Emergency food storage for beginners: where to start
You don't need a bunker. Start with your next supermarket shop: a simple first week of steps to get your household's emergency food sorted.
Start with what's already in your cupboards, aim for a few days of food and water for everyone at home, and add a little to your next few shops. For two adults, 3 days is about 56,484 kJ (13,500 Cal) of food and 18 L of drinking water.
Being prepared doesn't mean a basement full of supplies or a weekend of panic buying. For most homes it means having enough food, water and a few essentials to get through a power cut, a storm or a few days of being unwell, without a dash to the shops. You can get there with a few small steps, starting with your next supermarket shop.
What being prepared actually means
It means that if the shops were shut, the power went off or the water stopped for a few days, your household could manage calmly. That's all. Official guidance in New Zealand puts it like this:
Day 1: check the cupboards
Before buying anything, look at what you already have. Most homes are further along than they think: tins, pasta, rice, cereal, crackers, jars. Check the dates as you go and move anything close to its date to the front to use this week.
Make a quick note of what you found. It's the start of your list.
Day 2: choose a target
Start with a few days for everyone at home. Here's what that means for some common households:
| Household | 3 days | 7 days | 14 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| One adult | 28,242 kJ (6,750 Cal) | 65,898 kJ (15,750 Cal) | 131,796 kJ (31,500 Cal) |
| Two adults | 56,484 kJ (13,500 Cal) | 131,796 kJ (31,500 Cal) | 263,592 kJ (63,000 Cal) |
| Two adults and two children | 96,650 kJ (23,100 Cal) | 225,518 kJ (53,900 Cal) | 451,035 kJ (107,800 Cal) |
| Two adults, a teenager and two children | 126,775 kJ (30,300 Cal) | 295,809 kJ (70,700 Cal) | 591,618 kJ (141,400 Cal) |
Food energy at SupKit's planning figures by age. SupKit estimate
That's enough to aim for. A week or two can come later, once the first few days are covered and the habit is in place.
Days 3 to 5: buy the essentials
Add a few long-life items to your normal shop rather than doing a special trip. Choose food your household already eats:
- Two or three staples, such as rice, pasta, oats or crackers.
- Some protein, such as tinned fish, beans or peanut butter.
- Tinned or dried fruit.
- Long-life milk or an alternative.
- A treat or two.
- A manual tin opener, if you don't have one.
- Drinking water: 18 L for two adults for three days.
Plan around allergies, special diets and babies from the start; don't leave them for later.
Day 6: store it
Find a cool, dry, dark place away from heat, damp and pests. Put the newest food at the back and the oldest at the front.
Day 7: track it
Write down what you've stored and when each item is due, or let SupKit do it: scan the barcode and it keeps the list and the dates for you, and reminds you before anything goes out of date.
Then: keep it going
The real trick is keeping it going without thinking about it. Use the oldest food in normal meals, replace it on your next shop, and check your store every month or two. The rotation guide has a simple routine, and the 72-hour kit checklist covers everything beyond food.
Questions
How do I start an emergency food supply?
Check what you already have, aim for a few days of food and water for everyone at home, and add a few long-life items you already eat to your next shops. Store them somewhere cool and dry, and use the oldest first.
Do I need to buy special emergency food?
No. Everyday long-life food your household already eats is the best choice, because it gets eaten and replaced rather than forgotten.
How much should I store to start with?
A few days for everyone at home is the usual first goal. For two adults, that's about <strong>56,484 kJ (13,500 Cal)</strong> of food and <strong>18 L</strong> of drinking water.
Sources
- Home emergency checklist, Govt.nz (citing NEMA). Checked 28 October 2026.
- Allergen labelling for consumers, Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Checked 28 October 2026.
- Food safety in an emergency, Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Checked 29 October 2026.
- Floods and food safety, Food Standards Australia New Zealand. Checked 29 October 2026.
- Have emergency supplies (Consistent Messages for CDEM), National Emergency Management Agency. Checked 29 October 2026.
- SupKit planning rules (SupScore 2026.5), SupKit. SupKit's own planning data.
We summarise official guidance in our own words. Always follow advice from your local authorities.
