What counts as emergency food

The Red Cross asks for non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items: 3 days' worth for a go-bag, 2 weeks for home (Red Cross). Ready.gov adds a manual can opener and asks you to keep canned food cool and dry and boxed food in sealed plastic or metal containers (Ready.gov).

Choosing food

Ready to eat: canned meat, fish, beans, fruit and vegetables; peanut butter; crackers; granola and protein bars; dried fruit; shelf-stable milk.
Little or no water: avoid dried foods that need a lot of water to prepare, since water is the scarcer supply.
Foods you already eat: stress is not the time for unfamiliar food; rotating food you normally eat also keeps it fresh.
Special diets: allergies, diabetes, infants and older relatives need their own supplies.

How many meals

Three meals a day per person: a family of four needs 36 meals for 3 days and 168 for 2 weeks. The calculator does this for your household, and the kit builder adds it to your checklist.

Storage and rotation

Store in a cool, dry place, off the floor. Write the best-by date on the outside of each box, eat and replace food before it expires, and review the whole kit once a year (Ready.gov). The reminder tool can put the earliest date in your calendar.

Ready-made options

Long-shelf-life emergency food (pouches or ration bars) saves planning and lasts years, but your family's usual canned and boxed food is cheaper and easier to rotate. Many households combine both: everyday food for the home supply, compact rations for the go-bag.