Everyone is preparing for some degree of self-isolation during the global COVID-19 pandemic. While many will not need to quarantine themselves or go into hiding, social distancing is strongly encouraged. Without a doubt, this has been shown to be an effective strategy in saving lives. But in response, many have overreacted in their preparation for the weeks to come. Many grocery shelves are bare, and some people are hoarding bare essentials (like toilet paper!). Thus, the question must be asked: what is the ideal grocery list when preparing for a lockdown?
The good news is that there is no indication that grocery producers will be unable to keep up with demand. This applies not only the basic staples but to healthy grocery items as well. With this in mind, the following are some healthy grocery items you may want to consider when preparing for weeks of self-isolation. Remember: you can still live boldly while stuck inside your house!
Fruits and Vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables are well-recognized to be part of a healthy, nutritious diet. But in order to purchase these healthy grocery items, visits to the grocery store or community market are usually required. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case. When preparing for extended self-isolation, canned fruits and vegetables are good alternatives. Choose those that aren’t stored in sweetened liquids. Also, be sure to rinse these foods in order to reduce any excess sodium present. In addition, many fruits and vegetables can be frozen and eaten at a later time. In fact, some studies have shown that frozen fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh ones. Lastly, dried fruits plant-based jerky are also great healthy grocery items to consider for long-term self-isolation. As nutritious snacks, these can also help keep you healthy and reduce trips out of the house.
Poultry, Fish and Other Meats
In choosing a nutritious diet during your self-isolation, you’ll naturally want to include foods that offer reasonable amounts of protein. For those who are not vegans or vegetarians, poultry, fish, and other meats are typically preferred. And fortunately, several healthy grocery items can be considered that will last for a long period of time. For example, canned tuna and salmon not only have long shelf-life but also are high in Omega-3s. In addition, fresh seafood, poultry, and beef can all be frozen and served weeks to months later. And even deli meat can be frozen and stored for a long period of time. All of these strategies reduce the number of times you have to go to the store. And by selecting lean meats low in fat, you can have access to healthy protein meals anytime you like.
Breads, Pasta, and Cereals
Believe it or not, fresh bread is a great item to store in the freezer but not the refrigerator. Freezing bread locks in the flavor while refrigeration does not. Likewise, in terms of most pastas and cereals, these items routinely have a long shelf-life and can be stored long-term. Therefore, these are ideal things to include on your grocery list when preparing for extended self-isolation. However, the bigger challenge is to select healthy grocery items in this category to better ensure good nutrition. With this in mind, items like whole wheat pasta and quinoa are great food items to consider. Also, brown rice can be included among your healthy grocery items as well. And high-fiber cereals and steel-cut oats are also recognized as being healthy and nutritious. Having these types of foods on-hand during self-isolation periods is always a good idea.
Beans, Legumes, and Nuts
For those who are vegan or vegetarian, beans and legumes are healthy grocery items that are often purchased. But even for others, beans and legumes are a great source of healthy proteins and nutrients. Even peas have made a comeback! And of course, these are ideal foods for self-isolation because they can be kept in the cupboard for extended periods of time. Many people choose to but these canned, which is certainly convenient. But choosing to buy fresh is a great option as well. At the same time, nuts, like dried fruits, are great snacks that can be highly nutritious. Almonds, pistachios, and walnuts are particularly healthy as are cashews and pecans. These types of snacks are no-brainers when it comes to choosing items for long food storage.
Water, Milk, and Other Beverages
As always, staying hydrated is an important part of being healthy. Therefore, making sure you have adequate water on hand is important. While bottled water may be preferred, filtered tap water can be just as healthy. Likewise, using filtered tap water reduces the number of healthy grocery items needed, which means fewer outings. Other beverage considerations to ensure proper health might also include shelf-stable milk and juices. And for a number of individuals, coffee is essential, especially if working from home. In any case, be sure you stay hydrated during self-isolation since this also enhances your immune system. This will help you stave off any potential infection or illness while promoting optimal health otherwise.
Being Responsible with Your Healthy Grocery Items
Given the concerns and illness rates associated with COVID-19 virus, it is understandable that many are worried. Self-isolation and obtaining healthy grocery items are good ways to protect yourself and others. By purchasing the right amount of health grocery items for your family, you look out for yourself, as well as your community. That’s certainly bold living.
