Don’t Forget to Stock Your Favorite Snacks
Don’t forget to stock your favorite snacks, even when you’re stocking up for emergencies. It’s my hope that at this point each of my readers has come to realize just how important it is to be stocked up with enough nonperishable foods and water in your pantry.
That way, in case an emergency situation were ever to happen, your family would have one less thing to worry about. But you also don’t want to be stocked up only on items like canned beans and white rice.
Because, who knows how long your situation could last and those beans and rice could become a little boring. It wouldn’t be long before your family grew tired of eating those types of foods and would be craving a sweet or salty snack. I love dark chocolate, Dark Chocolate, and don’t forget Milk Chocolate too.
Sam’s Club and Costco have some of the best snacks anywhere, plus, the prices are decent as well.
Stock Your Favorite Snacks
This is why I personally believe that you shouldn’t forget about stocking up on some of those fun and delicious food items as well. There are several fabulous snack items that can be stored for longer periods of time.
Some of them are even healthy for you, providing your family with energy when they need it the most. So be sure to keep reading to find out what they are! Stock your favorite snacks because, in the end, it will be worth it!
Protein or Fruit Bars
Protein bars, along with fruit bars, are two healthy snack options that can easily be stored. They have a decent amount of vitamins and minerals to help you through the day. I realize they don’t have a very long shelf life, but six months will work when you need a treat in your pantry inventory.
I like to keep a box or two of protein bars in my pantry at all times because they come in handy whenever I’m feeling a little lightheaded or need an energy boost. But keep in mind, just because they say protein on them, doesn’t mean that they’re that good for you. Try to avoid the ones that are full of sugar and actually look for those varieties with a high percentage of protein. Oatmeal Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Popcorn
If you have a large family, then popcorn is definitely a snack that you’re going to want to have on hand. It’s not only filling, but it’s also a lot cheaper than buying a bunch of different salty snacks. All you need is some popcorn kernels, oil, and a little salt and you’re good to go! Don’t forget, on those special occasions you can enjoy some with the family on movie night at your house. Popcorn: Everything You Need To Know
Nuts
Nuts are another healthy snack option that can be stored for long periods of time. They’re perfect for when you need a little something to munch on, but don’t want to eat something too heavy.
Plus, they contain a fair amount of protein and vitamins which is always a plus. Not only that, but there are plenty of options besides regular peanuts. With all the choices of nut varieties, you won’t get tired of the same old thing each time. I love having pecans, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, Macadamia, and a few others on hand! Health Benefits of Nuts: Stock Up
Rice Cakes
Rice cakes have lost a lot of their popularity since the 80s and late 90s, but you can still find them on the shelf at most grocery stores. They also make for a great healthy snack! They’re light, airy, and come in a variety of different flavors. You can even top them with peanut butter or cheese if you want to get a little creative. Food Prices Will Be Going Up
Dried Fruit
Dried fruit is perfect for when you’re craving something sweet but don’t want all the sugar that comes along with many fruit choices. Plus, they store really well so you don’t have to worry about them going bad as you do with fresh fruit. Just make sure to keep them in an airtight container once they’ve been opened so that they don’t get hard over time. Some dried fruits to look for include raisins, dried apricots, cranberries, mangoes, and pineapple. Summer Fruits You Should Be Eating
Peanut Butter
If you have children living in your home, then you know how important it is that you don’t run out of peanut butter no matter what the emergency may be. Peanut butter is not only a healthy snack full of protein, but it can also be used in a pinch as a sandwich or cracker spread. Some people even put them with pretzels. Just make sure that you have some bread and crackers stored away as well! Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
Beef Jerky
Beef jerky and beef sticks are so good, but for some reason, most people only think about them while they’re on a road trip. However, they actually store really well so you can keep them around for snacks or even lightweight meals.
They have a lot of protein which makes them perfect for when you need an energy boost and they’re usually pretty low in fat as well. Just make sure to check the labels before you buy because some brands can be pretty high in sodium.
Canned Tuna
Canned or packaged tuna is another healthy snack option that can easily be stored. It’s perfect for when you need a little something to eat but don’t need a full meal. Plus, it’s full of healthy omega-3 fatty acids which are great for your heart and brain.
