How Much Emergency Food Do I Need?

How much survival food you need depends on the type of emergency or scenario you are most likely to encounter, the number of people in your survival group, and each individual’s age, sex, and activity level.

You need enough survival food to provide a minimum of 2000 calories per person and one gallon of potable water daily for personal hygiene and drinking water.

FEMA suggests storing a 72-hour emergency food supply, including 6000 calories and 3 gallons of water per person. In my opinion, this isn’t enough. I suggest you stockpile at least a two-week food supply, including 28,000 calories and 14 gallons of water per person. Let’s take a look at food calculators.

Food Calculators

Use the Mayo Clinic calorie calculator and the USDA nutrition calculator to plan food storage.

The Mayo Clinic calorie calculator daily determines the daily requirements for each person in your survival group. MayoClinic.org

USDA Nutrition Calculator determines the daily nutritional requirements for each individual in your survival group. USDA.gov

If you are ready to start hoarding emergency food, let’s get to some real-life examples of how much survival food to store.

Up next, emergency food for one person.

Chart #1 Daily Emergency Food For One Person

Chart #1 below illustrates how much food to store for one person’s one-day emergency food supply.

The foods in the chart are based on FEMA-suggested short-term emergency foods that are ready to eat, nonperishable, and don’t require special preparation, water, or refrigeration. This type of food stockpile is vital for short-term emergencies when there is no access to food, clean water, or electricity.

Food Type	# Of Containers	Container Size	Serving Size	Calories	Calories Per Package
Spam Classic	1	12oz can	12oz	1080	1080
Dinty Moore Beef Stew	1	15oz can	15oz	200	200
Del Monte, Sliced Peaches In Heavy Syrup	1	15.25oz can	15.25oz	350	350
Ritz Crackers	1	11.8oz box	Eight crackers	80	1680
Jif Peanut Butter Creamy	1	16oz Jar	2 Tbsp	190	2660
Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars Oats ‘N Honey	1	Pack of 6	42g (2 bars)	190	1,140
Sun-Maid Natural California Raisins	1	13oz canister	1/4 cup	120	1080
DelMonte French Style Green Beans	1	14.5oz can	14.5oz can	70	70
1 Gallon of Drinking Water	1	–	–	–	–
Total Calories		–	–	2,280	8,260

Up next, daily food for two people.

Chart #2 Daily Emergency Food For Two People

Food Type	# Of Containers	Container Size	Serving Size	Calories Per Serving	Group Calories	Calories Per Package
Pop-Tarts Breakfast Toaster Pastries	2	13.5oz box	Two pastries ea	370	740	1,480
Hormel Chili With Beans	2	Two 19oz cans	19oz ea	270	540	540
Hormel Corned Beef Hash	2	Two 15 oz cans	15 oz ea	760	1520	760
Del Monte Fruit Cocktail	2	Two 15.25oz cans	15 oz ea	350	700	700
Ocean Spray Craisins	1	24oz bag	1/4 cup ea	130	260	2,210
Jif Peanut Butter Creamy	1	16oz Jar	2 Tbsp ea	190	380	2,660
Nabisco Saltine Crackers	1	16oz Box	5Fivecrackers ea	70	140	1,960
DelMonte Sweet Corn	2	15.25oz can	15.25oz can	210	420	210
2 Gallons of Drinking Water	2	–	1-gallon ea	–	–	–
Total Calories		–	–	2,350	4,700	10,310

Chart #3 Daily Emergency Food For Three People

Food Type	# Of Containers	Container Size	Serving Size	Calories Per Serving	Group Calories	Calories Per Package
Cliff Builder Protein Bars	1	12 bars	1 bar ea	290	870	3,480
Progresso Beef Pot Roast Soup	3	18.5oz can	18.5oz can ea	220	660	220
DAK Canned Ham	3	16oz can	16oz can ea	800	2400	800
Nabisco Triscuit Crackers	1	8.5oz	6Sixcrackers ea	120	360	1080
Dole Canned Pineapple Chunks Heavy Syrup	3	20oz can	20oz can ea	495	1485	495
Jif Peanut Butter Creamy	1	16oz Jar	2 tbsp ea	190	570	2,660
DelMonte Canned Peas	3	15oz can	15oz	280	840	280
3 Gallons of Drinking Water	3	–	1-gallon ea	–	–	–
Total Calories	–	–	–	2,395	7,185	9,015

