Find a place to store your stockpile of food that stays completely dry, and try to find a place that stays a consistent temperature year round. This will help keep your food from expiring sooner than normal and keep mold from growing in or around your food supply.
Pay attention to what and how much your family eats on a daily basis. Consider doubling the amount of food you buy the next time you go to the grocery store. Make sure to include items in your stockpile for those members of your family with special needs. For example, if you have an infant who requires formula, you may consider getting some extra cans of formula.
Include staples in your stockpile, such as iodized salt, flour, peanut butter, pasta, dry soup mix, vinegar, wheat, corn, beans and products with vitamin C. It is recommended that you rotate these items every two years.
Purchase foods that are sealed. Good foods to stockpile are those in a can, such as beans or nuts. Pay attention to items that expire quickly, such as bread.
Find dried foods. Other good foods to stockpile for survival situations include those that are already dehydrated, such as dried fruit and beef jerky. These foods will last much longer.
Pick foods that require little to no preparation. A can of spaghetti is much easier to cook in an emergency situation than noodles, spaghetti sauce and meat.
Add water to your stockpile. Water is an absolute necessity to maintaining your health and should remain plentiful in your stockpile. It is suggested by the University of Georgia - Consumer's Guide: "Preparing an Emergency Food Supply Long Term Food Storage", that you have enough liquid so that every family member can drink 2 quarts per day.
Rotate foods in your stockpile. Make sure to put your most recently purchased goods in the back and eat the ones in the front of the stockpile first to keep food from expiring.
Pay attention to food expiration dates and food recalls issued by the Consumer Products Safety Commission and the Food and Drug Administration. Make sure that no food included in your stockpiled has been recalled.
