of what you call it, there are many different reasons to pack one. The idea originated with military personnel who were accustomed to being called out in a hurry and has been adopted by civilians who believe in being prepared.
How Do You Decide What to Put in Your Bug-Out Bag?
What food goes in your bug-out bag depends upon several factors, including:
What type of event you’re preparing for
Who’s going to carry it
How far it will be carried
Where you’re going to store it
Geographical needs
Regardless of these factors, several items should be in every bug-out bag. See the back of the book for a bug-out bag checklist that includes food, water, and some standard items that should be in every bag, plus some optional items such as medications, blankets, pet food, and maps.
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DECIDING HOW MUCH FOOD AND WATER YOU’LL NEED
Building your emergency food and water supply may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. The best way to begin is to ask yourself how many people will be using the supplies when an emergency happens. Government sources such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and most state disaster-preparedness departments recommend a minimum three-day supply of food and water. A week’s worth is a safer estimate, especially if you live in a disaster-prone tornado, earthquake, blizzard, or hurricane area. The following guidelines will help you create a plan.
Calorie Guidelines
When you look at commercially prepared food, you’ve surely noticed that there are serving sizes indicated on the containers. You may also have noticed that those servings are often small. If you base your emergency food supply estimations on those serving sizes, you will run out of food faster than expected. Instead, base your stockpile on caloric needs. See the following table for suggested caloric needs. If you need 2,000 calories, your significant other needs 2,000 calories, and your child needs 1,200 calories, then you need to store at least 5,200 calories worth of food per day.
Macronutrient Guidelines
When planning your daily caloric needs, be sure to do so with one eye on your macronutrient needs to maintain proper nutrition. That sounds all well and good, but the term macronutrients sounds pretty complicated, right? It’s actually quite simple, though. Macronutrients are just the major nutrients that your body needs to function properly and thrive.
There are five categories of macronutrients: protein, fat, fiber, carbohydrate, and water, and you need them in certain ratios to remain healthy. Fiber and water are independent nutrients, but protein, fat, and carbs work together to keep you healthy. The table below shows the proper protein, fat, and carb intake percentages for your family.
Water Guidelines
You need to drink at least 64 ounces of water per day and include between 20 and 40 grams of fiber per day in your diet, as well. Kids need a little bit less water. Use the following good rule of thumb when determining how much water your body really needs: half of your body weight in ounces. In other words, if you weigh 180 pounds, half of that is 90. You should drink at least 90 ounces of water per day to preserve proper hydration. At a minimum, keep 1 gallon of water on hand per person, per day for both drinking and sanitation needs. Remember: you can live for up to three weeks without food. Without water, you’ll die in a matter of days. Water storage and purification will be covered in Chapter 3.
Additional Store-Bought Foods
Although making your own emergency food based on the delicious recipes in this book is recommended—they are more flavorful and cheaper in the long run—you can begin building your supplies immediately with store-bought foods. Once you begin making your own canned and dehydrated foods, swap these items out. Note that many of the items in this list do not have a long shelf life. Check the best-by dates regularly (it’s recommended you do this every 3 months).
Baking and pancake mixes
Baking powder, yeast, and baking soda
Bouillon cubes or powder
Boxed potatoes
Canned beans
Canned fruits, fruit juices, and vegetables
Canned meat, chili, and soup
Canned nuts
Crackers
Dried beans
Dried corn
Dried fruit
Dry pasta
Evaporated milk
Fruit juices and sports drinks
Granola and sports bars
Instant coffee, tea, and cocoa
Jams and jellies
Peanut butter
Powdered milk
Ready-to-eat cereals and uncooked instant cereals
Salt and other spices
Sugar, honey, or molasses
Vegetable oil or shortening
Vitamins and mineral supplements
Wheat or other flour (for bread making)
White rice
Meal Planner
Use the following table to plan the meals and water you and your family will need for one week.
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