What food items should one always have stocked up?

Canned tuna and canned chicken.

Beer.

there’s a pork chop in every can

Rice, beans, canned meats, root cellar, medicines you need, water, ammo, cash, batteries and toilet paper, salt, hot sauce, source of flame, heat and or fire.

Are we talking prepper stupid or “pancakes sound good” I have the stuff to make them?

@johnpowell Pancakes sound good. Food for one person, for a bachelor.

It depends on what you like.
Pasta, and tinned or jar pasta sauce (both red and white).
Bread.
Cheese.
Eggs if you use them fast enough.
Rice (precooked pouch or frozen; minute; Basmati).
Tuna or salmon in a can.
I try to keep a bag-o-meal in the freezer, as they’re cheap and 10 minute fix.
Tinned mushrooms, black olives and tomatoes.

I seem to recall that you don’t like to cook much and have a limited budget, so pick your favorite foods and look for cheap, convenient ways to throw them together.

You can take frozen boneless chicken breast or fish fillets, put it in a baking dish with a covering of pasta sauce and tinned toppings of your choice, serve with rice or noodles and have a great meal in under 40 minutes.

My Mom always said that we didn’t have any food if we didn’t have milk, eggs, or bread.

For me, all I need is rice and milk.

I agree with @ibstubro , depends on what you like. No use having a canister of dry beans if you don’t like them and don’t know how to cook them. However, if you live on canned ravioli, buy a case. Bread in my house goes moldy – I don’t like it. I have had the same jar of peanut butter for at least a year. My bachelor son could live on pop, canned ready-to-eat stuff and ramen noodles. I keep a variety of proteins in my freezer, boxed side dishes (like flavored noodle or flavored rice packets) and a variety of fresh veggies – but then, I like to cook and I don’t like potatoes. To me, that is my staples, along with Arizona Green Tea, eggs and bacon, coffee and Italian Sweet Cream creamer.

I like @ibstubro ‘s list, I’d add cereal, I eat it for breakfast and sometimes dinner. And peanut butter.

EGGS: I learned from an chicken farmer/egg farmer that you can use them about 4 weeks past the date on the carton. If I do, I will also use the egg test: if it floats, its bad; if it sinks it is good, if it stands on end, use right away.

I, too, am of the bread/milk/eggs mentality!

Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce

Pizza.

It depends on what you like. I have had the same jar of peanut butter for at least a year. I keep a variety of proteins in my freezer, boxed side dishes (like flavored noodle or flavored rice packets) and a variety of fresh veggies.

Rice, salt, bottled water, anything dehydrated.