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Thursday, November 13, 2014

Post Disaster Meals - No Cooking Required!

*This is a a re-post from Oct. 2012

{While talking to a neighbor last night this post came to mind and I thought it would be a good reminder for everyone. We were discussing what we would eat in the days immediately following a disaster.  Even those of us who like to eat fresh food most of the time, the hours and days after a disaster will require a different approach to eating.  The concept of having at least three days worth of food will go right along side your 72-hour kits.}

Post Disaster Meals--No Cooking Required! 

I read a great post over at Homestead Revival and it got me thinking about the minutes, hours, and first days after a disaster.  What would I be doing?  What would my family be eating, drinking, sleeping on, etc?  Amy, from Homestead Revival, described a situation just like Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath that ensued.  I was inspired by her words and her challenge to come up with enough meals for 3 days that required NO cooking.  This is definitely a challenge!  I do  have ways to cook without power, but in the hours following a disaster I don't know if I will be able to get to my butane stove, and have the sense to even want to think about cooking a meal.  

The first meal that Amy put together was tuna, crackers, a small container of mayo, pickle relish, canned fruit, and small bags of trail mix.  She keeps this in a Rubbermaid type container and has it labeled.  Everything required for the meal would be contained in the box, even a can opener, and there is no cooking needed.  Amy then challenged her readers to come up with their own meals to add to a disaster kit.  I sat and thought what could I possibly have on hand for breakfast, lunch, and, dinner without cooking.  Here is what I came up with......

Breakfast would include:
  • Cereal
  • Shelf-stable milk
  • bowls and spoons


 Lunch  #1 would include:
  • Tuna
  • Saltine crackers
  • Mayo
  • Pineapple (for in the sandwich or a side fruit)
  • Chex Mix


Lunch #2 would include:
  • Peanut butter
  • Jelly
  • Saltine Crackers
  • Oranges



Lunch or Dinner idea:
  •  Soup (different kinds for picky family eaters)
  • Saltine Crackers
  • Spoons & bowls
  • Pears
The soup wouldn't be warm, but it is edible.  


 Dinner would include:
  • Taco shells
  • Black beans
  • Olives
  • Salsa
  • Oranges
  • And I forgot the utensils in this pic :)


Now I need to put all this food into a water safe container with a variety of crackers, more silverware, napkins, and utensils.  I added some peanut butter and crackers at the top of the picture for a snack.  I might just add a few pieces of Halloween candy to keep our sweet tooth happy too!

And don't forget a......


What meal ideas would work for your family??  This is only the beginning, I will have to ponder this subject some more and see what else would work for us!  This idea will supplement our 72-hour kits nicely and having it all in one bin will allow me to rotate it easier, and I know that all our food is in one place.   

8 comments:

  1. Just came to your site through Pintrest and LOVE IT!! :)

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    1. Thank you so much June! It is a hobby for me, but I love to prepare and find so much joy in it!

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  2. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this post! I am going to write a similar post and link it to yours! You rock as always!

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    1. You're pretty awesome yourself Linda :-)!! I learn so much from you all the time. I can't wait to see your post!

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  3. I love these no prep ideas! It's good to have a back up for the back up plan since you never know what you'll be dealing with. Thanks Julene!

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  4. Spagetti-os taste better cold out of the can if you ask me lol, can ravioli not so much. There are a lot of things besides cereal, tuna and peanut butter and crackers that are no cool options for meals.
    Canned soups
    Canned pastas meals
    Granola or other breakfast bars
    You can make chicken or ham salad using canned meat easily with small bottles of mayo and a few relish packets

    Don't forget if you are staying home during/after the disaster you may be forced to hurry up and use what refrigerated or frozen items you have.
    Try putting a few cans of sterno fuel and a a metal pan (I use a small foil pan and the smallest rack they make for using sterno) into your bin with these foods. I know the idea is to not have to cook it but in case you can't get to you alternate cooking heat methods and you need to hurry up and cook fridge foods this would give you an option (also seriously cold can ravioli is nasty lol)

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    1. Thank so much for you ideas! I remember eating spaghetti-os out of the can in college and my roommates thought I was weird...lol. My kids won't touch canned pastas. I sometimes wish they liked them but I had to find alternative options. I do have a portable stove and fuel with our kits with other food that would need to be cooked. I'm all about having more than one plan for a disaster. :-)

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