Start with meals you already make.
Choose shelf-stable foods that fit your household’s tastes and dietary needs: for example, canned meals or vegetables, grains, nut butters, and other items you use regularly. Include a manual can opener if your choices need one, and remember that some foods require water, fuel, or preparation.
Add a little at a time.
Start with a few extra portions during normal grocery trips rather than buying a large specialty supply all at once. Ready.gov suggests building a kit gradually from things you already have and adding regularly used non-perishable food.
Store and rotate what you buy.
Follow package storage directions. Ready.gov advises keeping canned food in a cool, dry place, storing boxed food in tightly closed containers, and replacing expired items as needed. Put newer items behind older ones and use the older ones in everyday meals.
Make the plan personal.
Account for household size, allergies, infant or pet needs, medicines, and the equipment or energy needed to prepare food. For local hazards and emergency instructions, use current guidance from your local emergency management office.