How Much Emergency Food You Should Have?

By Ben Slaughter December 10, 2024

In our world of fast food, takeout, and frozen meals, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where you can’t find anything to eat. You can always fire up a food delivery app and have dinner on the table in 30 minutes flat.

Unfortunately, when the unthinkable happens, those easy options will no longer be available. Whether it’s a natural disaster or an extended power outage, you may be unable to rely on your usual sources of sustenance. In those cases, you need an emergency food supply at the ready.

If you’ve been wondering, “How much emergency food should I have?” you’re in the right place. This detailed guide will help you calculate your food and water needs for any emergency.

Step 1: Determine Your Emergency Food Duration

First, you’ll need to identify how long you may need to survive on your supply. Depending on where you live and what kind of disasters typically occur there, the length of time you should prepare for will vary.

The most common scenarios are small-scale emergencies. Events like power outages, minor flooding, and excessive snowfall may not cause major damage, but they can cut you off from the outside world for a day or two. As such, the minimum recommended supply of emergency food and water is enough to last you 72 hours (3 days).¹

However, the unexpected can happen anywhere, anytime. A catastrophic event that cuts off all access to food is unlikely, but it is possible. That’s why FEMA suggests keeping a two-week supply of food and water on hand at all times.²

Because you’re always better safe than sorry, it’s wise to follow the two-week rule. Think about it: You’ll never be upset to have too much food in an emergency!

There are some scenarios where even a two-week supply of food may not be enough. In extreme cases, you could go 30 to 90 days without outside assistance—especially if you’re in a rural area. So, consider building a long term food supply if you live in a remote, disaster-prone county.

Step 2: Calculate Daily Caloric Needs

Once you know how many days you’ll need to hunker down, you can do some simple calorie-based math to determine how much food to store.

Simply put, different people need different amounts of calories to stay healthy. Your age, sex, and physical activity level all impact your daily recommended calorie intake. For example, if you lead a more active lifestyle, you may need 200–400 more daily calories than a sedentary person of the same age and sex.³

By calculating how many calories you and your family need per day, you can stockpile the appropriate amount of food. All you have to do is multiply your total calorie requirements by the number of days.

Here’s a quick breakdown of daily caloric needs according to the FDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans⁴:

For infants – At 12 months, babies require 800 calories per day. By 21–23 months, they’ll need 1,000 daily calories.
For children – Males between the ages of 3 and 7 need 1,000–1,800 calories; by age 8–12, that range increases to 1,400–2,400. For females, the requirements for 3-to-7-year-olds are the same; at ages 8–12, they need 1,400–2,200 calories.
For teens – From age 13 to 18, males must take in 2,000–3,200 calories per day. Females in the same age range need 1,600–2,400 daily calories.
For adults – Men aged 19–55 should consume 2,200–3,000 calories. Women of the same age need 1,600–2,400 calories.
For seniors – At 55+, males should get 2,000–2,600 calories per day, while females require 1,600–2,200.

The more energy you expend in a typical day, the more calories you’ll need. With that in mind, if you have to feed growing kids or active adults, stockpile some extra food.

Step 3: Choose the Right Types of Food

Of course, calories aren’t the only factor to consider. A healthful diet contains a balanced mix of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. If you want to stay in peak shape throughout the emergency, you’ll need to choose foods rich in these nutrients.

Beyond the nutritional contents, you’ll also have to think about the type of food you want to have on hand. There are several different kinds of emergency foods, including:

Freeze-dried food – The freeze-drying process removes water from food at low temperatures, allowing you to store it safely for up to 25 years. Conveniently, freeze-dried foods maintain their original nutrients and flavors. However, not all foods can be freeze-dried. Fruits and vegetables are some of the most common freeze-dried options.
Canned food – Cans hold a large volume of food for their size—and they can hold all kinds of staples for several years without expiring. Best of all, you can heat a can directly to warm the food inside. The downside is that canned food is heavy, making it a less than ideal choice if you have to carry your supply out of the house.
Dehydrated food – Like freeze-dried food, dehydrated food has had the water removed, making it last for around a year.⁵ Dehydrated meats, fruits, and other food products are lightweight and delicious, though they may lose some nutritional properties during dehydration.
Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) – While the other foods on this list are mostly ingredients, an MRE is a high-calorie meal in a bag that, in the right conditions, can last seven years or more.⁶ Some even come with a built-in heating device. Although they’re ultra-convenient, MREs are more expensive than other choices.

Because each type of emergency food has pros and cons, it’s worth building a stockpile with multiple options—or investing in starter kits.

Step 4: Factor in Special Dietary Needs

If anyone in your household has dietary restrictions, you’ll need to take extra care when preparing your emergency stash. Diets with specific needs include:

Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten-free (celiac)
Dairy-free (lactose intolerant)
Low-sodium
Kosher

You may also need to accommodate allergies or dislikes (after all, there’s no point in keeping emergency food if no one will eat it).

Thankfully, it’s now easier than ever to find high-quality emergency foods that cater to all kinds of diets and preferences.

Step 5: Plan for Water Requirements

Food is an essential part of your emergency kit. But it’s not the only consideration.

Water can also become scarce during emergencies, so it’s vital to have enough clean water for drinking, cooking, and sanitation purposes.

FEMA recommends stockpiling one gallon of water per person per day.¹ If you’re maintaining a two-week emergency kit, that means you’ll need 14 gallons of water per person in your household.

Step 6: Make a Storage Plan

Now that you have all your food, you need a place to put it. And not just any place will do.

Emergency foods of all types last the longest when you store them properly. As such, always keep your food and water somewhere cool, dark, and dry.

Have you identified that location in your home? Follow these tips to make the most of your space:

Take advantage of vertical space – You can store much more if you build upwards. Consider installing a shelving unit or using a set of stackable storage bins to maximize your space.
Organize your stock – In the panic of an emergency, it’s nice to know where everything is. We suggest grouping similar items and making commonly-used foods more accessible. If you’re keeping your supplies in storage containers, use clear bins or add labels to the outside.
Make sure it’s portable – Some emergencies will require you to shelter in place; others will demand a full evacuation. To be prepared for anything, store a “bug-out bag” near your emergency supplies so you can pack up at a moment’s notice—or keep it all in a bag 24/7.

Step 7: Consider Food Rotation and Expiration Dates

If you’ve reached this step, you’re “done”—for now.

However, in reality, emergency food prep is never finished. That’s because even the most shelf-stable foods eventually expire.

To ensure your supplies stay as fresh and effective as possible, create an inventory that tracks the expiration date of every product. (Make sure it’s a paper one, as you may not have power or an internet connection in an emergency.)

As foods near their expiration dates, replace them. Don’t let them go to waste, though—use the soon-to-expire products in your home cooking, take them on a backpacking trip, or practice for a real emergency.

If you want to minimize stock cycling, choose freeze-dried foods and MREs; they’re the longest-lasting options.

No matter what you choose, proper storage will guarantee food safety and help you stay calm during an emergency.

Be Prepared, Stay Safe

With the proper amount of emergency food and water at your disposal, you can outlast any crisis that comes your way. An emergency stash of two or more weeks’ worth of food is the ultimate insurance for your loved ones: Even though you hope to never use it, you’ll be glad it’s there when you need it.

Ready to start building your family’s supply of healthy, shelf-stable food? ReadyWise is the ideal solution. With delicious, nutritious options of every kind, you won’t even miss the food delivery apps during your next power outage.

Explore our range of options today, and prepare your household for anything.

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