Are Emergency Food Kits Worth It? 7 Benefits to Consider

No matter where you live, it’s always a good idea to have food and water ready in case of an emergency. FEMA recommends that every household keep a two-week supply of shelf-stable food and water.¹

With that said, assembling all the necessary nourishment is easier said than done. There are countless types of emergency foods, each with different expiration dates, advantages, and drawbacks. Suddenly, navigating proper preparedness for an emergency feels like an emergency.

That’s where emergency food kits come in. These pre-packaged kits are becoming increasingly popular since they contain all the sustenance you need to meet your survival needs.

But are emergency food kits worth it? Or are you better off putting together your own stash? To answer that question, we’re exploring seven benefits of food emergency kits.

#1 Peace of Mind

Perhaps most importantly, an emergency food kit offers something priceless: peace of mind. No matter what kind of emergency comes your way—whether it’s a tornado, a flash flood, or an extended power outage—you’ll know you have all the essentials to keep your family safe and sound.

Imagine hearing the weather alert blaring on your phone: a hurricane is approaching, and evacuation orders are in place. Roads are jammed, stores are emptied, and there’s no time to scramble for supplies. In moments like these, having an emergency food kit ready can make all the difference. With your kit safely stashed away, you can focus on staying safe instead of worrying about last-minute shopping. Having an emergency food kit on hand can help:

• Reduce your stress and anxiety levels
• Eliminate distractions that cloud your mind
• Foster a better sense of emotional well-being

Even if you never have to crack into your long-term food supply, knowing it’s there is enough to put your mind at ease. It’s like insurance: You hope you won’t have to use your kit, but it’s ready for you—just in case.

#2 Convenience

Emergency food kits present the easiest way to prepare for a potential crisis. There’s no need to browse endless websites and stores for supplies—every meal in an emergency food kit comes in a single container.

Best of all, emergency starter kits can be delivered to your front door. Gone are the days of piling heavy cans into a cart and lugging them from the grocery store to your car to your home. All you have to do is open the packaging and store your emergency kit.

Kits also make your life easier during an emergency. When all your food is in one container, it’s easier to find what you’re looking for. Plus, you can grab your kit and go at a moment’s notice. This kind of convenience is especially valuable if you have to evacuate your home quickly.

In our busy world, convenience is always worth the investment—yet another reason why emergency food kits are a wise choice.

#3 Long Shelf Life and Quality Preservation

Emergency food kits are convenient in another way: They’re specifically made to stand the test of time.

Canned food and dehydrated products from the supermarket are excellent for emergencies, but they may only last a few years. Emergency food kits, meanwhile, typically have an extended shelf life ranging from five to 25 years.

That’s because emergency kits are packaged with preservation in mind. They come in airtight containers that keep light and moisture out, ensuring the meals within are as fresh as possible when you need them. As long as you store your emergency kit in a cool, dry environment, you’ll have peace of mind for years.

And the food inside your kit won’t just be edible—in many cases, it will be delicious. ReadyWise Emergency Kits preserve product quality, so the meats, fruits, and veggies will taste as good as the day they were packaged. Better still, they’ll retain the majority of their nutritional value.

#4 Balanced Nutrition in Each Kit

If you assemble your own supply of shelf-stable ingredients, you’ll have to think about what kind of healthy meals to prepare for every breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meal planning can be stressful enough on an average day—so imagine how difficult it would be in the chaos of a natural disaster.

Because you’ll have enough on your mind already, it makes more sense to leave your nutritional needs to the experts. Emergency food kits allow you to do just that.

ReadyWise Emergency Kits are curated by professionals—you won’t have to worry about whether or not you purchased the right foods for your family. High-quality kits are designed to meet your daily caloric requirements and provide you with the vital nutrients you’ll need during a high-pressure situation, including:

• Protein
• Fats
• Carbohydrates
• Vitamins

All of these nutrients are crucial to consume, especially during an emergency, when you need to keep your strength up and your mind sharp. Eating healthy may not be your priority in a crisis, but you’ll be glad to have the extra energy that comes from a balanced diet.

#5 Easy Storage and Space Efficiency

Storage is one of the biggest challenges in emergency preparation. All that food needs to go somewhere, and many people don’t have room in their living spaces. A two-week supply of canned foods and bags can take up a surprising amount of storage space in your basement or garage.

With an emergency food kit, you can conserve room in your home. These compact containers can fit just about anywhere, guaranteeing easy access to your emergency food stash if disaster strikes.

For example, you could store yours:

• In the closet
• Under the bed
• In the pantry
• In a shed

No matter where you keep your kit, you’ll have plenty of space in the same area for other emergency supplies, such as water, batteries, blankets, and more.

Ultimately, the convenient size of your typical emergency food kit makes these solutions suitable for any household—even cozy apartments and condos.

#6 Simple Preparation in Emergencies

The last thing you want to do in an emergency is cook a three-course meal from scratch. But the reality is that many emergency food options require significant preparation before they’re ready to eat.

However, most emergency food kits prioritize ease of use. Many of the ingredients and meals in these kits only require water.

A simple preparation process isn’t just convenient—it’s crucial in certain situations. Emergency food kits allow you to eat well, even when you have:

• No power – Without electricity, you may be unable to heat your food. That’s no problem for emergency kits. Some ready-made meal packages have a built-in heating device, while others can be reconstituted with any temperature of water.

• Minimal access to water – Although emergency food kits usually need water to transform into a meal, they don’t need much. You can make most ReadyWise entrées with a cup of water, and breakfasts require even less. What’s more, some foods from emergency kits—like freeze-dried fruits and vegetables—don’t require water. You can munch on them straight out of the package.

• Limited time – There’s plenty to do during a natural disaster—even if you’re simply sheltering in place. You have to listen to the radio for updates, entertain younger family members, and rest when you can. Between all that, you may not have much time to put together a nourishing meal. Luckily, foods from emergency kits can be ready in minutes, giving you more time to focus on your family’s well-being.

#7 Cost-Effectiveness Over Time

Purchasing an emergency food kit may seem like a larger investment than buying individual emergency foods. And it’s true that an emergency kit will typically cost more than three dozen cans of beans from the supermarket.

However, when you add up all the hidden expenses of building a supply from scratch, a pre-packaged emergency food kit may be more cost-effective.

First of all, there’s the cost of maintaining your supply. Store-bought goods expire faster than foods in emergency kits, so you’ll spend some money every year replacing your old products.

Investing in an emergency food kit will also save you:

• Time – You could spend hours tracking down all the foods you want for a custom emergency kit. By purchasing a pre-made kit, you waste no time shopping or researching solutions. And because time is money, saving several hours is always worth it.

• Travel and gas money – Whether you drive or take the bus to the store, you’ll pay a few dollars every time you go to pick up new supplies. Order an emergency food kit, and you don’t have to go anywhere.

Between the time savings and the long shelf life, an emergency food kit is more cost-effective in the long run.

Peace of Mind in a Package

So, are emergency food kits worth it? For most households, the answer is a resounding yes.

If you appreciate convenience, simplicity, and reliability, readywise is an ideal solution for emergency preparedness. Emergency kits are easy to store, packed with high-quality, nutritious foods, and surprisingly affordable when you account for their longevity.

Convinced? Then give ReadyWise a try. Our pre-assembled emergency food kits contain all the vital nutrients you need to stay healthy during an emergency. With a range of kits designed for 72 hours, two weeks, one month, and more, you’ll find the solution that works for your family.

Order yours now, and enjoy peace of mind in a package.

Sources: 

1. FEMA. Food and Water in an Emergency. https://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/f&web.pdf