PrepFood storage calculator
Tell us who's at home and how long you want to cover. You'll get the calories to store and a shopping list of normal grocery store food, not freeze-dried buckets. Nothing leaves this browser.
Who's at home?
Saved in this browser for the other tools.
Pets aren't counted here, so add their food yourself.
What should it cover?
Your shopping list
Beans, fish and meat
- 7 ×Baked beans16 oz can
- 7 ×Tuna in water5 oz can
Vegetables
- 6 ×Diced tomatoes14.5 oz can
- 6 ×Whole kernel corn15 oz can
Fruit
- 3 ×Peaches in juice15 oz can
- 3 ×Pineapple in juice20 oz can
Rice, pasta and grains
- 4 ×White rice2 lb bag
- 10 ×Dried pasta16 oz box
Oil, nuts and peanut butter
- 1 ×Peanut butter16 oz jar
- 3 ×Mixed nuts10 oz can
Milk
- 3 ×Nonfat dry milk9.6 oz box
- 4 ×Shelf-stable milk32 fl oz carton
Sugar and treats
- 2 ×Jam18 oz jar
- 2 ×Cookies13 oz pack
Rice, pasta and lentils need water and a way to cook them, which isn't counted here. Cans of beans, fish and vegetables can be eaten cold if you have to.
Example: a family of 4 for 2 weeks
Two adults and two children at 7,200 kcal a day is 100,800 kcal. This is the list with cooking.
| Food | Pack | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Baked beans | 16 oz can | 9 |
| Tuna in water | 5 oz can | 9 |
| Chickpeas | 15 oz can | 9 |
| Diced tomatoes | 14.5 oz can | 7 |
| Whole kernel corn | 15 oz can | 7 |
| Sliced carrots | 14.5 oz can | 7 |
| Peaches in juice | 15 oz can | 6 |
| Pineapple in juice | 20 oz can | 6 |
| White rice | 2 lb bag | 6 |
| Dried pasta | 16 oz box | 12 |
| Rolled oats | 42 oz canister | 2 |
| Peanut butter | 16 oz jar | 2 |
| Mixed nuts | 10 oz can | 4 |
| Olive oil | 16.9 oz bottle | 1 |
| Nonfat dry milk | 9.6 oz box | 4 |
| Shelf-stable milk | 32 fl oz carton | 6 |
| Jam | 18 oz jar | 3 |
| Cookies | 13 oz pack | 2 |
| Granulated sugar | 4 lb bag | 1 |
From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.
How it works
We work out the calories your household needs in a day, multiply by the number of days, then turn that into a shopping list.
Each adult is counted at 2,000 kcal a day and each child at 1,600. These are the Prep app's planning figures, not official ones. Federal nutrition guidance refers to 2,000 kcal. We don't offer a table by age and sex for the US, because we haven't been able to verify a current one.
The list has two parts. Cans of beans, fish, vegetables and fruit are set per person, so meals have some variety. Staples such as rice, pasta and peanut butter make up the remaining calories. That mix is our own. It isn't official, and it isn't a diet plan.
Pack sizes are typical ones we chose, and calories come from USDA FoodData Central, so your labels will differ a little. We round up to whole packs, so the list comes to slightly more than the target.
No cooking: Ready.gov says to stock food that doesn't need refrigeration, cooking, water or special preparation. Choose no cooking and the list only uses food like that. Rice, pasta and dry lentils need water and heat, which you may not have.
Pets and babies: pets count as 0 kcal here, and this list isn't suitable for babies. Ready.gov lists infant food and pet food as separate items.
Common questions
How much food should I store?
Ready.gov says at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food, and gives no fixed number. Many households start with 3 days and build up. This calculator shows what each length of time means in real shopping.
How much food does a family of 4 need for 2 weeks?
At our planning figures, two adults and two children need 7,200 kcal a day, or 100,800 kcal for 2 weeks. The 2 weeks page turns that into a list.
What are the best foods to store?
Food your household will eat. Ready.gov suggests ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal or granola, peanut butter, dried fruit, canned juices and shelf-stable milk.
Do I need freeze-dried food?
No. Normal canned and dry food works, and you can rotate it through your everyday meals.
Does this include water?
No. Use the water storage calculator for that, and remember that rice, pasta and lentils need extra water to cook.
Sources
- Ready.gov: food (last updated 12 March 2026)
- Ready.gov: build a kit
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030 (refers to 2,000 kcal)
- USDA FoodData Central (energy per 100 g)
- USDA FoodKeeper data (storage times)
- USDA FSIS: shelf-stable food
Checked on 2 November 2026. This is an independent tool and not official advice. See sources and method.