Any sort of emergency evacuation is stressful enough without adding hunger pangs to the mix. With that in mind, give some serious thought as to what you can pack in your bug-out bag to stave off the missed meal cramps.
It’s important to understand that we’re not talking about lugging around enough food for three squares a day for weeks on end. The goal is simply to have enough calories for a day or two, which will hopefully be enough time for you to land wherever you’re going.
Picking the Best Bug Out Food
Bug Out Food Requirements
There are a few guidelines you may want to follow as you put together your kit.
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Your bug-out food should be shelf-stable. It might be sitting in your pack for weeks or even months, and you don’t want it to go bad. While best-by dates aren’t truly indicative of when food goes off, they can be good guidelines when it comes to storage. Make sure you rotate food in and out of your bug-out bag regularly, so it gets used up rather than tossed out.
The food should require little or no prep. Don’t plan to actually cook anything in a bug-out scenario. Heating water is about the most involved as you want meal preparation to be.
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Bear in mind that the weight and bulk of the food you select will add to the bug-out bag. If you end up having to travel on foot, the last thing you want is to try dragging around an overstuffed pack.
Expense is also a factor to consider. Don’t go out and buy a ton of special survival food. There’s no need to do so, and a lot of that stuff is really expensive for what you’re getting. That said, don’t pack food you know you don’t like to eat, no matter how cheap it is. If you’re bugging out, you’re already not having a fun time. There’s no sense in piling on more misery.
Bug Out Food Suggestions
With all of that in mind, here are some suggestions that meet most or all of those guidelines.
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Granola bars are a great source of quick energy. The downside is they can be adversely affected by high temperatures, so you’ll want to rotate them out often in the summer months. Bags of seeds and nuts also fall into the same category, with the same warnings.
Pouched meats like tuna or chicken can be great. They’re available in different flavors and can be eaten right from the pouch. There are also packets of cooked rice that can be eaten the same way.
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Crackers with or without peanut butter aren’t a bad option. If you want to add the peanut butter, you can find it sold in soft-side tubes or pouches that are easy to pack.
Instant oatmeal can be quite filling. Same with instant mashed potatoes or soup mixes that require just some hot water.
Tea bags or packets of instant coffee mix might be advisable.
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Bug Out Food Equipment
A canister stove is a great addition to the bug-out bag. They’re lightweight, even with the fuel canister, and don’t take up a ton of space. What’s nice is that you’re able to boil water to rehydrate food or make coffee without having to build and maintain a campfire.
If you’re planning to heat water, you’ll need a small cooking vessel for doing so. There are a number of mess kits on the market today. You’ll also want a utensil or two, such as a titanium spork like those shown above.
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Remember, the goal isn’t to live out of your bug-out bag indefinitely. It’s to use the supplies and gear to meet your basic survival needs until you reach a safe location.