Pandemic Grocery Shopping

Being limited to what store you can shop at and how often you can shop can cause some extra stress. Here are some tips to help make grocery shopping easier. You can also continue using these tips even when things return to normal.
 

1. Do an inventory of what you already have in your fridge, pantry, and freezer.
2. Make a meal plan for the week, using up what you already have on hand first.
3. Make a detailed list of what you need to buy for 1 week, and write it in the order you will come across it in the store. This will save you time in the store.
4. Check the flyer online first (if applicable) for sales…write sale prices beside items on your list so you know which one to pick.
5. Have backup meal ideas in mind in case you cant find the items you need in the store.
6. Focus on buying frozen fruits and veggies as you can use as needed and they will not go bad.
7. Keep canned beans, and lentils in your pantry as these are easy to add into dishes for protein and fibre.
8. Keep a few boxes/bags of different pastas, rice, and quinoa on your pantry shelf for meals.
9. Canned tomatoes are a perfect addition to meals for flavour and nutrients.
10.  Keep baking supplies on hand as well to make muffins which can be used as healthy snacks.

​There is plenty of food at the grocery stores, so there is no need to bulk buy items in a panic. It is possible to continue eating healthy even with limited store visits. You may need to adjust your buying habits for now, especially when staying on a budget is even more important for most people, so hopefully these tips will help with that.