My top five packaged mixes for my pantry

Just add water. It's simple enough. Even when water is scarce, these options are simple to make if you have access to clean water and a few other ingredients. They are high calorie and will last for months in your pantry. Even more, you can use them and replenish them often because, while they aren't overly nutritious, they are tasty.

5. Powdered iced tea. Loaded with sugar and a flavour that somewhat resembles tea, it is a nice break from drinking straight water. It can be made by the cup or by the pitcher. (If you're looking at drink crystals, don't bypass the Tang. If it was good enough for astronauts, it's good enough for you.)

4. Instant pudding mix. With some powdered milk and water, you can whip up a dessert in no time. There are also a ton of cake recipes on the net that use pudding mix in cakes to make them moist and add extra flavour.

3. Cake mix. With eggs, oil, and water, you can have a birthday cake with minimal effort. You can also find recipes to convert cake mix into cookie batter. When funds are tight and stops at the bakery are out of the question, this do-it-yourself option can be cheap and tasty.

2. Hot chocolate mix. I always have an open tin in my cupboard beside the tea and coffee. Hot chocolate (with or without marshmallows) gives you a break from coffee and tea and has a high caloric content to give you an energy boost. Plus, chocolate makes everything better.

1. Cup-a-soups. Chicken noodle and onion are standbys in my house. Chicken noodle for days when you have a cold but you need to eat something. Onion for flavouring in dips and gravies, and to sprinkle on roasts.

All of these have long shelf lives and aren't very expensive. They also don't take up a lot of shelf space. They need minimal preparation and are fast to make, all good things when time is also at a premium.