What to feed your family when the power goes out

Losing power may seem like a minor inconvenience, but when you’re feeding a family and worried about keeping the kids comforted and nourished, it can become problematic. Many of us lose power due to storms and other natural disasters. How can you feed your family when the lights go out, preserving security and normalcy in an otherwise scary time?

Here are some ideas for meals you can feed your family (and yourself!) when the power goes out and your options are limited.

Tuna Wraps

Tuna wraps can be made with prepackaged, shelf-stable tortillas and canned tuna. You can add veggies like canned tomatoes or black olives if you’d like. Spice it up with brown mustard, olive oil or even a can of white beans or chickpeas.

Deli Sandwiches

Remember: Once the power goes out, you have four hours until the food in your fridge starts to go bad. As soon as the countdown starts, make deli sandwiches for the whole family. Make more than you think you’ll need. After of all, the meat and cheese will go bad anyway if the power isn’t restored soon enough (though hard cheeses like cheddar have a longer life outside of the fridge than soft cheeses). Once the sandwiches are prepared, store them in a cooler to keep them fresh.

Eggs And Bacon

If you have a gas stove, you can still use your top burners in the event of a power outage (although you may need to use a match to light the burner — you can find instructions here). This can go a long way in providing you options for meals, including standbys like eggs and bacon. Make it a real feast by preparing pancakes, too and top it all off with fresh fruit like berries. Healthy and delicious!

Chili

Put those canned goods to work with a basic chili recipe consisting of beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce and spices like chili powder and cumin. If you have ground beef or pork in your fridge, this is the perfect way to make sure it doesn’t have to be tossed, and the same goes for meat substitutions like tofu or seitan. Throw in whatever veggies you have (peppers, carrots, celery, etc.) and top with crunchy tortilla chips or soup crackers from the pantry. Yum!

Remember, staples like peanut butter, fruit cups, beef jerky, cereal, meal bars and shelf-stable milks and juices can be invaluable during a power outage, so make sure to stock up on these items in preparation for any big storms.