10 Healthy and Cheap Food Items That Have a Long Shelf-Life

Stockpiling food items can be beneficial for emergency preparedness. Whether the emergency is a natural disaster or a personal emergency such as the loss of a job, sickness, or financial hardship, having food stockpiled will greatly help you navigate any of these tough situations.

As you stockpile food, you want to store food items that are nutritious and help your body and mind thrive during stressful situations. However, you may also want to spend less money on the food that you store long-term.

In this blog post, we will share 10 food items that are healthy yet cheap to buy and add to your DIY long term food storage plan.

Dried Herbs

What’s life without some spice? The same goes for your food. Nobody wants to eat bland food even during emergencies, so storing dried herbs will greatly benefit you.

Dried herbs are a great source of several micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and more. Not only is this critical to your body maintaining balance, but it also adds flavor to your food.

Store dried herbs in airtight containers and place them in a cool, dark, and dry atmosphere. Dried herbs will last for 2 years, but you can extend their shelf life further with Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers. 

If you want to know more about storing spices, you can read our blog post about how to store spices long-term.

Kidney Beans

You might have already read that kidney beans are an important part of long-term food storage, but this is why they should be on your list. 

Kidney beans contain a lot of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are a great source of essential amino acids. The protein will help you get fuller faster, easily heal wounds, and build muscle strength.

You can buy canned kidney beans or store them dry in Mylar bags. They will last for 2-3 years without spoilage if they are canned, but you can increase their shelf life if you store them dried in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.

Dried Seaweed

During emergencies, you might not have enough sources for complete iodine requirements for your body. Lack of iodine can cause serious health issues, which is the last thing you want if you are already struggling to survive. 

Having dried seaweed on hand will help ensure you stay healthy. Seaweed is a natural source of iodine and a good source of fiber, which is why it is known as such an inexpensive superfood. 

You can store dried seaweed in airtight containers. It can stay fresh for about 6 months. 

Brown Rice

Brown rice is a fantastic source of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber. It is a complete food, providing all of the essential nutrients for efficient survival. 

Since it is a grain, you should store it in Mylar bags. If you store it properly, brown rice can stay fresh for 1 year.

Although brown rice is known to be more nutritious, white rice is a great alternative as it can stay fresh for up to 30 years in Mylar bags.

Dehydrated Milk

During emergencies, there is a big chance you might not have access to fresh milk, so storing dehydrated milk will be advantageous.

Dehydrated milk not only replaces fresh milk during emergencies, but it is also a great source of calcium and vitamin B12. If you buy dehydrated milk that has vitamin D added to it, your body gets this vitamin too!

You should store dehydrated milk in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers to maximize its shelf life. Dehydrated milk will stay fresh for up to 5 years if stored properly in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. 

You can read our blog on ways to store dehydrated milk in long-term food storage. 

Dried Apricots

You will need to have as much energy as possible in an emergency. You might need it for physical labor, but your body will definitely need it to cope with the stress of an emergency situation. Dried Apricots can provide a lot of energy, carbohydrates, and calories. 

Just be sure to clean your teeth after eating dried apricots to avoid cavities. 

You should store dried apricots in airtight containers in a cool, dry place. This applies to any dried fruits you might want to store in your long-term food storage. 

Canned Foods

Pick any canned food item from the store, and you are good to go! Canned foods can give you access to several food items and ingredients. Starting from vegetables, and fruits, to beans, fish, soups, and much more, you can find a lot of food items in cans.

All these food items will give you access to essential nutrients at a lower price. You can store canned foods in a cool and dark place. Their shelf life will vary depending on what food items are in the can, so be sure to check the “best by” date.

Cocoa Powder

Mix it with milk or add it to baked goods; cocoa powder is a great addition to your long-term food storage. You can get iron, zinc, protein, and magnesium by consuming cocoa powder. 

Similar to dehydrated milk, you should store cocoa powder in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers to extend their shelf-life. Cocoa powder can stay fresh for 10-20 years if stored properly in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.

Coconut Oil

If you are vegan, you can add coconut oil to cook your food during emergencies. Although you might be worried, you don’t need to compromise on your eating habits during emergencies!

Coconut oil can help you combat LDL saturation by reducing oxidation. This can help you reduce the risk of heart disease. 

When stored correctly in a cool, dry place, coconut oil can last up to 2 years.

Pickled Foods

Just like canned foods, you can find several food items pickled at your local grocery store.

Pickled foods made our top 10 list because they last a long time, you can buy them at a cheaper price, and they have great nutritional benefits.

You can get fiber, fats, and vitamin K from several pickled foods.

Store pickled foods in their container in cold, dry, and dark places. However, once opened, store them in the refrigerator and consume them quickly.

Bottom Line

As you can see, there are several food items that could be a great addition to your long-term food storage plan. Not only are they cheap, but they also provide you with all the essential macro and micronutrients which is detrimental to your health and physical well-being during emergencies.

So, if you are just starting to create your long-term food storage plan, you can start with these 10 food items that are cheap and healthy yet have long shelf-life. To get long-term storage essentials such as Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers, check out the Wallaby Mylar bag bundles on our website.

We provide high-quality Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers in bundles for emergency prepping. Head to our website to check them out, or contact our expert staff to determine what bundles are best for your long-term food storage goals.