Just make sure that you get the ones that are packed in water and not oil, but rest assured, you’ll still have plenty of brands to choose from. 11 Emergency Foods That You Need Please note, I have found tuna becomes mushy if I have it stocked for longer than a year.
Canned Juices
Don’t get stuck only drinking water during an emergency. Not only will it get boring, but you need to make sure that you’re getting enough sugar and various nutrients as well. That’s why it’s important to have some canned juices on hand. You can find them in a variety of different brands and flavors, so there’s bound to be something for everyone. And since they’re canned, they’ll store for a long time. 11 Cans Of Fruit I Recommend
Comfort Snacks (Optional)
While I’ll admit that this list mostly consists of healthier snacks, brace yourself because that’s not where this next one is going. If your family enjoys a handful of delicious potato chips or a few chocolate chip cookies every now in then, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to stock up on a few of your favorite comfort snacks as well.
But keep in mind that these types of food typically have a shorter shelf life, so you’ll need to rotate your junk food supply every few months. I confess, I eat a handful of chocolate chips a few times a month. I love chocolate!
Final Word
So there you have it, a list of healthy and delicious snacks that can be stored away for your family in case of emergencies. Be sure to stock up on your favorites so that you always have something to eat when more than hunger strikes! May God Bless this world, Linda
We freeze dried ice cream. Mountain House has some too. I carry them in my pack even when hunting
Hi Matt, oh my gosh, I saw a demo on the Harvest Right freeze-drying some ice cream sandwiches!! I may order some Mountain House, thanks for the reminder!!! Linda
Linda, we always have large bags of M&M’s plain and with peanuts in our freezer. And I get cases of Nature Valley Chewy Fruit Nut bars at Costco as well as large boxes of Rice Krispie Treats. I also get the cashews and Craisins I use in my trail mix there.
Hi Ray, oh I love M & M’s and especially the M & M peanuts! I need to make some trail mix with my favorites, great idea!! Linda
We stock goodies in our food storage. We like hard candies of various kinds and I like all of the M&M’s. Husband likes beef jerky and he makes his own on occasion. It stores for awhile but he and Son eat it before it has a chance to go bad!
Hi Paula, I love hearing your husband makes jerky. Hard candies are great to have as well as M & M’s!!!! Linda
We spent almost 2 weeks living off our emergency supplies after a hurricane. No power, stores were closed. We had food but it never occurred to me to store snacks or treats. Finally a Walgreens opened – very limited selection. We were thrilled to grab a bag of Doritos! Still makes me smile how good those tasted!
Hi Kay, best comment ever!! The Doritos!! I would smile every time I saw those too!! Love this! This is why we need to stock treats! Linda
We have freeze dryer flavored yogurt mini ice cream sandwiches. For the grandkids we keep small bags of chips and dehydrated apples, Graham crackers and chocolate frosting. I make homemade peanut butter balls .one of them was eating home apple pie filling out of the jar.a
Hi Arlene, the homemade apple pie filling story is the best!! It’s so yummy with or without a pie crust!! I grew up on graham crackers and leftover frosting, forgot about that until just now! Great ideas for snacks!! Linda
OK, so I admit, I am a junk food junkie. Nature Valley Granola Bars, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Dark chocolate covered raisins, Beef sticks. I like granola for a snack. Super sharp cheddar cheese is another good one. Cape Cod low fat potato chips. Frozen strawberries and raspberries are good too. Cheddar crackers and Graham crackers with butter round out my list.
Hi Chris, oh my gosh, these sound so good!! I had to Google peanut butter blossoms!! I have been making those for years if it’s a peanut butter cookie with a Hershey kiss in the middle! LOL! Oh, the dark chocolate-covered raisins, this is so fun, I need to up my game with some more snacks!! Love it! Linda
My husband puts the kisses on the cookies before baking them. The kisses don’t melt but it improves the taste of the chocolate. Unfortunately dark chocolate kisses don’t work….. oh, I forgot red skin peanuts.
