Plan So You Don’t Panic

Food for Emergencies

by Leah McGrath, RD, LDN – Ingles Dietitian

Portions of this article appeared in [email protected]

Typically when people hear of an impending snow or severe weather event they make a mad rush for their local Ingles and buy eggs, bread, milk, plus anything that they feel they can’t live without for a few days.

This means that store shelves are quickly wiped out for some of these basics. Here are some ways to plan a bit better so you are more prepared:

Bread – We sell frozen dough, breads and rolls. Bread, roll, cookie, and cake mixes can be found on the grocery aisles. We also sell refrigerated doughs, biscuits, and pizza crust. Bake it or make it. Keep these items in your freezer or pantry.

Milk – Stock UHT (Ultra High Temperature) milk. We have almond, soy, goat, and rice, as well as cow’s milk that is shelf stable for six months. You can also find powdered milk or evaporated milk at Ingles that can be stored in your pantry.

Eggs – In addition to fresh eggs we sell liquid eggs in our dairy and frozen foods departments.

Fruit and Vegetables – Keep frozen fruit and vegetables in your freezer, and dried fruit and canned fruit and vegetables in your pantry.

Buy a whole chicken, turkey or a roast and cook it ahead of time so you can eat from it for a few days. Cook soups and chili in a crockpot. If the power goes out you can also cook on an outdoor grill.

Keep canned or packaged meat, chicken and fish, like salmon, sardines, and tuna, in the pantry for meals and sandwiches.

Nut butters and jelly, cereal, and meal replacement bars are also good to have on hand.

Don’t forget pet food, baby food/formula, toilet paper, candles, matches, batteries for flashlights, and of course a few gallons of water for drinking.