Chart #4 Daily Emergency Food For Four People

Food Type	# Of Containers	Container Size	Serving Size	Calories Per Serving	Group Calories	Calories Per Package(s)
Power Bar Protein Plus	15 bars	15 bars	1 bar	210	840	3,150
Hormel Beef Tamales	4	15oz can	15oz can	380	1520	1520
Keystone All Natural Ground Beef	4	28oz	28oz can	980	3920	3920
DelMonte Sliced Pears	4	15.25oz	15.25oz can	350	1400	1400
Jiff Peanut Butter	1	16oz Jar	2 tbsp ea	190	760	2,660
Ritz Crackers	1	11.8oz box	8Eightcrackers	80	320	1,680
DelMonte Mixed Veg	4	14.5oz can	14.5oz can	157	628	628
4 Gallons of Drinking Water	4	–	–	–	–	–
Total Calories		–	–	2,347	9,388	14,958

As you stock emergency food, take into account your family’s unique needs and tastes. Familiar foods are important. They lift morale and give a feeling of security in times of stress. Focus on foods that are high in calories and nutrition. That require no refrigeration, water, special preparation, or cooking.

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Chart #5 One Week Emergency Food Supply

A one-week food supply provides a minimum of 14,000 calories and 7 gallons of water per person.

Food Type	# Of Containers	Container Size	Calories Per Package	Total Calories
Dak Canned Ham	2	16oz can	800	1600
Spam Classic	2	12oz can	1080	2,160
Hormel Chili With Beans	2	19oz can	270	540
Keystone All Natural Ground Beef	2	28oz can	980	1960
Cliff Builder Protein Bars	7 Bars	1 Bar	290	2030
Dole Canned Pineapple Chunks In Heavy Syrup	2	20oz	495	1,180
DelMonte Sliced Pears	2	15.25oz can	350	700
DelMonte Fruit Cocktail	2	15.25oz can	350	700
Ocean Spray Craisins	1	24oz bag	2210	2210
Ritz Crackers	1	11.8oz box	1680	1680
Del Monte Mixed Veg	2	14.5oz can	157	314
DelMonte Canned Peas	2	14.5oz can	280	560
DelMonte Sweet Corn	2	14.5oz can	210	420
Nabisco Saltine Crackers	1	16oz box	1960	1960
Jif Peanut Butter	1	16oz jar	2660	2660
1 Gallon Potable Water	7	1gl	–	–
Total Calories		–		20,674

Chart #6 Emergency Food For One Month

For A one-month (30 days) emergency food supply store, a minimum of 60,000 calories and 30 gallons of water per person equals 2000 calories and one gallon of water per day.

Food Type	# Of Containers	Container Size	Calories Per Package	Total Calories
Hormel Canned Tamales	3	15oz can	380	1,140
Dak Canned Ham	3	16oz can	800	2.400
Dinty Moore Beef Stew	3	15oz can	200	600
Hormel Chili With Beans	3	19oz can	270	810
Progresso Beef Pot Roast Soup	3	18.5oz can	220	660
Spam Classic	3	12oz can	1,080	3.240
Hormel Chili With Beans	3	19oz can	270	810
Keystone All Natural Beef	3	28oz can	980	2,940
Keystone All Natural Pork	3	28oz can	980	2.940
Keystone All Natural Turkey	3	28oz can	980	2.940
Nabisco Saltine Crackers	4	16oz box	1,960	7,840
Ritz Crackers	4	11.8oz box	1,680	6.720
Jif Peanut Butter	4	16oz	2,660	10,640
Cliff Builder Protein Bar	10	1 bar	290	2.900
Pop-Tarts Breakfast Pastries	10	13.5oz box	740	7.400
Power Bar Protein Plus	10	1 bar	210	2.100
DelMonte Canned Sliced Peaches (heavy syrup)	10	15.25oz can	350	3.500
DelMonte Fruit Cocktail (heavy syrup)	10	15.25oz can	350	3.500
DelMonte Canned Pears	10	15.25oz can	350	3.500
DelMonte Canned Corn	10	15.25oz can	210	2.100
DelMonte Green Beans	10	14.5oz can	70	700
DelMonte Mixed Vegetables	10	14.5oz can	157	570
Ocean Sprays Craisins	3	24oz bag	2,210	6.630
Daily Multi-Vitamin	–	–	–	–
Fresh Potable Water	30	1gl	–	–
Total Calories		–	–	76,580

Chart #7 Three-Month Emergency Food Supply

Food to survive three months provides 180,000 calories and 90 gallons of water per person, equal to 2000 calories and 1 gallon of water per day for 90 days.

