Forget MREs: What You’ll Actually Eat in an Emergency
There’s a very specific type of person who gets excited about MREs. You are probably not that person. And that’s fine ’cause unless you’re in a field tent or deeply into freeze-dried YouTube reviews, you don’t need military rations to be prepared.
The goal isn’t to build a bunker pantry. The goal is to not be hangry and confused when your fridge goes warm.
Store what you already eat
The golden rule of emergency food: don’t stock things you wouldn’t touch on a normal Tuesday. You’re not suddenly going to love beef stew in a can just because the lights are out.
So think about what you already eat when:
- You’re tired
- You’re low on groceries
- You don’t feel like cooking
That’s your starter emergency pantry. In theory. Your starter emergency pantry should not solely consist of like, candy bars. But that’s the general gist.
Shelf-stable versions of regular favorites are your friends like:
- Instant oatmeal
- Nut butters
- Granola bars
- Crackers or rice cakes
- Shelf-stable milk or alt milk
- Canned beans, soups, or stews you’d eat anyway
Keep in mind some things like popcorn can be great but if the power’s out in your fridge, the power’s out for your microwave too.
Focus on no-cook options
If the power is out or you’re dealing with disruption, assume you might not be able to heat anything. Or that you won’t want to deal with it. Build your pantry like a stressed-out version of you will be eating out of it.
Some no-cook winners can include:
- Ready-to-eat pouches (lentils, rice, curries, tuna, etc.)
- Shelf-stable tofu or vacuum-sealed proteins
- Trail mix or nuts
- Dried fruit
- Chocolate (yes, really)
If it’s something you can tear open and eat straight from the package, it’s probably a good pick.
Consider challenging yourself to a dry run of a no-cook evening before it’s forced on you. Especially if you have the extra challenge mode of picky kiddos.
Comfort foods matter, too
When things feel unstable, comfort matters. A pack of cookies, a few single-serve coffees, or your favorite salty snacks? Those are worth it. Emergency food isn’t solely about calories – morale can matter too.
Don’t underestimate the power of “ugh, at least I have peanut butter pretzels.”
Don’t obsess over the perfect list
People get stuck trying to optimize: is it enough protein? Will it last five years? Should I rotate every three months? How weird is this thing I’ve never eaten going to taste? You can go down that rabbit hole if you want, sure, but the goal here is good-enough prep, not a fucking food lab.
A few days of easy, familiar, shelf-stable food is a win. You can always tweak later.
3 Takeaways
1. Skip the MREs. Just stock shelf-stable versions of food you already like.
2. No-cook foods and comfort snacks are the real MVPs when you’re stressed.
3. A “good enough” pantry beats a perfect list you never start.
Feature image courtesy Rachel Clare/Pexels
