Camping, Emergency & Long-Term Food & Storage

Having tasty, nutritious and readily-available food is something we expect in everyday life under normal circumstances. When we go hiking or camping, we want the same food quality that is easy to transport and prepare. In an emergency situation, we would like to have the same food attributes but may not be able to buy from our local grocery store because of the emergency circumstances. We don't need to face running out of food, or food quality and taste, when we prepare for the expected and unexpected.

TIPS FOR BUYING & STORING FOOD:
Urban Life (living in the city) offers many advantages, but food storage space is, usually, not one of them. Click Here for tips to maximize available space. Here are some general rules, for everyone, on buying and storing ememgency foods.
#1: Take Your Time and Go Slow. Begin with a three day supply, gradually building up to a week. Add a little more with each grocery store visit.
#2: Spend Your Money Wisely. Look for bargains. Use coupons. Buy in bulk.
#3: Stick to the Basics. Beans, rice, oatmeal, and powdered milk are staples in the survival food pantry but follow Tip #4.
#4: Don't store food you don't like. Obvious but if you have to eat the same food for a few weeks, make sure you like the taste.
#5: Know the expiration date* or when (date) the product was manufactured to determine an approximate expiration date*.
#6: Store food in multiple locations (upstairs, downstairs, etc.) in case access is not possible to one or more storage location(s).
#7: Store liquids (water) to rehydrate dehydrated foods: Most emergency foods need water to prepare.
#8: Dried (dehydrated) foods are better than canned, fresh or frozen when it comes to camping and long-term storage. They, generally, last longer, take less space to store, provide more servings per container, there is less nutritional loss and are not as heavy (which can be helpful if it's necessary to carry in a bug out situation).
#9: Keep food reserves in a cool, dry place. Keeping food in the attic (or even at normal room temperature) severely shortens its storage life.