Food is another fairly obvious survival pillar, but also one most of us tend to take for granted. Similar to water, we’re used to the convenience of running to the store at the drop of a hat.

The average human can only survive a maximum of 30 days without food. Gandhi famously lasted 21 days. But, again similar to water, a survival situation greatly reduces the amount of time we can go without eating.

Consider the fact you will be putting your body through extra stress with increased activity. Not only this but being forced into a survival situation adds its own measure of inherent stress that zaps energy levels quicker than usual.

Granted, you can reduce some of its severity by conditioning yourself through survival training. But this will only take you so far – and some family members won’t be able to enjoy the same benefits even if they train harder. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable.

And starvation isn’t just uncomfortable. It also leads to organ failure (or, at the very least, permanent damage) and decreased brain functionality long before it becomes fatal.

A good trick to ensuring you have enough food stored is to buy a little extra every time you go to the shop. Focus on nutrient-rich, long-lasting foods, especially those with high calories, proteins, and fiber counts. And of course, whenever possible, aim to have your emergency food supplies be easily transportable.

Canned foods are bulky and heavy, but they remain a staple. It’s a good idea to rotate your canned foods, consuming foods close to or recently past their “best before” dates and replacing them.

However, the most valuable survival skill set you can learn in terms of meeting your food requirements is foraging and hunting. Being able to identify edible plants and trap animals for meat will put less stress on your food supplies and help you survive for longer than your stores will.

As a necessary extension, you should also learn how to properly dress and prepare the fruits of your hunting activities. After all, the brace of rabbits you trapped isn’t going to do as much good if you don’t know how to properly skin and portion them.