Shop strategically
The CDC urges everyone to stay home as much as possible during the COVID-19 outbreak to avoid unnecessary exposure to the virus and stop the spread of the virus, so you must make the most out of your shopping trips. Nguyen suggests buying food and supplies that will last you for about two weeks, so you can limit going out as much as you can.
However, you need a plan in order to succeed. First, she says, take inventory of what you have, and then figure out how many people you need to feed. “Try to make a meal plan for the week so you’re not impulse-eating,” she adds.
Also, leave the recipes that require exotic ingredients until after the pandemic. “Consider keeping recipes basic so you don’t need to buy specialty ingredients that may be hard to reuse in other dishes,” she says.
Once you’ve made your shopping list with everything you need to buy, you’re ready to hit the store.
Diane Vukovic, lead writer at the prepping website Primal Survivor and author of the book Disaster Preparedness for Women, also suggests making a spreadsheet. “Organize the spreadsheet by type of food (carbohydrates, proteins, fruits, veggies, oil/fats, sides, and snacks),” she advises. “Make a column next to the food with its total calories. The average adult needs around 1,800 to 2,500 calories per day, so the calorie tally on your spreadsheet will give you an idea of how long your food should last. It will also give you a better sense of what foods you have and how to distribute them properly over the upcoming period.”
Additionally, every few days, update your spreadsheet. “This will help you see how much food you are really eating, which, for many of us, may be more than necessary,” she adds. “Seeing it in numbers can help curb boredom-snacking.”
