How Much Food Do I Need for the Apocalypse?
When someone mentions emergencies supplies, most people instantly think of food and water. That’s probably because they know humans die when they’re deprived of either one! During a disaster, access to food can be severely limited, so it’s important to stock up beforehand. It’s also important to get the right amount for your household. Thankfully, we live in an era where scientists and chefs have crafted 25-year shelf life food for this exact purpose. These non-perishable items not only provide essential sustenance, but also bring a touch of delicious comfort to any distressing situation!
Pre-packaged emergency food makes preparing easier; you can ensure your supplies will hold out for a certain number of days. We’ve broken down how some of our favorite packages would work for different sized households to make it easier to choose which one is right for you. If you’re a little short of your goal, we always recommend adding on a few jars of peanut butter to fill in the gaps!
Please note: For your Stay Bag, you’ll want at least 14 days worth of food per person. This would be 28,000 calories, assuming 2,000 calories per day. Daily calorie needs vary! Plan accordingly. For this article, we calculated days according to the 2,000 calorie average for adults.
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If you’re a household of 1-2, try…
Weight: 31 lbs
Total calories: 48,640
Number of 2,000 calorie days: 23.70
- This option would last a household of two adults almost 12 days if both are eating 2,000 calories a day.
If you’re a household of 2-4, try…
Weight: 62 lbs
Total calories: 97,280
Number of 2,000 calorie days: 48.64
- This option would last a household of two adults a little more than 24 days if both are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of three adults a little more than 16 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of four adults a little more than 12 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
If you’re a household of 4-6, try…
Weight: 92 lbs
Total calories: 143,880
Number of 2,000 calorie days: 71.94
- This option would last a household of two adults almost 144 days if both are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of three adults almost 24 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of four adults almost 18 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of five adults a little more than 14 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of six adults almost 12 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
If you’re a household of 6-10+, try…
Weight: 185 lbs
Total calories: 287,760
Number of 2,000 calorie days: 143.88
- This option would last a household of two adults about 72 days if both are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of three adults about 48 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of four adults about 36 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of five adults almost 29 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of six adults about 24 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of seven adults a little more than 20 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of eight adults about 18 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of nine adults about 16 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 10 adults a little more than 14 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 11 adults a little more than 13 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
If you have an entire commune to feed, try…
Weight: 1,108 lbs lbs
Total calories: 1,726,560
Number of 2,000 calorie days: 863.28
This option would last a household of 2-62 adults…
- This option would last a household of two adults almost 432 days if both are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of three adults almost 288 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of four adults almost 216 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of five adults almost 173 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of six adults almost 144 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of seven adults a little more than 123 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of eight adults about 108 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of nine adults about 96 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 10 adults a little more than 86 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 11 adults a little more than 78 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 12 adults about 72 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 13 adults a little more than 66 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 14 adults a little more than 61 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 15 adults a little more than 57 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 16 adults about 54 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 17 adults almost 51 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 18 adults almost 48 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 19 adults a little more than 45 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 20 adults a little more than 43 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 21 adults a little more than 41 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 22 adults a little more than 39 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 23 adults a little more than 37 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 24 adults about 36 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 25 adults a little more than 34 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 26 adults a little more than 33 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 27 adults about 32 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 28 adults almost 31 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 29 adults almost 30 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 30 adults almost 29 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 31 adults almost 28 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 32 adults about 27 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 33 adults a little more than 26 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 34 adults a little more than 25 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 35 adults a little more than 24 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 36-37 adults about 24 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 38-39 adults about 23 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 40-42 adults about 21 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 43-44 adults about 20 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 45-46 adults about 19 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 47-49 adults about 18 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 50-52 adults about 17 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 53-56 adults about 16 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 57-59 adults about 15 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
- This option would last a household of 60-62 adults about 14 days if all are eating 2,000 calories a day.
If you want to enjoy the food…
What good is having emergency food if you can’t eat it? You’ll need a way to prepare it. Make sure you have an emergency stove, fuel, and water. Clean drinking water is a must for preparing most shelf stable foods, and is highly recommended for your survival in general. Avoid certain death and whatnot.
Survival Stove
You won’t have to rely on the power grid with this portable emergency stove, which comes with fuel and tools. It’s safe to use indoors, which is rare for a camp stove.
Water Storage Barrel
If you’ve chosen one of the larger packages above, pair it with a collection of these stackable water tanks. This BPA-free barrel comes with a treatment kit to make sure you’re staying hydrated with clean drinking water. Your Stay Bag should include 14 gallons of water per person (1 gallon per day) for drinking, and storing extra water for hygiene purposes is a great bonus!