Hi Chris, now I want to make those cookies! Red skin peanuts are awesome!! Linda
I would if I could but every time I try the kids and my husband finds them and they eat them. Now if you had a good idea where to hide them that they can’t find I would love that. LOL
Jackie, I would start my holiday baking in September, while the kids were in school. I wrapped them in freezer paper, and marked them “chicken livers” before freezing them. No one ever bothered with the chicken livers………lol
Hi Chris, I just commented on Jackie’s comment about a reader talking about hiding their stash in a liver package!! I guess it was chicken livers, this is the best comment ever! LOL! Linda
Hi Jackie, oh this is the funniest idea! I remember a reader saying they placed their favorite chocolate in a meat wrapper package that said LIVER on it!! Or something similar, then they had a way to rewrap it so no one knew it as opened. Life is good if you have your own stash! LOL! Linda
put them in a #10 can with another label and they will never know what is really in it.
HI Sandra, this is a great idea!!! I love it!! Linda
My go to but not so healthy LTS snacks are, SweetTarts, M&Ms and Pez. Yes, I really do have a 5 gallon bucket with mylar bags of SweetTarts and Pez candies. The M&Ms in their original packages (pre-plastic jug) are still fresh tasting despite being 5 years past date….non-peanut variety of course. And my Hershey Bars are still going strong with only a small textural difference after 5 years post best by date.
And I have a bunch of freeze dried fruits that can be used as snacks or as a way to perk up a bowl of breakfast, or even a salad.
Yum!
Thanks for the reminder, and appreciate you keeping the community thinking about the important things in life.
Hi DMWalsh, oh my gosh, this is the best comment ever! I haven’t heard about those PEZ dispensers in years! The SweetTarts, boy does this bring back memories! Now I need to go to the candy aisle. We do indeed need to stock these important things in life!! Love it! Linda
Your reminders are so great. Especially when they give me ideas to use right now. I pack lunches for my grandson to take to his mfg job and I worry about ‘food fatigue’. Lol, it’s easier in winter to send variety of hot foods than in summer: sandwiches, chips, protein bars, sometimes fresh fruit or veggies are my lunch staples. Frankly, sometimes the snack items can be a bit pricey when pre~packaged. He actually doesn’t always take a break off the line as the workers are allowed to eat when/as they want to! Your list got me to thinking about buying bulk jerky, flavored popcorn, chips, trail mix, etc then putting in snack size bags. For some things, I may want to make up a lot of baggies, then put in larger food saver bags, perhaps even freezing some. (I do this for his sandwiches.) It’s got to be cheaper than buying the individually pkgd items! In addition, if I put these snack foods in my pantry, they get eaten/opened before the end of the week…sigh. I prefer to buy a big order once a month. It’s odd but I can make up 20 sandwiches, freeze, and everybody recognizes those are for his lunch; if I just left all the meats, cheeses or even sandwiches in the frig, they’d be eaten right away. So, using your list I can make up small baggies, Food Saver in a larger bag for a week at a time. He’d get a good variety and I won’t have to worry about having to go buy more snacks. Yes, salty and sweet snacks do help with energy levels. I’d appreciate others ideas on snacks I could make myself, baggie. I’m not a cheapskate but by golly, a lot of the typical pre~pkgd snack foods have really gone up in price. TIA.
Hi Wendy, I hear you on the price of prepackaged snacks, yikes, they are pricey. I just opened a bag of jerky that was moldy (I bought it two days ago, it was not opened until last night) I can see that a slit was cut in the bag I didn’t see in the store. It was so gross, I will go and exchange it asap. Now I know why jerky must be refrigerated or frozen. Yikes! I like your idea of buying in bulk and making your own snacks. Even bulk prices are up now, darn it! Linda
Linda, geez I’d be very disgusted finding moldy jerky I’d just bought too! I actually was thinking of just re~packaging jerky sticks leaving in bags with chips bags but will plan on freezing jerky now. And, I will be checking the store packaging!
Hi Wendy, there was a 2-inch skinny slice on the top of the package that we didn’t see when we bought it. I think it was from a cutter opening the boxes maybe? We got it at Costco, they exchanged it, so we’re good. Once opened the bags must be refrigerated or frozen. Linda