We all are experiencing a new situation staying home during the Covid-19 crisis.
Eating healthy and well, following a balanced diet is important during this time. Planning meals and keeping a regular schedule of cooking and eating will help maintain a routine and organize your days.
I have been reading recommendations and tips about how to organize the food shopping list during the lockdown and would like to share some ideas with you.
This is a new and unique situation and I don´t think anyone has THE SOLUTION. These are just some tips that are working for me but if you have other ones, please share as I´m sure it will help people too.
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Plan your meals weekly, so you only have to go out once per week.
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To have balanced meals, think that your plate is divided into 3 parts:
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1/2 with vegetables and fruit
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1/4 with proteins (vegetable or animal: meat, eggs, legumes, fish or dairy)
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1/4 with carbohydrates (cereals or tubers)
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With that in mind, check first what you have in your freezer, fridge, and pantry; plan what you can cook with that and what you need to add for the whole week.
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In this way, you will make an accurate shopping list and won´t have to walk around the supermarket thinking what you fancy or what you need. Think that the supermarket staff is exposed to the virus too so the less time we spend in the shop, the better.
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Be flexible as well; it´s possible you can´t find all you have on your shopping list.
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Try to make your meals different and interesting every day.
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Try to avoid cooking on a whim as you will have to go out more often and change your meal plan every day.
Some staples for a pantry during social isolation:
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Have 2 or 3 different types of canned or dry legumes and cereal.
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Have some nuts, they are very healthy and can add a nice touch to a salad, a soup, or even as a snack.
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Some tinned fish (anchovies, tuna, for example) to have Omega3 and vitamin B12.
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Frozen vegetables are good in case the supermarket runs out of fresh ones.
For fresh products, you can also buy from local independent businesses in Cambridge. Some have reduced their opening times but are still open and some have added delivery service too.
