fbpx ;

Disaster Kit Prep: Food Staples for the Fit Bottomed Girl

A week ago I attended a neighborhood disaster preparedness class because we’ve been having a crazy amount of earthquakes here in LA (dude, we had 100 aftershocks last month!). There is nothing more terrifying than sitting in a room with people who tell stories about the Northridge Earthquake of 94. Those conversations combined with all of the tornadoes hitting the Midwest got my worried wheels turning. If you live in a disaster-prone area (and, um, we pretty much all do whether it’s hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes or mudslides), you need a disaster kit. If you live in a disaster-prone area and have food intolerances, you need a special kit!

There are certain foods I have to avoid, so I knew that when it came to food our kit would need to be a bit different and that others may share my same gut issues. Thus, an FBG-inspired list was born. Hopefully we never have to use our disaster kit, but if we do, I feel confident I’ll have food that won’t destroy my stomach.

disaster kit

Healthy Disaster Kit List: Food Staples

  • Blue Can water. The professionals were telling us we’d need to always have a minimum of two gallons of water per person. I was cool with that, but replacing all of that water every four months wasn’t flying too well with me. That gets expensive as heck! Luckily, a representative from Blue Can Water was there and told us all about this water that lasts 50 years. You heard me right! A physicist who lived through the Northridge Earthquake created a way to successfully can the water. It’s purified and filtered like a boss so the stuff is not only cost effective but also super safe. It’s a win-win water. I bought six cases, enough for my husband and I both to have the recommended amount, plus cans for our car kits in case we’re not home when something hits.
  • Tuna. Hello, canned proteins!
  • Trail mix. Trail mix is an excellent source of energy that I plan to put in our car kits as well as our home disaster kits. They’re simple and full of protein.
  • Canned mandarin oranges. Fruit! I swear y’all are going to see just how much of a worry wart I can be. The last thing I want to worry about after a disaster is getting scurvy. Need that vitamin C!
  • Canned black beans. One word: fiber.
  • Can opener. Not a food, but with all this canned food business you have to get a manual contraption. Otherwise you’re up a creek without a paddle.
  • Jerky. Dried meats are perfect disaster kit staples. They’re portable and can be stored for a long time (which is always a plus).
  • Dried fruits. Remember though, not all dried fruits are equal! Pineapple and cranberries are usually covered in sugar while bananas are usually deep fried. Apples, apricots, mango, cherries, papaya, plums (or prunes) and pears are all excellent fruit choices. The key is to try to get them as close to their natural state as possible with no added sugar.
  • Protein bars. I have to watch out for the whey in most protein bars because I’m lactose-intolerant, so I plan to stock my kit with Vega One protein bars. I’m also going to look at the bars that were listed in this review.

So yes, this is definitely a work in progress. You should definitely research how much you’ll need to buy per person (and per pet if you’re an animal owner!), but this healthy disaster kit list is a start when it comes to food!

I’m attempting to get as many balanced food groups as possible in these puppies so if you have any suggestions please share! —Tish

FTC disclosure: We often receive products from companies to review. All thoughts and opinions are always entirely our own. Unless otherwise stated, we have received no compensation for our review and the content is purely editorial. Affiliate links may be included. If you purchase something through one of those links we may receive a small commission. Thanks for your support!