Food Type	# Of Containers	Container Size	Calories Per Package	Total Calories
Hormel Canned Tamales	9	15oz can	380	3,420
Dak Canned Ham	9	16oz can	800	7,200
Dinty Moore Beef Stew	9	15oz can	200	1,800
Hormel Chili With Beans	9	19oz can	270	2,430
Progresso Beef Pot Roast Soup	9	18.5oz can	220	1,980
Spam Classic	9	12oz can	1,080	9,720
Hormel Chili With Beans	9	19oz can	270	2,430
Keystone All Natural Beef	9	28oz can	980	8,820
Keystone All Natural Pork	9	28oz can	980	8,820
Keystone All Natural Turkey	9	28oz can	980	8,820
Nabisco Saltine Crackers	9	16oz box	1,960	17,640
Ritz Crackers	9	11.8oz box	1,680	15,120
Jif Peanut Butter	9	16oz	2,660	23,940
Cliff Builder Protein Bar	45	1 bar	290	13,050
Pop-Tarts Breakfast Pastries	45	13.5oz box	740	33,300
Power Bar Protein Plus	45	1 bar	210	9,450
DelMonte Canned Sliced Peaches (heavy syrup)	30	15.25oz can	350	10,500
DelMonte Fruit Cocktail (heavy syrup)	30	15.25oz can	350	10,500
DelMonte Canned Pears	30	15.25oz can	350	10,500
DelMonte Canned Corn	30	15.25oz can	210	6,300
DelMonte Green Beans	30	14.5oz can	70	2,100
DelMonte Mixed Vegetables	30	14.5oz can	157	4,710
Ocean Sprays Craisins	9	24oz bag	2,210	19,890
Daily Multi-Vitamin	–	90 Tabs	–	–
Fresh Potable Water	90	1gl	–	–
Total Calories		–	–	254,310

Chart #8 Six-Month Emergency Food Supply

To survive six months, stockpile 360,000 calories and 90 gallons of water per person, equal to 2000 calories per day and 1 gallon of water for 180 days.

Food Type	# Of Containers	Container Size	Calories Per Package	Calories
Hormel Canned Tamales	18	15oz can	380	6,840
Dak Canned Ham	18	16oz can	800	14,400
Dinty Moore Beef Stew	18	15oz can	200	3,600
Hormel Chili With Beans	18	19oz can	270	4,860
Progresso Beef Pot Roast Soup	18	18.5oz can	220	3,960
Spam Classic	18	12oz can	1,080	19,440
Hormel Chili With Beans	18	19oz can	270	4,860
Keystone All Natural Beef	18	28oz can	980	17,640
Keystone All Natural Pork	18	28oz can	980	17,640
Keystone All Natural Turkey	18	28oz can	980	17,640
Nabisco Saltine Crackers	18	16oz box	1,960	35,280
Ritz Crackers	18	11.8oz box	1,680	30,240
Jif Peanut Butter	18	16oz	2,660	47,880
Cliff Builder Protein Bar	90	1 bar	290	26,100
Pop-Tarts Breakfast Pastries	90	13.5oz box	740	66,600
Power Bar Protein Plus	90	1 bar	210	18,900
DelMonte Canned Sliced Peaches (heavy syrup)	60	15.25oz can	350	21,000
DelMonte Fruit Cocktail (heavy syrup)	60	15.25oz can	350	21,000
DelMonte Canned Pears	60	15.25oz can	350	21,000
DelMonte Canned Corn	60	15.25oz can	210	12,600
DelMonte Green Beans	60	14.5oz can	70	4,200
DelMonte Mixed Vegetables	60	14.5oz can	157	9,420
Ocean Sprays Craisins	18	24oz bag	2,210	39,780
Daily Multi-Vitamin	–	180 Tabs	–	–
Fresh Potable Water	–	1gl	–	–
Total Calories	–	–	–	464,880

Chart #9 One-Year Emergency Food Supply

To survive one year, store a minimum of 730,000 calories and 365 gallons of water per person. This amount of food storage is equivalent to 2000 calories and one gallon of water per person for 365 days.

