Having enough food to last you for several weeks is one of the most important things you can have as an unprepared or novice prepper. While it may sound silly to say, “I’m not hungry, so I don’t need any more food,” we all know that hunger isn’t always the strongest instinct in nature.
With that said, eating well is one of the best ways to calm down your nervous system and help reset your body’s clock. Plus, there are lots of health benefits to eating nutritious foods.
But how much food do you really need? That depends on what kind of person you are and how active you are. The average person needs around two to three months supply of food at a minimum depending on whether they eat meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts and/or berries on a daily basis.
A lot of people only include cooking oil, sugar and salt in their list of prepared items because those are the main components of most packaged foods. But if you add nutritional yeast, dried pasta, canned beans and peas to that then you’ve doubled your shelf space!
And while some might think that buying a bunch of raw produce and cheese would be the way to go, we suggest instead stocking up on energy bars and dried fruit that you can mix into something edible. A good rule of thumb is to aim to consume 10-12% of your weight in protein every day.
Water
Having enough water for daily life and prepping is an important part of being prepared. Even though it may seem like overkill, you should still have at least a one-month supply of drinking water stored away.
This includes buying a basic one gallon (3.78 L) bottle for every person in your family. It also means making sure to include some form of purified water such as distilled or spring water.
There are plenty of ways to drink liquid that do not require boiling. Some people prefer filtered water due to the added minerals. Either way is fine!
Water is essential for nearly all bodily functions and staying hydrated can help keep you healthy. Unfortunately, most Americans are consuming less than half our recommended amount.
Diluting your water is another good idea as more fluid will aid in digestion and overall health. Consuming alcohol and caffeine before preparing drinks with water can potentially affect how well your body uses the water we give it.
Drinking alcoholic beverages and using coffee cans as water bowls removes the possibility of this effect. However, having a second source of water is better! Buying a portable airtight container and filling it up from a pure water source is the best option.
First Aid Kit
One of the most important items in any prepper’s inventory is their first aid kit. A basic first aid kit should have at least one bottle of alcohol, one roll of gauze, one box of surgical gloves, one pair of clean washable plastic bags, one pack of oral hygiene products such as toothbrush and paste, one package of each other individual health products (pain relievers, eye drops, etc.), one packet of aspirin, and a pen that works.
The key thing to know about first aid kits is that they are not designed to be used all at once! Most people don’t use half of what things mean within the contents of a first aid kit, which is why there are always leftovers lying around. If you happen to pull out the last piece of skin, wound, or nail, you will probably need to improvise and look up how to do it online.
Fire Extinguisher
Having a working fire extinguisher is one of the most important things you can have in your home. This should be no surprise as we’ve discussed them before in other articles!
A fire extinguisher will help put out any small flames that may arise in your home or work place. It will also give you some time to prepare for what you are going to do next.
You don’t want to use it just because you could, so make sure you know how to use yours!
Fire extinquishers come in many different sizes and styles. Make sure you pick one that fits with the size group of people that will need access to it.
Experts suggest having at least one type of every size for easy accessibility. The best types are A-D rated, color coded according to temperature level, and able to alert someone else if used correctly.
Battery Charger
Having a battery charger is one of the most important items to have in your prepping repertoire. This should be something you have before starting pre-preparation or even during preparation times!
A good quality universal AC to DC battery charger will cost around $20-30. It can help you keep track of how many batteries you have, what type they are, and whether they need recharging.
These chargers also test the charge of each individual cell so that you know if it has lost its power or not.
Flashlight
A very important item to have in your prepping repertoire is a flashlight. There are many types of flashlights that do different things depending on what type of light you want to put out.
One of the most common types of flashlights is called an LED (for Light Emitting Diode) flashlight. These are becoming increasingly popular because they can be quite bright while using a small amount of power.
Another great thing about them is how long they will last – often longer than traditional fluorescent or gas powered flashlights! This makes them worth it’s weight in gold for preppers.
There are several ways to use these flashlights. Some people like putting them under the bed covers so they can read at night, while others keep them by their bedroom doors in case of a power outage.
Yet another way to use this equipment is during daytime emergencies. For example, if there was no electricity available, then you could use those LEDs as alternative lighting sources.
Radio/Cell Phone
Having a way to communicate is one of the most important things you can have as an unprepared person during a crisis or natural disaster. Technology has advanced rapidly so choosing a good device is key to having constant contact.
Most people are familiar with cell phones, but what about those old-fashioned radio receivers? There are still some areas where they are needed!
Radio receivers will work just like a normal phone, except they do not need a direct line of sight to transmit signals. This makes them useful in more confined spaces such as homes and cars. They also do not require power to use either which helps make it last longer.
Some other features include being able to pick up transmissions from afar (up to several miles) and having earbuds so you do not have to hold the receiver up to your head.
Hand Sanitizer
Having a constant supply of hand sanitizer is one of the most important things you can have as an emergency preparedness item. A very common way to purchase this is at drug stores, but there are some great ways to make your own at home!
You will need: liquid alcohol (alcohol comes in many forms such as rubbing alcohol or ethanol), plastic cups, q-tips, and a source of heat like a burner or pot that can be used to boil the liquids needed.
Once everything is ready, mix together enough sanitizer for the number of people it will meet for an adequate amount of time. The best way to use hand sanitizer is by either soaking a wet cloth in the bottle until it is completely dried or dipping a dry piece of cloth into the bottle and wiping other parts of hands later.
Never throw away leftover alcohol after using it because it will degrade and potentially poison anyone who comes in contact with it! Keep it stored in a sealed container so it does not evaporate.
Why Do We Need A Prepper Pantry? (And What Does That Mean?)
As we have discussed, while preparing for an emergency is important, what kind of emergencies you are looking to prepare for will determine how much money you need to invest in supplies.
If you want to be prepared for something like a natural disaster, buying items such as food stocks and water bottles can really add up quickly.
On the other hand, if you are planning on staying away from civilization for a few months or even years, then stocking up on less essential goods makes more sense.
Luckily, there is some great advice out there that can help you organize your prepping space and determine which types of supplies make the most sense for you.