Disasters don’t come with a warning and when they strike, a large number of the population is unprepared. To be honest, most people only keep food with them to last about 3-4 weeks and do not consider keeping any survival food. It’s for this very reason that when a disaster occurs, people swarm at the supermarkets and grocery stores to buy as much food as they can. You can also be one of these people if you don’t learn how to prepare. Take advantage of the times when the situation is normal and the queues are shorter. You can argue that the time has already come. I mean we’re in the middle of a pandemic and expressing an economic recession worse than the Great Recession of 2008. However, with access to better technology, online shopping and opening of the stores in certain areas, you need the Top 101 Survival Foods You Can Get From the Grocery Store Now.
Criteria
You will have to keep in mind certain kinds of criteria that are associated with stockpiling food including the following:
- Cost. If you’re on a budget, you will have to plan properly to buy survival food.
- Calories. The golden rule when storing food for survival is to have 2,000 or more calories per person every day to ensure everyone is fit and has energy.
- Shelf Life. Some foods have a longer shelf life than others which makes it crucial for you to understand before you go to purchase survival food.
- Nutrition. The best way to ensure your body will get all the nutrition it needs is by adding variety to your food. Most survival websites recommend you to buy rice and beans but I urge you to buy meats, vegetables, pulses and fruits.
Top 101 Survival Foods To Buy From The Grocery Store
I’ve divided the list into four sections: protein and meat, starches and grains, veggies and fruits and lastly, miscellaneous foods.
Protein and Meat
Beans
Beans are the classic survival food as they’re packed with nutrients and proteins, are easy to store and cook and can last years.
You can buy the following types of canned beans:
- Pinto beans
- Lima beans
- Lentils
- Kidney beans
- Garbanzo beans
- Baked beans
- Black beans
Canned Meat
They’re another survival food staple as they’re rich in proteins and can be stored easily.
- Vienna sausages
- Canned beef
- Spam
- Canned tuna
- Canned chicken
Seeds and Nuts
- Walnuts
- Sunflower seeds
- Pecans
- Peanuts
- Mixed nuts
- Almonds
Nut Butters
This makes for excellent survival food if you live with children. It’s full of protein, fat and nutrients and children love it!
- Peanut butter
- Cashew butter
- Almond butter
Protein bars
- Pure protein bars
Beef Jerky
- Jack Link’s
Starches and Cereals
Grains
- Wheat
- Rye
- Quinoa
- Oats
- Kamut
- Grits
- Cornmeal
- Barley
Rice
You need to always buy white rice and not brown rice if you’re preparing for survival.
Sure, brown rice has more nutrients but it has a very short shelf life and spoils very easily.
White rice, on the other hand, can last for years and is cheaper.
- White rice
Potatoes
- Mashed potato mix
- Hashbrown mix
Pasta
Packed with carbohydrates, is easily available and is cost-effective, making it an excellent survival food.
- Spaghetti
- Ramen noodles
- Macaroni
- Linguine
- Fettuccine
Flour
What makes flour one of the best survival foods is that it allows you to create a variety of dishes such as pizza, bread, etc.
It’s also loaded with vitamins, minerals and fibers, making it a core food item for survival.
- White flour
- Waffle mix
- Pancake mix
Cereals
- Regular cereal
Veggies and Fruits
Canned vegetables won’t make up for adequate survival foods but they do enhance the value and taste of the food and therefore must be included.
- Tomatoes
- Spaghetti sauce
- Peas
- Mixed vegetables
- Green beans
- Corn
- Carrots
Dried Fruits
They provide you with almost the same kind of nutrition as fresh fruits. Opt for organic dried fruits to make the most of them.
- Raisins
- Mixed fruit
- Fruit leathers
- Cranberries
- Banana chips
- Apricots
- Almonds
- Cashews
Canned Fruits
Most canned fruits last about one or two years beyond the expiration date mentioned on the can.
- Pineapple
- Peares
- Peaches
- Applesauce
Miscellaneous Foods
These foods don’t fit any particular category and therefore have been combined and mentioned under miscellaneous foods.
Snacks
Food items like your favourite snacks can help you stay positive during a disaster or a pandemic.
- Popcorn
- Pickles
- Hard candies
- Granola
- Crackers
- Cookies
Instant Meals
Perfect for the days when you don’t feel like cooking.
- Hormel meals
- Canned soup
- Canned chili
Ingredients
Most of your survival food will be useless (or tasteless) if you don’t have essential ingredients.
- Yeast
- Vinegar
- Vanilla extract
- Sugar
- Spices
- Salt
- Powdered mix
- Powdered eggs
- Baking powder
- Powdered cheese
- Lard
- Ghee
- Cooking oil
- Baking soda
Drinks
When disaster strikes, you’re likely to get sick of water quite quickly. Stay motivated by keeping yourself hydrated.
- Tea
- Protein powder
- Juice mix
- Gatorade powder
- Cocoa mix
- Coffee
Condiments
Condiments are just as important as other ingredients.
- Syrup
- Soy sauce
- Salad dressing
- Mustard
- Ketchup
- Jelly
- Jam
- Hot sauce
- Honey
- BBQ sauce
Tips on Storing Survival Food
Proper storage is more important than buying survival food because if not stored properly, all will spoil and you may have not stored anything at all!
Perceive your storage as an investment that’ll be invaluable during a crisis.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when storing survival food:
- Free of every and all kinds of moisture (there should be absolutely no humidity or dripping water)
- Free of pests
- Room temperature (not greater than 80F and not less than 70F to make your food last longer)
- No direct sunlight
The Takeaway
There you have it: Top 101 Survival Foods You Can Get From the Grocery Store Now.
As a final piece of advice, I recommend storing food in different places (based on an old saying, don’t keep all your eggs in one basket.)
Which foods were you surprised to find in our list and why? Tell us in the comments section below!
Shristi is an avid reader, recipe developer and wellness enthusiast. She’s probably making a mess in her kitchen right now.