Calculator · Australia

Emergency food calculator

Work out how much emergency food your household needs in kJ, with a sample shopping list from everyday long-life food.

By the SupKit teamUpdated

The short answer

SupKit plans on 9,414 kJ (2,250 Cal) a day for an adult, 6,694 kJ (1,600 Cal) for a child and 4,602 kJ (1,100 Cal) for a toddler.1 Two adults and two children need about 96,650 kJ (23,100 Cal) for 3 days.

The assumptions

Each person's daily energy comes from their age band, the same figures the SupKit app uses.

WhoA day
Toddler4,602 kJ (1,100 Cal)
Child6,694 kJ (1,600 Cal)
Teenager10,042 kJ (2,400 Cal)
Adult9,414 kJ (2,250 Cal)
Older adult8,368 kJ (2,000 Cal)

Babies are planned separately: their milk and food go on the checklist as feeding supplies.

The shopping list

Calories for each item are SupKit's catalogue estimates. SupKit estimate Swap in what your household actually likes eating.

Allergies, dietary needs and children

Plan around everyone at home: allergies, intolerances and diets come first, and familiar food matters most for children. Recipes vary between brands, so always read the label of the product you buy.

  • Labels must declare wheat, fish, crustacean, mollusc, egg, milk, lupin, peanut, soy, sesame, named tree nuts, gluten cereals (barley, oats, rye) and added sulphites.2
  • Allergens must be in bold in the ingredient list, plus a separate bold summary starting with 'Contains' near the ingredients.2
  • 'May contain' statements are voluntary and not regulated by the Food Standards Code.2

Young children

  • Whole nuts are not suitable for children under three because they can cause choking if not chewed well.3
  • Don't give honey to babies under 12 months, and don't add salt or sugar to baby food.4

Questions

How much energy does each person need?

SupKit plans on 9,414 kJ (2,250 Cal) a day for an adult, 6,694 kJ (1,600 Cal) for a child and 4,602 kJ (1,100 Cal) for a toddler. These are planning figures, not nutritional advice.

Sources

  1. SupKit planning rules (SupScore 2026.5), SupKit. SupKit's own planning data.
  2. Allergen labelling for consumers, Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Checked 28 October 2026.
  3. Nuts and seeds, Better Health Channel, Department of Health, State Government of Victoria. Checked 28 October 2026.
  4. Introducing solid food, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Healthdirect Australia, funded by the Australian Government). Checked 28 October 2026.

We summarise official guidance in our own words. Always follow advice from your local authorities.

One less thing to worry about

Let SupKit keep track of it for you.

Your food, water and essentials in one calm app, with reminders before anything goes out of date. Free for 7 days on iPhone and Android.

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