TOP PICK FOR MOST FAMILIES Mountain House Essential Bucket (24 servings) Reliable 30-year shelf life, solid calorie density, and my family actually eats it on camping trips without complaints. If you buy one bucket to start, this is the one. Check Price on Amazon After doing storm work across six states, I can tell you exactly what people grab when the power goes out and the grocery stores shut down: whatever is in the pantry. And most of the time, it is not enough. I have walked through neighbo