Food Type	# Of Containers Needed	Container Size	Calories Per Package	Calories
Hormel Canned Tamales	36	15oz can	380	13,680
Dak Canned Ham	36	16oz can	800	28,800
Dinty Moore Beef Stew	36	15oz can	200	7,200
Hormel Corned Beef Hash	36	14oz can	760	27,360
Progresso Beef Pot Roast Soup	36	18.5oz can	220	7,920
Spam Classic	36	12oz can	1,080	38,880
Hormel Hot Chili With Beans	36	19oz can	270	9,720
Keystone All Natural Beef	36	28oz can	980	35,280
Keystone All Natural Pork	36	28oz can	980	35,280
Keystone All Natural Turkey	36	28oz can	980	35,280
Nabisco Saltine Crackers	36	16oz box	1,960	70,560
Ritz Crackers	36	11.8oz box	1,680	60,480
Jif Peanut Butter	36	16oz	2,660	95,760
Cliff Builder Protein Bar	180	1 bar	290	52,200
Pop-Tarts Breakfast Pastries	180	13.5oz box	740	133,200
Power Bar Protein Plus	180	1 bar	210	37,800
DelMonte Canned Sliced Peaches (heavy syrup)	120	15.25oz can	350	42,000
DelMonte Fruit Cocktail (heavy syrup)	120	15.25oz can	350	42,000
DelMonte Canned Pears	120	15.25oz can	350	42,000
DelMonte Canned Corn	120	15.25oz can	210	25,200
DelMonte Green Beans	120	14.5oz can	70	8,400
DelMonte Mixed Vegetables	120	14.5oz can	157	18,840
Ocean Sprays Craisins	36	24oz bag	2,210	76,560
Daily Multi-Vitamin	365	365 Tabs	–	–
Fresh Potable Water	365gl	1gl	–	–
Total Calories	–	–	–	944,400

Chart #10 One-year Dry-staple Emergency Food

For a one-year supply of dry staples, stockpile 400 lbs of wheat, 60 lbs of dry beans, 60 lbs of sugar, 16 lbs of powdered milk, 10 quarts of cooking oil, and 8lbs of salt.

Long-term food items with a 30 Year Shelf Life (Unless Otherwise Stated)	Approximate Storage Weight
(Types of grain are interchangeable depending on preference, i.e., 1 case of rice for 1 point of wheat)	–
Wheat	132 lbs
White Rice	65 lbs
Rolled Oats	29 lbs
Pasta	21 lbs
Legumes (Beans, Split peas, Lentils)	62 lbs
Milk Powdered Nonfat-Dry	62 lbs
White Table Sugar	70 lbs
Dried Apple Slices	6 lbs
Dried Carrots	8 lbs
Potato Flakes	22 lbs
Dried Onions	40
Iodized Salt	8 lbs
Baking Soda	1 lb
Baking Powder	4 lb
Vitamin C tablet (90 mg)	365 Tablets

Storing dry staple foods like, wheat, white rice and beans, in oxygen-free containers is the cheapest, most effective method of storing the bulk of my emergency foods for a 30- plus year shelf-life.

Scott, Ready Squirrel

If you are interested in storing the bulk of your emergency food as dry staples like dry beans, polished white rice, and hard and soft grains, read the Ready Squirrel article, “How Much Food To Stockpile Per Person.”

Chart #11 One-year Short shelf-life foods

Stockpile and rotate these foods if the bulk of your long-term food storage is dry staples. Unfortunately, fatty foods have a short shelf-life, but we need them to survive. Let’s look at the list of short-shelf-life foods you need to store.

Short-term food items with a short shelf-life	Amount Per Person Per Year
Fats and Oils	2 gallons
Shortening	3 lbs
Butter	6 lbs
Mayonnaise and Salad Dressing	3 quarts
Peanut Butter And Nut Butter	6 lbs
Dry Drink Mixes (Augason Farms Orange Delight)	18 lbs
(Nonfat-Dry, 15 yr shelf life)	62 lbs
Spices	–
Powdered Eggs for baking	6 lbs
Yeast or Make Levain	2 lbs
Sweeteners
Canned fruit	40
Canned Fruit Preserves	8 lbs
Dried Fruit	1 lb
Canned Vegetables	4 lb
Canned Meat	365 Tablets

3 Major considerations for emergency food storage

There are many ways to store enough daily calories for daily survival food calories. Here are a few other things to consider as you build your daily survival calorie count.

#1 Water

It is challenging to store enough water for a one-year supply, but you must have access to clean potable water. To ensure you have enough water, reserve at least 14 gallons per person for a two-week supply and look into purifying natural water sources for extended catastrophes.

#2 Shelf-life of food

Dry Staple Foods like beans, rice, wheat, and rolled oats stored in oxygen-free containers will be acceptable to eat for at least 30 years. For maximum shelf life, keep these foods in the dark, cexcellentlocation. Avoid storing food in hot storage areas like outdoor sheds or a garage.

Freezing these foods is as bad as storing them in hot conditions, and heat and freezing temperatures drastically reduce the shelf life of survival food.

#3 Short-term food items

Foods with a shorter shelf-life must be rotated into your regular diet or replaced.

Sources

Basic Disaster Supplies Kit, Federal Emergency Management Agency Ready.gov

Thanks for visiting Ready Squirrel. If you have any thoughts or questions, please leave them in the comments.

Keep on prepping!

Kind Regards, Scott