You're staying home to protect yourself and help flatten the curve (good for you!) but we all have to eat, right? If you want to eat fresh, healthy foods, it can be a challenge to go more than a week between grocery store visits. Thankfully there are a variety of options to eat fresh and keep our distance as much as possible.
Plan Ahead
If you're like me, you inevitably always remember something you need from the grocery store the day (or even just an hour) after you've been shopping. Careful planning can be especially helpful during these virus days so you can limit the times you have to leave your home.
Consider a 2 to 4 week plan when making your shopping list.
Make & Freeze - A lot of meals can be made in advance and frozen, thereby allowing you to eat nutritious fruits and veggies for weeks (or months) after your shopping trip. Check out the post Make Ahead Freezer Meals for recipes that freeze well. Don't forget that you'll need containers appropriate for freezing, so if you don't have enough already, add this to your shopping list.
Buy practical pantry staples - A lot of meals can be made with dried beans (or canned), vegetable stock, diced tomatoes, raw nuts, dried fruit and grains. Consider what you eat and stock up on those items. And don't forget the basics like salt, flour...and chocolate! Try your hand at making your own bread, plant-based milk (like my favorite oat milk) or nut butter.
More for the freezer - While Hungry Man and the zillions of salty, fatty prepared meals might not fall into the healthy list (plus they take up tons of room in the freezer), frozen fruits and veggies last a long time and can be used in a lot of ways. Plus, a lot of refrigerated foods can easily be frozen for later use, such as cheese, butter, bread, meats and even unexpected fruits/veggies like avocado. Search online for how to freeze these items appropriately.
Store well - In addition to buying fruits and veggies that you can enjoy right away, you'll also want to purchase produce that stores well so you'll have fresh foods for week 2 and beyond. Winter squash, root vegetables (like carrots and parsnip), apples, pears, onions/garlic and potatoes all last a while if stored well. There are a number of blogs that discuss how to grow and store certain vegetables, so look around and see what you can find. Here's one I like: 9 Crops to Grow for Food Storage, Grow a Good Life. And another one specifically related to storing apples: Practical Self Reliance.
Consider an alternative - Sometimes we get stuck in a rut. We buy certain things because that is what we're used to. Take this time as an opportunity to try something new. Switch out your cow's milk for plant-based that you can easily make at home. Invest in a bidet rather than fretting over the lack of toilet paper. Be adaptable with your recipes. Take a look at what you have on-hand (or what's available at the farmers market) and research recipes you can make. Some ingredients are easy to substitute - use an onion instead of shallots, flax seed and water instead of egg or spinach instead of bok choy.
Grow your own - If you aren't doing so already, consider growing some of your own fruits, veggies or herbs. Consider what you like to eat and then look up what grows well in your climate and with your sun conditions. Obviously all plants need time to grow, so you won't get any edibles right away, but some foods will produce more quickly than others. Crops like leaf lettuce are especially easy to grow, are ready to eat in a short amount of time and don't take up much space (you can grow them on your patio). Most garden nurseries are still open and many have implemented safety protocols, such as phone orders with no contact pick-up or by scheduling appointments to limit the number of folks shopping at once. Local farmers also offer plant starts right now so you don't need to worry about starting from seed.
Where to Shop - UPDATED November 2020
Now that you've got your list ready, where do you go to get everything you need? Thankfully you have a lot of options for no- or less-contact shopping. Here are some good options available in Kitsap County, Washington where I live as well as some online options to consider. And in case I need to say it, be considerate when shopping (get what you need, be willing to live without some things) and be patient and kind with the people who are helping you. And don't forget to say "thank you!"
This list is limited to my own experience/knowledge. If you have a vendor to add to this list, please share it so I can, in turn, share with others.
Kitsap County Stores - There are two local grocers who have exceeded my expectations for thoughtfulness and prioritizing safety for staff and customers, at all times but especially during this virus outbreak - Central Market/Town & Country and Kitsap Community Food Coop. If you're purchasing a large quantity of an item in the bulk section of Central Market (I like to get 20 pounds of oats when they're on sale), let the staff know and they'll bag it up for you! Naturally 4 Paws is offering curbside pick-up and home delivery of their pet supplies, and their new website allows for online ordering. There are many other stores offering contactless shopping options, so take advantage of it!
Local Farms & Farmers Markets - As we've learned, the virus is less likely to spread outdoors, so farmers markets are a safe alternative to the grocery store, and it's always great to buy directly from the source! In Kitsap, the Poulsbo Farmers Market is open through December 19. Many farms sell direct to the public, so do some research to see what is available in your area. I have access to eggs, honey, goat cheese, and more from my neighbors, so ask around. You never know what might be available to you!
Online Shopping - Keep in mind that every order you place means that someone is packing, driving and delivering that order to you. However, I think it still makes sense to purchase some items online. If you do choose to order from Amazon, be sure to order through Amazon Smile so Amazon will donate to your selected charity on your behalf. We choose to support Paws4ever!
Vitacost - I like to shop small, local businesses when possible, but I have found the selection and customer service of Vitacost to be outstanding. They offer a lot of natural foods as well as cleaning and body supplies at reasonable prices.
Bob's Red Mill - You can purchase a variety of flours, grains, seeds, etc. directly from Bob's Red Mill as well as some pre-made items like granola and bars.
The Coffee Oasis - Get coffee delivered right to your door and support efforts to help homeless and vulnerable youth!
Etsy - Most people think of Etsy as a site for crafts but you'll also find a number of food items, such as raw nuts, jellies or dried fruits in addition to soaps and other necessities.
Superior Nut Company - If you don't find a farm you want to buy directly from, you can find bulk nuts, dried fruits and candies at this online store, among others. You can almost always find a coupon code, so do a quick search for a discount.
Share your ideas with me and I'll add them to the list. While this time of isolation might be stressful and lonely, let's use it as an opportunity to try new things, support our local community and learns ways we can be a bit more self-sustaining.
Stay healthy and kind!
