The Red Cross encourages every family to have a disaster supply kit including food and supplies in the event of rapid evacuation from their homes. Here is a shopping list for each person’s 72-hour food kit. This food is pretty compact, made to all fit in a gallon-size zipper bag or plastic container with a screw top. Following the shopping list is a sample menu for three days.
For each person, buy:
2 Granola Bars
Buy bars made with whole grains for the most energy. Look for bars with vitamins and protein, but don’t worry if they have a high amount of fat. High-fat foods are not going to be a concern in an emergency. One good option is energy bars.
1 small can apple or other juice
Look for 100% juice
2 soup mix packages
Lipton sells different varieties of these, sold in paper packets inside paper boxes, similar to instant oatmeal packets.
2 Ramen Noodles packages
4 pieces of beef jerky
3 fruit rolls or fruit leather
Real fruit leather is preferable to Fruit Roll-Ups, but either would work.
15 pieces of individually-wrapped hard candy
It’s a bit reassuring in times of stress to have treats, and these really don’t take up any room at all.
2 packages of gum (5 sticks each)
2 packages oatmeal
2 packages hot chocolate mix
2 packages Kool-Aid Singles
It is a good idea to have Kool-Aid or hot chocolate mixes to add to your water, in case your water is a bit stale tasting after sitting for months on the shelf. Kool-Aid adds some additional vitamins to your water as well.
2 packages cheese crackers with peanut butter
The peanut butter adds a bit of protein
Following is the menu for each of the three days. You will probably want to print out this menu to place inside your kit.
DAY ONE:
Breakfast:
1 granola bar
1 small can apple or other juice
Lunch:
1 Soup mix package
1 package cheese crackers with peanut butter
Dinner:
1 Ramen Noodles
2 Pieces beef jerky
1 fruit roll
Snacks:
5 Pieces hard candy
4 sticks of gum
DAY TWO:
Breakfast:
1 package instant oatmeal
1 hot chocolate mix
Lunch:
2 pieces beef jerky
1 fruit roll
1 Kool-Aid Singles
Dinner:
1 Ramen noodles
1 package cheese crackers with peanut butter
Snacks:
5 pieces hard candy
3 sticks of gum
DAY THREE:
Breakfast:
1 package oatmeal
1 fruit roll
1 hot chocolate mix
Lunch:
1 soup mix package
1 package cheese crackers with peanut butter
Dinner:
1 granola bar
1 fruit roll
1 Kool-Aid Singles mix
Snacks:
5 pieces hard candy
3 sticks gum
For more information on 72-hour emergency kits, see:
What to Put in a Basic 72-Hour Kit