[drcoastline]

Patriot and those other companies are exorbitantly expensive high in sodium and you get very little actual "food" ie; Chicken, beef, pork what ever. You can do the same thing yourself far cheaper better quality and healthier.

First and and foremost you need a way to store long term, Cool, dark and lack of oxygen. I use a food saver and Mylar bags and regular food saver bags. Oxygen absorbers as well. I store my stash in food grades 5 gallon buckets from a local deli I get free and Plano storage boxes that are the same ones used by Patriot.

Next you need staple items, rice, beans, grains, flour including pancake and cake mixes, dried milk, salt, pepper, etc. The packaging these products come in are not designed for long term storage and is designed to degrade. So you need to transfer to the Mylar and food saver bags.

Once you have the staple items build around that. Canned ham, canned beef, chicken, tuna. I also have freeze dried beef, chicken. Then you will need sides and flavorings, packets of dried gravies, sauces, etc. I also like the Knorr rice and pasta sides.

Any energy bar will work. The key to long term storage of any of this is first the elimination of oxygen use a food saver and include an oxygen absorber as a back up, Then darkness and cool temps. Your stash will last for years.

I have probably two years of supplies for a family of four if portioned and no waste. So I figure about three years. There will be waste and times of larger portions. Of course the thought is also to hunt, fish, grow veggies.

Also don't under estimate alcohol especially vodka or Ever clear.

Every time I go to the store $10.00 is devoted to stash items.