Two options you may want to consider for emergency food storage are MRE meals and backpacking meals. These are great options because they come in a wide variety of flavors and the meals are complete. They are also easy to prepare and are lightweight. This makes it easier for you pack other important items, which you may leave out because of the extra weight.
MREs are Meals Ready to Eat. They were designed for soldiers to eat while in combat. You can purchase packs of them, which include several complete meals and snacks. The cases are packed with a variety of meals so that you will not suffer appetite fatigue. Some MREs now include a heating pouch that will heat the food so that you do not need to warm it up. I suggest trying these meals with your family before deciding that it will be your choice of food for your emergency kit. You can purchase MREs here.
Another easy and lightweight option for meals is the hiking meals that many hikers take with them. These meals are dehydrated or freeze-dried. You simply reconstitute the meals by pouring boiling water into the pouch. These meals come in a wide variety so everyone should be able to find something that they would like. Again you should try these meals with your family before deciding on making this the choice for your family. Two popular brands of these meals are Mountain House and Backpacker’s Pantry.
These meals do have an expiration date and so you will need to rotate them as well. My husband recently took a meal that he had for ten years and attempted to eat it anyway. He didn’t finish it and he said that it tasted as though the interior of the package had disintegrated into the food. If you are campers or hikers this is great way to rotate these types of food. You may just want to eat them every now and then as a family to help your children become used to them.