Emergency Food Storage - 5 Foods You May Have Missed

You can find almost endless emergency food storage lists around the internet, and most of them are very similar.  This is for good reason, there are certain foods that you really do want to keep stocked up. That’s why you will find things like rice, beans, canned goods, powdered milk, and many more on just about every long term food storage list you read.  These are all foods that we should all have at least a 6 month supply on hand at all times, in case of an emergency.

I’m not going to talk about those foods, I’m going to suggest 5 food items that you may not find on other lists, but that you will want to consider adding to your food storage pantry.  Keep in mind that these foods are not staples, you could survive without them, but they are, for many reasons, definitely worth a look for your emergency food storage.

1. Salsa - this is a great food item that many people do not think of when they are planning their long term food storage.  Salsa is packed with great vitamins and nutrients, and it has many possible uses.  You can dip your chips, add it to almost any meat dish for added flavor, drop a dollop on your favorite soup or bean dish, use it in stews to spice up the flavor, and many many more.  No matter what you do with it, be sure to add salsa to your next pantry shopping list.
2.  Whole Wheat Crackers - crackers are a wonderful substitute for bread in an emergency situation, and the fat and fiber content of whole wheat crackers will be a welcome addition to any shtf meal.  Though their shelf life is not as long as some other foods, you can vacuum seal them to help prolong their freshness.
3. V8 Vegetable Juice - You’ve seen the commercials with people conking themselves on the head, “I could have had a V8!”.  As corny as it is, this is something that you should really stock up on because it is packed full of easy to drink veggies in a situation where vegetables may not be plentiful.  It’s not as good as eating fresh, of course, and the regular V8 contains a lot of sodium (there is a low-sodium version), but it’s a great alternative if fresh vegetables are not available.  Perfect for emergency food storage, it’s available in 8 oz., 12 oz., and 64 oz., cans.
4. Chocolate - Though not tremendously nutritious, there is nothing better than chocolate to help sooth the nerves in a stressful situation.  Chocolate makes us happy, and happiness will be extremely important in a shtf environment.
5. Oatmeal - I am amazed at how many people do not stock up on oatmeal, and even more amazed at how many people I’ve met that have never even eaten oatmeal.  Oatmeal is one of the best super foods available.  It is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, carbs…it is used to fight off high cholesterol, heart disease, cardio vascular ailments, high blood pressure, and a slew of other health issues.  Plus, it’s easy to cook and it tastes great!  If you skip the other four foods in this list, do yourself a favor and do not skip the oatmeal!

That’s it.  Five foods that, in my opinion, should be a part of every prepper’s emergency food storage supply.  

By SHTF Survival Prepper