Prepper - Preparing for emergencies, what basic food supplies do I need

Miriam Weitz
March 17, 2023
What might a food emergency supply look like?
Shelf life is just one criterion for the food items one should stockpile. Every supply is also something very personal and should be tailored to individual taste and any food intolerances or allergies. Because it's pointless if I have an emergency supply 'by the book', but I don't like half of the items and can't eat the other half due to intolerances. In addition, all macronutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins should be present in the food, and this is where the first advantage of the SpeisekammerApp comes into play: For every scanned product, all the nutritional information is provided. Of course, calorie needs also play a role. An adult needs about 2000 calories on average. Active people naturally consume more accordingly.
The shopping list
As we have already mentioned above, each emergency supply is a very individual matter. Therefore, this list is not 'set in stone'. It is intended merely as a guideline that you can follow. Our list does not include frozen food supplies - and there is a good reason for that. In the event of a flood causing a prolonged power outage, frozen food supplies will quickly be lost, because eventually even the best emergency generator will give out if a freezer is running on it all the time.
Try to integrate your supplies into your everyday routine and track the items with their storage location in the SpeisekammerApp. This way, your inventory is always up to date, and the risk of something spoiling is almost eliminated ;) Otherwise, the 'First in - First out' principle applies to your stock. This means that the product you bought first should also be the first one you use up.

Shopping Tips
You don't have to stock up on groceries all at once; you can gradually build up your supply. For instance, if you buy pasta, just take an extra package and immediately record it with its storage location in the SpeisekammerApp.
This is what your prepper food supplies could look like
· Instant soups
· Bouillon
· Pepper, Salt
· Other dry spices (for example: basil, oregano, garlic)
· Ready-made meals in cans such as chili con or sin carne, ravioli, spaghetti, etc.
(best to capture the expiration date right away in the SpeisekammerApp
· Ready-made sauces in jars
· Dog and/or cat food as well as other pet food
· Jerky
· Cured sausage
· Hard cheese
· Instant coffee and/or tea and/or cocoa
· Rusk and/or crispbread
· Packaged whole grain bread
· Oatmeal/Cereal flakes
· Pasta and/or rice
· Dried legumes such as beans, peas, or lentils
· Possible egg substitute
· Nuts and oils
· Hardtack
· Honey/Maple syrup/Corn syrup/Sugar syrup
· Sugar
· Dried fruits
· Raisins
· Dry milk/Milk powder
· Since milk powder isn't for everyone, you are also welcome to buy regular shelf-stable milk.
· Baby food
· Potatoes
· Oatmeal
· Flour
· Sauerkraut in a jar or can
· Red cabbage in a jar or can
· Fruit in cans or jars
· Fresh fruits and vegetables
· Canned or jarred vegetables
· Eggs (First In, First Out principle! Eggs are among the perishable
foods)
· Possible powdered meal replacement drinks
Beverages
Water or beverages are of course also extremely important. You should account for about three liters of fluid per person per day - and that's just for drinking. So you will also need water for cooking and of course for your domestic and/or farm animals. A good rule of thumb is about four to five liters (although more is always better, of course). You might be able to install a rainwater collection tank at your home. Food-grade jerry cans are suitable for storage, and they come in various sizes. Water filters are also worth acquiring, in case you no longer have access to clean water. A camping stove is also essential, if only to boil the water.

More clarity when shopping: How Open Food Facts and the Smantry app make nutrition transparent
Many foods look healthy at first glance – but what's really inside them? Are the nutritional values balanced? How processed is a product? And what impact does it have on our environment?
This is exactly where the Smantry-App comes in: It uses the globally open database Open Food Facts, to give you immediate clarity when scanning your items. But what's actually behind the colorful labels like Nutri-Score, NOVA or Eco-Score, that you encounter in the app?
Let's take a closer look at the background.
Open Food Facts: From the Idea to a Global Database
The journey began in 2012 with the founding of Open Food Facts – a non-profit organization that collects, analyzes, and makes food information freely accessible worldwide. The goal from the beginning was to provide consumers with scientifically substantiated information.
What started as a small project has now become a global platform with millions of products. And it is precisely this data that the Smantry-App uses to give you a clear overview directly on your smartphone.
An overview of the most important scores
1. Nutri-Score – how healthy is my product?
Since 2016, the Nutri-Score has been legally established in France – and it has quickly spread throughout Europe.
- A (green) means: very balanced.
- E (red) means: unbalanced, enjoy in moderation.
The rating is based on calories, sugar, salt, saturated fats – but also on positive factors such as fiber, protein, and the proportion of vegetables.
👉 So in the Smantry app, you can see at a glance whether a food item fits into your everyday life – or perhaps should be on the table less often.
2. NOVA-Score – how processed is it?
Not only the ingredients, but also the degree of processing plays a significant role for health. This is exactly what the NOVA-Score (integrated into Open Food Facts since 2018) shows you:
- 1 = unprocessed or minimally processed (e.g., fresh fruit, plain yogurt)
- 2 = ingredients such as vegetable oils, sugar, flour
- 3 = processed foods (e.g., bread, cheese, canned goods)
- 4 = highly processed products ("Ultra-Processed Food"), often with additives, flavors, and industrial processes
👉 With the Smantry app, you can instantly tell if a product is still 'close to nature' – or if it falls into the category of being highly processed.
3. Eco-Score (soon to be Green-Score) – how sustainable is my shopping?
Since 2019, Open Food Facts also includes an environmental assessment: the Eco-Score. It takes into account, among other things:
- CO₂ emissions from production and transportation,
- Packaging and recyclability,
- Origin and seasonal factors.
The rating is – similar to the Nutri-Score – from A (very eco-friendly) to E (less sustainable).
By 2025, this will become the Green-Score, which will take into account even more detailed data and thus provide you with even better guidance for sustainable consumption.
👉 For you in the Smantry app, this means: You can see not only whether a food is healthy for you, but also whether it is good for our planet.
What this means for you as a Smantry user
Currently, you can scan your products in the Smantry-App and view many details. The scores themselves are not yet integrated – but the integration is planned.
This means: Soon you will be able to see not only the nutritional values of a product but also how healthy, processed, or sustainable it is – all directly in your app.
Conclusion: Your Smart Nutrition Compass
The colorful labels are much more than pretty symbols. They are your quick compass in everyday life – whether you want to shop with health consciousness, reduce highly processed products, or pay attention to the environment.
With the Smantry-App you already have strong support for more transparency while shopping. And with the planned integration of the scores, it will become even more valuable – your smart nutritional compass for the future.

