Stockpile calculator - calculating food supplies for a crisis

The supply calculator calculates the necessary food for an emergency. Store the recommended foods and you'll be on the safe side.

from Martin Gebhardt | Prepping | reading time 1 Min
Updated on 27 June 2023 32.537 views 98% found this guide helpful
Stockpile calculator - calculating food supplies for a crisis

Martin Gebhardt

From Martin Gebhardt. Check out my “About me” page.


👉 The key facts from this guide

  • A food supply calculator helps you to calculate your required food supply for a crisis. It is based on an energy intake of 2200 kilocalories (kcal) per day.
  • The calculation considers the average liquid consumption of an adult of 1.5 liters per day and an additional 0.5 liters for cooking. For hygiene purposes, you should add another 0.5 liters of water per day and per person.
  • The calorie consumption depends on various factors such as gender, age, height, weight, and daily activity. You can calculate your exact calorie consumption with a calculator.
  • The shelf life of recommended foods varies. Some foods, such as packaged whole grain bread, expire after 20 to 30 days. For longer shelf life, you can use alternatives like canned bread or whole egg powder.
  • Your supplies should be stored in a cool and dry place. Be aware of the FiFo principle (first in first out): the goods that were stored first should also be used first from your stock.

You're looking for a quick solution to create an emergency supply?

Then use our supply calculator, which is based on an energy supply of 2200 kilocalories (kcal).

But remember: The calculator provides general recommendations that need to be adjusted according to your individual nutritional needs.

Calculate your required food supply for a crisis

The calculator is based on recommendations from the website ernaehrungsvorsorge.de (operated by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE)).

All gram measurements for jars and cans are based on the drained weight.

Note on water consumption

The calculator considers the average beverage requirement of an adult of 1.5 liters per person per day. The remaining 0.5 liters included in the calculator are for cooking.

However, I believe that 2 liters of water per day per person is too little. Please add 0.5 liters of water per day per person for your hygiene. My calculator for required water supply for a crisis also calculates these amounts.

Also note that people over approximately 65 years of age require about 2 liters of drinking water per day. Children up to about 12 years of age only need 1 liter of drinking water per day.

However, the minimum amount you should calculate per day per person is 2.5 liters. It's better to calculate 4 liters of drinking water, boiling water, and hygiene water per day per person.

Notes on calorie consumption

Please note that calorie consumption depends on the following factors:

  • Gender
  • Age (e.g., children have lower consumption)
  • Height
  • Weight
  • Energy consumption during the day (office work or physical work?)
  • Sport activities

For example, a man (40 years old, 170 cm tall, 70 kg in weight) is assumed to have a basic metabolic rate of 1623 kcal. A woman of the same age, height, and weight has a basic metabolic rate of only 1412 kcal compared to the man. In addition, various activities such as work, sports, and leisure time must be considered.

Calculate your exact calorie consumption with the calculator from apotheken-umschau.de.

Please note: The calorie calculator provides average values. Each case is individual and must be considered as such. However, the results are more accurate than using a flat rate of 2200 kcal as a basis.

Notes on food

The recommended shelf life of some foods from the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) will expire after 20 days. For example, packaged wholemeal bread expires after 20 to 30 days. It's better to use canned bread. This is easily stored for 3 years or more.

This also applies to eggs. If you want to store a supply for more than 30 days, switch to whole egg powder / dry egg. Or for milk: If you would like to be provided with milk for a long time, switch to entire milk powder.

Also read my article: The best survival food (lasting over 10 years)

Notes on storage

As always, store everything cool and dry. This applies especially to the fresh vegetables and fruits listed.

When buying fresh fruit, it's best not to buy tropical fruit, but instead opt for fruit that can be stored well, such as apples and pears.

And the FiFo principle (first in first out) is important: the goods that were stored first should also be taken out of your storage first.

Conclusion

As with any food storage, you must know your needs very well.

Some people may not like coffee, while others may not like mushrooms. If you are seeking alternatives, make sure they cover your approximate calorie needs.


What do you think of the supply calculator?

Did it give you a direction?

Take care, Martin
Martin Gebhardt

Author of the guide


Martin Gebhardt

Hey, I'm Martin. On my blog, you will learn the basics and numerous details about living in the wild. I think survival, bushcraft and the good life in nature are the keys to happiness. Find me here on Instagram or on YouTube. You can find more about my mission on the About Me page.

Was this guide helpful?

49 people found this guide helpful.

YesNo

4.92 out of 5 points (50 Ratings)