Blog

These inexpensive items can be bought in bulk or on sale before disasters strike! Here our list of affordable pantry foods to have on hand year-round. Many of these foods can be purchased by the case or in bulk to save even more.

Turkey chili, chicken chili, beef, and vegetarian chili

All chilis are great sources of protein to help fuel your body after a hurricane.  They are fairly inexpensive and these meals heat up in under 3 minutes.  You can keep a variety of chilis in your pantry year-round, rotating the expiry dates using the oldest first.  You’ll save money by stocking up on these items when they go on sale or buying them by the case when they are available at a lower cost or on sale at big box stores like Costco or other club stores.

Canned fruits and vegetables

The first foods to wilt and perish after a natural disaster are the fresh fruits and vegetables in your fridge.  Don’t rely on the stores to carry fresh fruits and vegetables either.  If you’ve lost power in a major storm the likelihood are all the stores have power outages as well.  Without sanitized running water to properly clean fruits and vegetables you are far better off purchasing quality canned fruits and vegetables.   Look for brands that use less salt and fruits that are packed natural juices rather than in syrup for healthier choices. Quality canned fruits and vegetables are good sources of nutrition in the absence of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Many of the name brands harvest the fruit and vegetables at peak ripeness insuring nutrients, minerals, and flavors are locked into their canned produce. Look for brands that use less salt in their canned vegetables and fruits that are packed natural juices rather than in syrup for a healthier choice.

Peanut butter

Peanut butter is a staple item in nearly every household and it makes for a quick meal on the go.  Peanut butter and paired with a reduced sugar strawberry or raspberry jam is a great protein-based snack that will keep your energy level up until you can get a full meal.  In an emergency, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches might be all you can afford for those on a budget.   As a kid, we lived off PB & J sandwiches in tough times so if that’s all you had in an emergency, it would be ok.  For the budget-conscious, look to purchase the larger jars of both peanut butter and jelly.  No name brands offer even lower prices and are often co-packed (private labeled) by the larger food manufacturers (meaning you are getting the same product and quality).

Canned fish or chicken

In any given situation it is a great idea to keep canned tuna, salmon or chicken in your food reserves. Canned meats bought individually are pricey.  To stock your pantry, opt to shop at big-box retailers like Sam’s Club, City Club, and Costco where you will find a 6-pack of tuna, salmon, and chicken.  To further save you can purchase the large cans of chicken and once opened, you can make a large casserole to feed the family over couple of days. You can mix the drain fish or chicken with rice and canned vegetables and enjoy a decent meal.  Use dried herbs and spices to add flavor. 

Bagged rice 25lbs            

Depending on the size of your family keep a large bag of rice on hand.  The bag of rice can be separated into several quart-sized Ziploc bags when purchased.  It is recommended to freeze these bags for a minimum of 24hrs to prevent rice weebles from developing.  After 24 hours in the freezer, you can store your rice in a cool, dry and dark place in your pantry or basement.  Just make sure all foods if stored in the basement are on a high shelf in case of flooding.

Breads and cereals

It is a good idea to keep several loaves of bread – 2 loaves in your freezer and one or two in your refrigerator.  Sandwiches are a quick easy meal whether it’s a tuna fish sandwich or a PB & J.

Your kids’ favorite cereals will keep the morale up during this trying time.  You can store inexpensive cereals by the bag such as puffed wheat or Rice Krispies.  Transfer these cereals into airtight containers to keep moisture out.     

Almond, soy or rice milks

Available in cases of 6 x 1-liter tetra packs at big-box stores such as Costco, Walmart and Sam’s Clubs.  Milk products made with rice, soybeans or almonds can be stored in your pantry unopened so they are an excellent alternative to regular milk.   Your kids will be able to have cereals and you’ll be able to have milk for your coffee.

Beans

All types of beans are excellent sources of protein.  You can purchase beans by the case at the big-box stores very inexpensively.  Chickpeas (garbanzo), black beans, red beans, and baked beans.  You can purchase beans in bags and soak them overnight and cook them the next day if you enjoy canning your own foods.  You can also freeze your cooked  beans in Ziploc freezer bags or vacuum seal portions in a food saver.  To cook your soaked beans you can sauté onions, garlic, cumin, chili powder, bouillion powder and other herbs to add some flavor.  Canning your beans is another great option for saving money.  You can flavor your homemade canned beans by adding brown sugar, molasses or spices.  The recipe ideas are limitless.

Pastas 

Choose kinds of pasta that cook quickly to conserve as much fuel as possible.  Bagged pasta such as rigatoni, spaghetti, and spirals cook in under 7 – 10 minutes and can feed many people.  Your pasta water will boil faster with the lid on and your pasta will cook quickly with more water.  If you do not have your stove hooked up to a propane tank, consider canned cooked pasta with a meat sauce as an alternative. 

Water

There is a saying in emergencies – 3 weeks without food, 3 days without water and 3 minutes without air.  This is a general rule and each natural disaster presents a variety of unique challenges.  Water is the juice of life, our bodies are made up of 70% water and our organs require a frequent replenishing of fluids.  Water may be the most important item that you’ll store during a natural disaster.  It literally may save your life.  Do not underestimate the amount of water each family member will require.  More is better. If you live in a tropical environment which includes residents of countries deemed “hurricane country” such as parts of the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Philippines, Hawaii etc, my advice is to double the daily amount of recommended water per family member.  In the aftermath of a hurricane is it likely the power will be out.  All hurricanes bring rainfall and this moisture paired with the heat will dramatically increase the humidity in the air.  You will be sweating more than usual which means you will need more water than you would normally.   Plan on having a minimum of 2 gallons of water for each family member per day for at least a week, preferably 2 weeks.