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Essentials

Emergency food supply: what to stock up on

A useful food plan is built around what people can safely eat and prepare. It should not depend on unlimited clean water, refrigeration or a cooking method that may be unsafe indoors.

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From AidWorkers Humanitarian experience applied at homeEvidence base 4 named sourcesReviewed 25 July 2026

Why this matters

Start with ordinary shelf-stable foods your household already uses, then rotate them into normal meals. Balance energy, protein, fibre and micronutrients as far as practical, while respecting allergies, medical diets, texture needs and cultural or religious requirements.

Plan food in layers: items that need no cooking, foods that need little fuel and longer-term staples. Include a manual opener, clean preparation tools and a method for tracking what should be eaten first after a power cut.

Before disruption

Prepare now

  • List familiar shelf-stable meals and snacks that each household member can eat.
  • Add foods that require no heat or added water for the first stage of disruption.
  • Record allergies, intolerances, medical diets, infant-feeding needs and safe substitutes.
  • Store food away from moisture, pests, fuel and household chemicals, then rotate it regularly.
  • Plan a fridge and freezer strategy, including an appliance thermometer if recommended locally.

When it is happening

Protect the next decision

  1. Follow public-health advice after floods, contamination events and long power failures.
  2. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed and use perishable food in a safe order.
  3. Inspect packaging for damage, swelling, leakage, rust or contamination and discard unsafe items.
  4. Protect clean preparation areas and separate raw foods from ready-to-eat foods.

Plan for real people

Access, care and inclusion

  • Choose packaging that people can open and portions that will not create unsafe leftovers.
  • Include suitable foods for children, older people and anyone with chewing or swallowing difficulty.
  • Plan for reduced appetite during stress without relying only on sweets or low-nutrient snacks.
  • Ask a qualified health professional about emergency substitutions for medically necessary diets.

Mental readiness

Protect morale and clear thinking

  • Include modest quantities of familiar comfort foods and drinks that make a difficult day feel more normal.
  • Examples may include tea and boiled sweets, coffee and candy, soup, spices or another culturally familiar ritual.
  • Treat shared meals as a routine and point of connection, provided cooking, water and hygiene are safe.

Common mistakes

What to avoid

  • Buying large quantities of unfamiliar food that nobody normally eats.
  • Relying on foods that need more water, fuel or refrigeration than the plan can provide.
  • Eating food exposed to floodwater, chemicals or unsafe temperatures because it looks normal.

Evidence and review

Sources behind this guide

Prepare Now uses authoritative government, humanitarian and public-health material as a starting point. Source advice can be specific to a country, hazard or date, so check the current version for your location.

Continue preparing

Safe cookingMatch meals and cooking methods to ventilation, fuel, fire safety and available clean water.WaterStore, protect and manage water for drinking, food, hygiene, health needs and animals.Clothing, sleep & comfortUse layers, rest, hygiene and familiar comfort items to protect health and endurance.

Editorial status: first staging edition. Safety-critical instructions will receive specialist and jurisdiction review before public launch.