Skip to Content
Print Header

Get Prepared

Food

Choose foods that do not require refrigeration or preparation, and that can be cooked with little or no water. Keep this food supply in a cool, dry location inside an easily accessible container or cupboard.

Here are some other food tips:
  • Choose foods that household members will eat.
  • Household members with special diets and allergies will need special attention, as will babies, toddlers and the elderly. Be sure to include appropriate foods for them.
  • Try to avoid salty foods, which will increase thirst and water use.
  • Routinely check expiration dates and rotate your stored food.

To determine the amount of food to store in your codeReady kit for your household, follow these steps:

  1. Use the Food Groups table below for general guidelines on servings per day for five food groups. For example, two 30-year old adults would need:
    • Protein: 12 servings per day
    • Grains: 14 servings per day
    • Fruits: 4 servings per day
    • Vegetables: 6 servings per day
    • Dairy: 6 servings per day
  2. Multiply servings per day by the number of days of food you want in your codeReady Kit. Three days of stored food for two 30-year old adults would be:
    • Protein: 12 servings x 3 = 36 servings
    • Grains: 14 servings x 3 = 42 servings
    • Fruits: 4 servings per day x 3 = 12 servings
    • Vegetables: 6 servings x 3 = 18 servings
    • Dairy: 6 servings x 3 = 18 servings
  3. Use the 1-Serving Size table below to determine what to buy and/or store in your codeReady Kit.
  1-5 years 6-12 years 13-75 years 76+
Protein (meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts) 2.5 servings/ day 5 servings/ day 6 servings/ day 5.5 servings/ day
Grains (bread, cereal, rice and pasta) 5 servings/ day 6 servings/ day 7 servings/ day 6 servings/ day
Fruits 1 serving/day 2 servings/ day 2 servings/ day 2 servings/ day
Vegetables 1 serving/day 3 servings/ day 3 servings/ day 3 servings/ day
Dairy (milk, yogurt and cheese) 2 servings/ day 3 servings/ day 3 servings/ day 3 servings/ day

 

Group 1 Serving Size
Protein

1 oz. meat, poultry or fish (6 oz. can of tuna = 6 servings)
¼ cup cooked dry beans (16 oz. bag = 13 servings)
1 Tbsp. peanut butter (18 oz. jar = 32 servings)
¼ oz. nuts or seeds (16 oz. jar = 64 servings)
Grains

1 slice bread (24 slice loaf = 24 servings)
1 cup cold cereal (20 oz. box = 19 servings)
½ cup cooked rice (32 oz. package = 10 servings)
½ cup cooked pasta (16 oz. box = 8 servings)
½ cup cooked cereal (42 oz. package = 30 servings)
Fruits

1 cup canned or frozen fruit (15 oz. can = 1.75 servings)
1 cup 100% fruit juice (64 oz container = 8 servings)
½ cup dried fruit (24 oz. canister = 8.5 servings)
Vegetables

1 cup canned or frozen vegetables (14 oz. can = 1.75 servings)
1 cup 100% vegetable juice (64 oz. jar = 8 servings)
2 cups frozen leafy greens (14 oz. package = 2.5 servings)
Dairy

1/3 cup dry milk (25 oz. box = 32 servings)
1 cup frozen yogurt or ice cream
1½ oz. natural cheese
2 oz. processed cheese (32 oz. package = 16 servings)

For infants (under one year), use the general guideline of 32 oz. of formula per infant per day to determine codeReady kit amounts.

If your infant is currently being breastfed, continue with this method of feeding instead of switching to infant formula. The cleanest, safest food for your infant is breast milk.