similar to the original food. They're lightweight, easy to store and cost about the same as an average meal does. Budget management may be a problem though, as these foods can cost quite a bit if purchased in bulk. While some grocery stores do carry FDFs, you may need to go to a specialty store, such as stores that provide supplies for mountain climbers and explorers, to purchase them.
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