Prepper adds an $11 case of chili each week, says it's a better emergency stash than MREs

For many households, preparedness is less about dramatic doomsday scenarios and more about keeping affordable, shelf-stable meals on hand that will not go to waste if no emergency ever comes.

A Reddit poster in the site's r/preppers community suggested building an emergency food stash from groceries you would actually eat.

Here's what to know

In the thread, the original poster described adding extra $11 cases of canned chili to Sam's Club orders because it seemed more useful for ordinary life than traditional meals ready to eat.

In the OP's mind, part of the appeal was flexibility. The cans can be eaten cold or after being heated, and each one provides 600 to 700 calories along with roughly 30 grams of protein.

"It's really easy and practical and doesn't make you feel as wacky as buying the doomsday stuff that comes in plastic containers, which you know when push comes to shove are gonna be absolutely miserable and often require water or additional preparation," they wrote. "I'll be enjoying some chili straight out of the can. Mmmmm."

Other Redditors expanded on the idea, suggesting that emergency food does not need to be extreme or expensive.

"Plenty of normal groceries can have a long shelf life when stored properly. Pastas, rice, canned veggies, canned meats, soups, sauces, etc.," one commenter said.

Another user wrote: "It's not as protein-packed or calorie-dense as chili, but I also prep the Campbell's Chunky soups. Lots of varieties there."

A third commenter added, "You're not wrong about the shelf life and cost/calories; just know that anything acidic, especially strongly acidic like chili, will leach plastics from the can liner over time."

More background

The discussion shifted from survivalist thinking to everyday budgeting and meal planning. Rather than centering on unlikely disaster scenarios, commenters talked about food variety, sale prices, and the challenge of feeding family members with different preferences.

"People forget that you're going to need variety in your foodstuffs," one commenter wrote. Another pointed out that even a cheap, nutritious option may not be realistic if it is the only thing available for too long.

Plus, a backup pantry can help in situations far more common than a full-scale catastrophe. Building a reserve of canned chili, stew, soup, rice, and pasta may reduce stress during job disruptions or stretches when grocery costs are high.

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