Food for Thought

What is in your 72-hour food kit? Here are a few suggestions I think will help many of you with the food for your 72-hour kits.

  1. Make sure the food items are things you will and can eat. Sometimes the food in a purchased kit will not work for you (nut allergy or intolerance to lactose).
  2. When preparing your food kit choose items that will have a shelf life of at least 1 year.
  3. Try to find items that are small, but have the highest calories. Stressful situations burn more calories. For one adult target 2000 calories. Make sure you have some type of comfort food or candy.
  4. It is difficult for one person to carry 3 gallons of water in a backpack. Try storying bottled
    water in the backpack.
  5. Consider the strong odors of the foods you are storing. Even though it is high in protein, beef jerky can make everything smell horrible. If you choose to store it, change it often and double or triple wrap it. Even minty gum can make everything smell/taste minty.
  6. Watch out for items that can go rancid. If some of your foods have nuts, make sure you store them in a cool, dry location.
  7. Divide items into gallon-sized Ziploc bags and labeled with the date them.

72 Hour Kit Food Packs

Est.
Shelf
Life		 Item Store # Weight
each in
ounces		 Cost
each		 Calories
Per
Serving
  Breakfast          
6M Nature Valley Oats N
Honey Bar (2)		 Sam’s Club (30ct.) 1 1.50 .27 190
12M Clif Energy Bar Sam’s Club (24ct.) 1 2.40 .79 240
12M Clif Energy Bar Sam’s Club (24ct.) 1 2.40 .79 240
2Y Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa
Packet		 Sam’s Club (60ct.) 1 .55 .02 60
2Y Arrowhead Water Bottle
16.9oz		 Sam’s Club (32ct.) 2 16.90 .14 0
  Lunch          
6M Nature Valley Oats N
Honey Bar (2)		 Sam’s Club (30ct.) 1 1.50 .27 190
12M Clif Energy Bar Sam’s Club (24ct.) 1 2.40 .79 240
12M Clif Energy Bar Sam’s Club (24ct.) 1 2.40 .79 240
12M Betty Crocker Fruit Roll
Up		 Sam’s Club (48ct.) 1 1.00 .16 100
2Y Crystal Lite on the Go Sam’s Club (44ct.) 1 1.00 .17 12
2Y Arrowhead Water Bottle
16.9oz		 Sam’s Club (32ct.) 2 16.90 .14 0
  Dinner          
12M PowerBar Protein Plus Sam’s Club (12ct.) 1 2.75 1.15 2.90
2Y Kar’s Sweet and Salty Sam’s Club (24ct.) 1 2.00 .30 290
18M Candy Skittles, Starburst
Fun Size		 Sam’s Club (172ct) 2 2.00 .06 61
2Y Arrowhead Water Bottle
16.9oz		 Sam’s Club (32ct.) 2 16.90 .14 0
10M Extra Gum 15 pc
pack/3=5pc.		 Sam’s Club (10ct.) 2 .11 .21 25
             
    Day Totals 1 72.71 6.19 2178
    Day Totals 3 218.13 18.58 6534

(Prices reflect buying in bulk from Sam’s Club)
Try to keep Calories between 1500 – 2000 or use this chart

Recommended Calories per Day, Active (chose active because of stress)
Females 4 – 8, 1400 – 1800
Females 9 – 13, 1800 – 2200
Females 14 – 50, 2200 – 2400
Females 51+, 2000 – 2200		 Male 4 – 8, 1600 – 2000
Males 9 – 13, 2000 – 2600
Males 14 – 50, 2800 -3000
Males 51+, 2400-2800