22.2 How much food: the math

Use the same figure as chapter 2 so everything adds up: 2,000 calories per person per day, the reference on U.S. labels. For 14 days that is about 28,000 calories per person. Large or tall people, or those who will do physical work (hauling water, clearing debris, caring for the sick), burn quite a bit more: add one extra ration a day for them. In an emergency you can eat somewhat less for a few days; water is not rationed (chapter 3).

How to add up your pantry

1. Read the label: "Calories" per serving x "Servings per container" = calories in the container.
2. Multiply by the number of containers you have.
3. Add up all the products and divide by 2,000 x the number of people in your household. The result is the number of days your pantry lasts.
4. Check the balance: it should not be all cookies. You need protein (tuna, beans, peanut butter), fat, and canned fruit and vegetables.

Example: a 40 oz jar of peanut butter has about 6,500 calories (chapter 2); 4 jars are about 26,000, a little over 3 days of calories for four people. That is why you combine many foods.