Stocking survival food is essential for survival — we all know that — but what are the critical foods everyone must have as a basis for a survival stockpile?

Here is one opinion.

Stock up on the following items today to get your prepper pantry ready for the next extended emergency:

1. Canned fruits, vegetables, meats, and soups
2. Dried legumes (beans, lentils, peas)
3. Crackers
4. Nuts
5. Pasta sauce
6. Peanut butter
7. Pasta
8. Flour (white, whole wheat)
9. Seasonings (vanilla, salt, pepper, paprika, cinnamon, pepper, taco seasoning, etc.)
10. Sugar
11. Bouillon cubes or granules (chicken, vegetable, beef)
12. Kitchen staples (baking soda, baking powder, yeast, vinegar)
13. Honey
14. Unsweetened cocoa powder
15. Jell-O or pudding mixes
16. Whole grains (barley, bulgur, cornmeal, couscous, oats, quinoa, rice, wheat berries)
17. Nonfat dried milk
18. Plant-based oil (corn oil, vegetable oil, coconut oil, olive oil)
19. Cereals
20. Seeds for eating and sprouting
21. Popcorn (not the microwavable kind)
22. Instant potato flakes
23. Packaged meals (macaroni and cheese, hamburger helper, Ramen noodles, etc.)
24. Purified drinking water
25. Fruit juices, teas, coffee, drink mixes

Use this list as a starting point – and don’t feel handcuffed to only stocking up on these items. Always keep your family’s food preferences and dietary needs in mind. It would be extremely advantageous to have a two week supply (at a minimum) of these shelf stable food items on.

Obviously, the environment you live in will affect this list as will your family size and individual preferences.

As a foundation for a complete food stockpile, however, this list is pretty solid.

For more information on this list and other survival preparation advice, please visit The Prepper's Blueprint.