I sincerely hope that this post finds all of you well and that you continue to remain so throughout the remainder of this epidemic.
Despite the Coronavirus and potential quarantines, some of us may be looking for healthy ways to survive instead of eating our weight in junk food and Ramen for 2+ weeks or months.
*Disclaimer: 1. If your grocery stores are sold out of fresh foods, it’s inherent that you’re going to eat some “less than healthy” foods. 2. If you’re already in quarantine, ill, or immunocompromised and can’t grocery shop or get groceries delivered to your door, by all means… EAT WHATCHA GOT.
BUT, if you’re looking for healthy suggestions to snag at the grocery store, Keep Reading.
I gotcha.
- FRESH fruits and veggies:
- Canned and frozen are better than none, but nothing can match the nutrient value of fresh produce.
- I find berries, apples, lil’ cuties, and broccoli are devoured the quickest in my home. They’re nutrient-dense, versatile for recipes, and make a great snack.
- Applesauce and smoothies are great options as well.
- Don’t forget to grab some lemons as well to keep your water exciting.
- QUALITY proteins:
- Quality protein options for my family look like frozen salmon, eggs, rotisserie chicken, beans, nut butter, trail mix, and our favorite protein bars.
- Keeping quality proteins on hand will help you manage your hunger while also assisting the body in creating ANTIBODIES!!!
- It will also help repair your muscles after you absolutely wreck those at-home workouts you’re hopefully doing.
- DRINKS:
- Tap or bottled, it doesn’t really matter, but GET YOUR WATER IN.
- Electrolyte drinks can also be helpful during this time, so grab those but keep an eye on the calories, carbs, and added sugars.
- SOUP:
- When you’re sick, it’s essential to stay hydrated, which can be a chore when your appetite is low.
- Keeping soup in the house can come in handy if you do become sick, lose your appetite, or just don’t feel like making a four-course meal.
- COMPLEX Carbs:
- Grabbing some non-perishable carbs are pretty important when preparing for quarantine.
- Some carbs currently in my pantry are rice, pasta, oats, sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash, crackers, and popcorn.
- If you remember from my previous spotlight post on carbohydrates, they’re the most essential nutrient for your brain and nervous system and provide 1/2 of the fuel utilized by your muscles.
- Chips and cookies also fall into this category. And if you’ve got girls scout cookies in the pantry (like me)… DON’T EAT THE ALL IN ONE DAY. Eat a few and walk away. You may call it self control, but I’m calling it rationing!
- Dairy/Oils:
- Hard cheeses like parmesan last longer and can add flavor to your meals.
- Milk can be a tough one when facing a quarantine, but if you’re worried about shelf-life, you can grab powdered or boxed milk.
- Don’t forget to snag some healthy oils like canola, avocado, and olive oil to help add flavor, calories, and fat to your meals. They’ll help with satiety because of that.
- REALISTIC INGREDIENTS:
- This may seem like common sense, but I’ve been on diets of blindly shopping through the grocery store before where I purchased food that I knew there was a 90% chance I wouldn’t eat. Don’t waste your money! If you’re planning to buy ingredients that you believe you “need” because you’re going into quarantine…. but you know you’re unlikely to make a meal out of it, DON’T BUY IT. Someone else may actually need or want that item, and it’s just going to collect dust in your pantry. Instead, be sure to buy ingredients you’ll actually work with and use.
I understand this is a scary time (for some right now more than others), and my heart goes out to all of you. If you CAN, let’s use this time to focus on HEALTH. We will get through this, and your body will be thanking you for all your efforts.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns or if there is ANYTHING I can do or ANY topic I can cover during the next few weeks, please leave a comment or email me at nutritionwcrystall@yahoo.com
The Crumb Corner 