Cooking with the Future: Augmented Reality and Smart Interfaces for Your Recipes
That’s exactly what augmented reality (AR) and smart interfaces bring to the table. They project digital information where you need it most: into your cooking environment. This makes it easier to stay organized, cook more efficiently, and even reduce waste – because less stress in the kitchen often means fewer forgotten or spoiled ingredients.
And here’s where Smantry comes in. The app already helps you keep track of your pantry, avoid food waste, and stay in control of your kitchen. With upcoming features like leftover-based recipe suggestions, you’re already stepping into the smart kitchen future today.
👉 Bottom line: The kitchen of tomorrow is here – and it’s efficient, sustainable, and surprisingly fun.

The best kitchen tools to turn leftovers into delicious dishes 🍲✨
Hand on heart: Each of us has them – those little leftovers in the fridge or pantry that somehow never get properly planned for. But it's exactly these remnants that can often be turned into the most creative and delicious dishes! All you need are a few clever kitchen tools that make the work easier and get the best out of your ingredients.
Here are our favorites:
🥣 1. The powerful blender
Smoothies, soups, dips – a good blender transforms leftover vegetables, fruit, or even bread into a new dish in seconds. Perfect when bananas are a bit brown or the vegetables no longer look crisp.
🔪 2. A sharp chef's knife
Sounds simple, but a really good knife is worth its weight in gold. It allows you to cut vegetable and meat scraps precisely and quickly. Moreover, cooking is just more fun when you have the right tools.
🍳 3. A cast iron skillet
The all-rounder in the kitchen: fried potatoes made from leftover boiled potatoes, frittatas with yesterday's vegetables, or crispy bread cubes from stale bread – everything tastes twice as good in a cast-iron skillet.
🥕 4. Vegetable Peeler & Grater
A modest tool with a big impact: grate carrot leftovers, turn zucchini into noodles, or finely shred cheese remnants. With a peeler and grater, you bring variety to your leftover cooking.
🥡 5. Storage Containers & Screw-top Jars
Without proper storage, nothing works. You can keep leftovers fresh, transport them, or even prepare them for the next meal prepping. Tip: Jars are also great for serving small amounts in style.
🌱 6. Kitchen Scale
It's practical to know exactly how much is left over, especially with leftovers. This way, you can adjust recipes and avoid waste.
🥄 7. Personal Blender
The little brother of the blender – perfect for soups or sauces right in the pot. When only a small amount needs to be processed, it's super convenient.
How Smantry additionally helps you 📲
With the Smantry App you can not only keep an eye on your supplies, but soon you'll also be able to discover recipes for your leftovers. This way, you'll immediately know which tool to take out of the cupboard to save your food and create something new.
👉 Because good tools and the right app are the perfect combo to combat food waste.

New laws on food waste in Spain
Spain has recently passed a groundbreaking law to combat food waste. This law requires all actors in the food chain, from producers to retailers, to implement specific plans to prevent food loss.
Key provisions of the law:
Obligation to donate surplus food: Supermarkets with a floor space of more than 1,300 square meters are now required to form partnerships with non-profit organizations to donate surplus food that is still fit for consumption. These donations are exempt from value-added tax.
Offer of packaging for leftover food: Restaurants and bars are required to provide their guests with free, reusable or recyclable packaging so that they can take home uneaten food. The aim is to raise consumer awareness of food waste and encourage them to take leftovers with them.
Promotion of the sale of products with approaching expiration dates: Retailers should offer products that are nearing their expiration date or have aesthetic defects at reduced prices to encourage their sale and reduce waste.
Hierarchy of priorities for dealing with surplus food: The law establishes an order for handling surplus food. Priority is given to human consumption through donations. If this is not possible, the food should be used for the production of processed products. The last options include using it as animal feed or for energy generation.
Sanctions for violations:
Companies that violate the provisions of the law can expect fines ranging from 2,000 to 500,000 euros.
Critique and Outlook:
While the law is considered an important step in the fight against food waste in Europe, there is also criticism. Some voices argue that the strict framework of sanctions could disproportionately burden companies and that the law does not sufficiently address the role of consumers, who are responsible for a significant portion of food waste.
Nevertheless, the law is seen as a significant advancement in reducing food waste and promoting a more sustainable awareness in society.
Join in and reduce food waste! 🌱📲
Spain's new law demonstrates: Sustainability starts in the pantry! With the Speisekammer App you can keep track of your groceries, plan meals efficiently, and avoid unnecessary waste.
👉 Download the app now and join the movement for less waste and more conscious consumption! 💚 Try it now!