Tool 03 // Calculator

Food Storage Calculator

Most deep pantries are built backwards — people buy buckets before they know how many calories they need. Start with the number, then buy staples to match.

Inputs

People to feed

Children under 12 (counted at 70%)

Months of coverage

Activity level

Total calories to store

1,346,400calories

Roughly 988 lb of staple foods for 4 people across 6 months at 2200 cal/day per adult.

Staple	Target	Calories	Note
Grains (rice, wheat, oats, pasta)	337 lb	538,560	Buy sealed with oxygen absorbers.
Legumes (beans, lentils)	174 lb	269,280	Cheapest protein per pound.
Fats & oils	34 lb	134,640	Store sealed in the dark; rotate annually.
Sugar & honey	40 lb	67,320	Honey keeps indefinitely; sugar absorbs moisture.
Freeze-dried / canned protein	135 lb	201,960	Check best-by dates and rotate.
Fruits & vegetables	269 lb	134,640	Freeze-dried holds flavour longest.
Salt & spices	20 lb	0	Store 1 lb of salt per person per month.

How to actually buy this

Build in three passes: three days, then three weeks, then three months. Most households quit because they try to buy six months in one weekend.
Buy what you already eat, then rotate: label every container with the purchase month and eat from the front of the shelf.
Store grains and legumes in mylar with oxygen absorbers inside food-grade buckets for a 10–25 year shelf life; fats and canned goods rotate much faster.
Plan for water separately — cooking and rehydration add roughly 0.3 gallons per person per day on top of drinking water.

Gear & Equipment // Tested