10 Grocery Items You Need to Buy Before the Next Snow Storm

Forget the bread, eggs and milk. These 10 items are what you really need to stock up on before the next big snow storm.

It seems like every time a snow storm is predicted the entire Hudson Valley races to the grocery store to stock up. But most people don't really think about what they'll need if the power goes out or if they are stuck at home for a few days.

Instead of opting for perishable items that will be useless in a power outage, consider adding these 10 essential items to your list.

Water
Seems like a no-brainer, but most people go straight for the milk aisle and don't even think about stocking up on water. If you have a well that needs electricity to work there's even more of a reason for you to stock up on water for drinking, cooking and keeping your body from getting too smelly.

Batteries
Again, it makes sense. Most people assume those new batteries they put in their flashlight will get them through, but several nights without power will drain them quickly. Having some as a backup is a smart idea.

Boxed or canned soup
Anything that can be heated up quickly on a propane stove or over a candle is pretty smart to have around. Boxed mac and cheese and pasta are also essentials to have in your pantry.

Crackers and wraps
Let everyone else battle it out for the last loaf of bread in the store. You'll want to make sure to stock up on grains that don't expire so quickly. Flour tortillas for wraps and even crackers or wheat thins will last much longer and can be used in all sorts of versatile ways.

Peanut butter
Of course, you'll need something to put on those crackers. Peanut butter is high in protein and won't spoil. Other spreads like jams, preserves and Nutella are also good to keep around.

Granola bars
Those breakfast bars are packed with nutrition and make a great meal if you find yourself not being able to make it to the store for a few days.

Dried fruit, applesauce
Buying expensive produce is probably not a smart move. Long lasting items like green bananas are ok, but even better are dried fruits and items like applesauce that can be stored refrigerated.

Ultra pasteurized milk
If you really think you can't live without milk, consider getting boxed milks like those individual Horizon organic milks or Parmalat. They'll last for months and you won't have to worry about keeping them cold if the electricity goes out.

Propane
If you have a gas grill, make sure to check if there's enough propane. When your electric stove goes out you'll be happy to have a place to warm up some soup or even some water to take a bath with.

Old school DVDs
Board games are only fun for so long. If the cable goes out and you have no Internet for Netflix, make sure to keep some DVDs handy that can be played in a battery powered laptop or DVD player. A few hours of diversion will keep everyone sane, especially if you have kids.

We want to know what you'll be stocking up on before the next big storm. Feel free to share your essential shopping list with us below in the comments section or on our Facebook page.