Getting Groceries in Uncertain Times
It seems in a matter of weeks, every facet of life has turned upside down. In response to COVID-19 closures, family life looks much different over here, and I can imagine it does for you too! While my husband is not a healthcare provider working in a hospital (THANK YOU to those of you who are!), being in the healthcare field during this pandemic means he is working extra hours from home. We love having him around, but not having our regular rhythms of preschool and childcare and outings has prompted us to get creative with our scheduling. It has always been my responsibility to meal plan and shop for our family, but for a variety of factors including available time, grocery availability, and health concerns, that task has been increasingly difficult in the last few weeks. I thought I would take a minute to share some of my thoughts around grocery shopping during COVID-19 as well as my current strategy (it could change just as fast as the news articles seem to). I am hoping that this will be the first of a couple blog posts covering the topic of how we eat in light of this pandemic.
Five Tips for COVID-19 Grocery Shopping
PLAN AHEAD!
Prior to all of this, I would plan and shop for one week of meals at a time. While I don’t recommended storing up for months and months (see tip #2), it gives me peace of mind knowing that I have a plan for the next two weeks and a few meals that I can make with my pantry staples after that if I need to. I am still prioritizing fresh produce and wholesome meals, but we have some shelf-stable options on hand too that I would feel confident feeding my family. If you are relying on grocery delivery (with two small kids this is totally my jam!), you want to plan ahead with that too. Services like Instacart, Prime Now, Shipt and Fred Meyer Click List are no longer delivering in one or two days, and right now I can’t even get an order or time slot in my area. You can see how this outbreak is impacting the health of grocery store workers in this article.
BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS
Seriously guys, why was everyone’s first reaction to buy months and months worth of toilet paper? We have about 12 rolls left and after that I’m not sure what our plan is. When you are buying groceries and other household items, it is easy to let the fear of the unknown come in and impact decisions. Uncertainty about how long this can last can lead to us grasping for some element of control, which to some is ultra-preparation. When you see these people with hoards of stuff in their carts, you get anxious too and grab extra items too, it truly is contagious. When this happens shelves are empty and another fear sets in, scarcity! If we all took what we needed right now there would be plenty. If you see two more bulk bags of rice at the store and its on your list, leave one for your neighbor :)
Another way we can be considerate is by asking neighbors if they need any help, especially if they are older or have other limitations. We can still love and support each other and keep our distance. This also applies to delivery workers or Instacart shoppers who are paid on a contract basis and don’t have the option to avoid the stores in order to stay healthy. Only order what you need, only go to the store when you need something.
SIMPLIFY MEALS
Taking the pressure off of serving fancy or complex meals can really help during this time. Find ways to include protein, fresh produce, and complex carbs in a way that nourishes your body and family’s preferences without a laundry list of ingredients. This can also ease the burden of doing dishes, because with all of these meals at home I feel like I’m constantly cleaning! I will be sharing some simple and one pan or pot meals more in the coming weeks.
FIND WAYS TO MAKE MEALS FUN
Does the stress of grocery scarcity or the state of the world take some of the joy out of cooking for your family? Looking for ways to mix it up and add some fun to mealtimes can break up the mundane and lighten the mood. Living in Portland and being a bunch of extroverts, we love eating out. My daughter is still asking when we can go out again, but we are trying to keep it interesting by having picnics (even in the living room!), listening to live concerts during a meal on occasion, and getting our toddler in the kitchen to help with meal prep.
SUPPORT LOCAL
My heart goes out to all of the small business in Portland (and beyond) that are struggling during this time. We are still ordering take out from some of our favorite businesses with stringent health standards once per week, as well as buying gift cards for future use (see more about how take out supports restaurants in this article). Another way we can support our local community with our forks is by shopping at locally owned stores. While mega stores Costco, Target, and Safeway are out of stock on many staples for now, you may be able to find these at a locally owned store. There will also be less foot traffic in these stores, which could reduce your exposure as well. Another way to support farmers in your area is to order directly from them through a co-op or produce delivery company. Here are a few links to my favorite places to get groceries right now:
Imperfect Foods - Along with selling excess produce from local farmers, Imperfect now offers a variety of pantry staples shipped right to your door. You get a text message when your food arrives so you don’t have to make contact with anyone. Check my instagram account to see inside my box!
Thrive Market - We have been getting some pantry staples through Thrive Market for years because they have good deals on specialty items that align with our dietary preferences. This is a great option for stocking up on essentials to accommodate different diets in your family.
Full Circle - Another option for a fully-customizable box of farm-fresh produce delivered right to you.
More local stores are getting online and delivery options in light of this pandemic, so keep your eyes out! In my neighborhood Green Zebra and Ps&Qs Market both announced that they will have this service available soon! If you are a coffee drinker, there are ways to support your favorite shop even if they are closed. Our favorite coffee is Push x Pull, and they are doing free local delivery two times a week and shipping elsewhere. So excited to get coffee brought to use weekly.
Have more ideas to share? I would love to connect on Instagram!