Let’s talk shopping smarter, not harder. It’s no secret our society has started to panic in fear due to the coronavirus and the ripple effect of the unknown. Schools and businesses continue to close as the case numbers go up. What now? While everyone is going nuts over hoarding toilet paper and cleaning supplies, let’s forget about that for a minute and discuss items more important, your meals. Eating healthy and maintaining a balanced diet is more important than toilet paper supply. You know you can just clean your butt right? Jump in shower or use old tees, tissues, or washcloths if you have to. There are options for alternative toilet paper people! However, when if comes to your food supply, you could face a dead end. Below I will go over some important items to place in your cart next time you’re able to make a trip to stock up. I will discuss items that freeze well, have a long shelf life, and can come in handy across the board. Don’t sacrifice your health or well being during a time of stress. Stress is related to 99% of all illnesses. If there’s anytime to keep your immune system strong and stable it’s now. You are what you eat. Grocery shopping smarter, eating well and practicing good habits are much more important than toilet paper.

Freezing food items is a great way to extend their shelf life. If you’re someone who cooks often and wants to tackle some pre-made meals, that’s a great idea to stock up for convenience! You can prepare meals to freeze like: lasagna, soups, broths, casseroles, pesto, sauces, breakfast burritos, egg bites and more. If you are just looking to extend the life of fresh items, you can freeze: butter, bread, some cheeses, baked goods and fresh pasta.

I like to stock up on meats like ground meats. You can use ground meat for meatballs, tacos or burgers. Frozen grains like rice, quinoa and couscous are always great because you can use them for many different meals or sides. Potatoes freeze well. You can make it as simple as French fries. Fish and shrimp is a staple in my freezer for healthy, clean eating. I always have poultry on hand for making broths, roasting or adding into a pasta dish. Frozen veggies and fruit are great because you can use them for smoothies or any side dishes and they won’t spoil like they do in the fridge. So it is a great way to still get your nutrients. Bread is must, you can always depend on a sandwich when in need for a meal.

Just remember, once you thaw something from the freezer, you need to use it. Do not refreeze. It will depend on the item for how much longer it will last once you remove it from the freezer. Use your best judgement. Has it changed colors? Does it smell? Those are big indicators to whether or not it has reached the point of tossing out. When thawing meat, fish or poultry be sure to let it thaw in the fridge for best results. If you are in a crunch and need a quicker route (the fridge may take up to 24 hours), then you can place keep it out in the sink or in cool water (not hot or warm). If you leave it to thaw on the counter or sink, just make sure once it thaws it isn’t sitting at room temperature for long. This is how they grow bacteria and become a risk to eat. Once thawed, keep in the fridge until you are ready to use it. Don’t refreeze either!

Pantry items could be an endless list of options. However, try not to just stock up on all the packaged junk foods. Incorporate items like canned goods that are healthy options for creating a base to a meal. The beauty of items like canned beans, veggies, fruits, tomatoes, soups, is that they won’t go bad for years. So you can really use them whenever and they are easy to prepare! Pasta is always an easy go to and you can add protein to your pasta dish with pantry items like tuna or beans. Stocking up on soup is always smart because it’s a base to many meals while also a key item to have for anyone who does become ill or infected with the coronavirus. Nut butter and jam is wonderful for the protein and easy solution to a sandwich anytime. Keeping popcorn kernels at home is super helpful. You can make popcorn whenever you want a light snack without worrying about it going stale. Making homemade popcorn is also a much healthier way to snack and skip the chips!

Yes I said vodka. Some of these items may seem unimportant, however I like to have a supply of these to make cooking for more. If you enjoy cooking, keep a stock of vodka, beer and wine will had great flavor to recipes or you can still make delicious meals like penne alla vodka! Don’t forget olive oil or a cooking oil of your choice. You’ll be needing it for cooking!

I know produce items won’t last, but they are a good start. The items on my list are ones that actually do last longer than most. Carrots, onions, celery and garlic are items that last and are great to use to make your own broths or soups. Potatoes are versatile and have a longer shelf life than most veggies. Apples and oranges keep the longest out of any fruits! Store them in the fridge for a longer shelf life. You can juice the oranges for for some fresh vitamin C to fight off illness and keep your immune system strong.

There are a few miscellaneous items you may have forgotten about. Yogurt and eggs last a while in the fridge. They can also be used in many different recipes or for a snack. They are both high in protein and yogurt provides probiotics and many more nutrients. Stocking up on different cheeses can come in handy as well. You can use cheeses for sauces, Mac n cheese, or snacks. Cheese is also a good source of protein. Crackers, pita, or another healthy chip options make nice snacks, especially when dipped in hummus. You may be thinking why flour? If you have flour and eggs you can make your own pasta or baked items when in need.

Hopefully there was at least one idea you learned from my list of smarter shopping and you can make the most of the time you’re stuck at home with creating innovative recipes while still being healthy. I wish everyone good healthy and safety as we recover from this pandemic of the coronavirus and move forward together.