We are living in an unprecedented time as our entire world is battling the Coronavirus. Many of us are isolated from our friends, family, and co-workers. We are home much more than we are used to, and that can present some challenges for sure! Cooking during COVID-19 can be a challenge, which is why we’re sharing tips for feeding your family during coronavirus isolation
Having worked from home for the past 5 years, I understand the challenges our current situation has placed on parents. Whether it is the change of working remotely, grocery shopping on-a-dime, or even homeschooling children; I have faced these obstacles before. But something new I have had to navigate, as I’m sure you have as well, is the longer stretches between grocery shopping trips and making the food you have in your pantry stretch as far as possible. In an effort to help each other – I have put together this article to provide tips, tricks, and recipes to help keep you safe and healthy as we move forward.
Tips for Cooking During COVID-19
- What food to stock in your pantry
- How to stretch a meal
- How to preserve and stretch your food longer
- Recipes using what you have
- Tips for grocery shopping
This article is written by Katie Strohecker
For more on this topic, check out the full Surviving at Home collection
During Isolation, Buy Foods That Stretch a Long Way
Try to stock-up on foods that can stretch and feed a lot of people (for larger families), or can provide you with leftovers (for smaller families). We have to make what we have last us for longer stretches than we are used to.
Ideas of these foods include:
- Pasta
- Eggs & veggies
- Rice and Beans
- Lentils
- Childhood Favorites (PBJ, grilled cheese, hot dogs, chicken nuggets)
- Breakfast for dinner (pancakes, eggs, waffles, quiche, casseroles, etc.)
- Whole Chicken (roasting your own or purchase from Costco/Local grocery chain)
- Soup (either canned or homemade)
- Baked Potatoes (can be topped with canned chili, loaded with toppings or frozen veggies)
Check out our Recipes page for simple, nutritious, and delicious options that your family is sure to love!
And check out more inspiration and ideas at TheKitchn.com
Make Meals Last Longer During Coronavirus Quarantine
Another way to make your groceries last longer, and to save money, is by stretching your meals. What does this mean? It’s about filling everyone’s belly up, but not using as much to do it. It means conserving your proteins and being strategic about what and how you serve your meal.
Meal Stretching Tips:
- Add water/stock/broth to stretch a soup or stew
- Use meat as a condiment rather than a main course (salad topping, soup add-in, pasta topper, mix-in for casseroles or eggs, etc.)
- Cook more pasta, rice, and potatoes
- Serve appropriate portion sizes
- Add bread, rolls, or bagels to a meal
- Serve more vegetable and bean side dishes (fresh, frozen or canned)
Check out our Saving Money collection and FunCheapFree.com for more free tips and strategies.
How to Stretch Your Groceries During COVID-19
If you do not already plan your meals, now is the time to start! Plan out what you are going to make for the next 2 or 3 weeks and stick to it. This will be useful for when you make your shopping list. {Look for more tips on grocery shopping a little later in this article.} You may have to get creative with your meals – think outside the box. In the next section, I’ll share some apps and online sources for recipes.
A few other tips for stretching what you have:
- Water down beverages to stretch them (Iced teas, juices, etc.)
- Freeze cheeses before they go bad
- Freeze or use produce before it spoils (bake with it, make a jam/chutney, make sauce, etc.)
- Choose fruits/vegetables that store longer (apples, oranges, kiwi, blueberries, cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, pomegranates, squash)
- Put bread/rolls/bagels in the refrigerator to lengthen their shelf life
Search Recipes by Ingredients
The internet is an endless resource for recipes. Try searching for recipes with few ingredients or ones that use canned products. There are even sources (some with convenient apps) that you can type the ingredients you have on hand in your fridge or pantry, and they will provide you a list of recipes using only those ingredients.
Popular Apps (for searching recipes with food in your fridge or pantry):
I also recommend checking out some of my favorite sources for recipes with few ingredients. One of my favorite recipes for flatbread includes only two ingredients: Self-rising flour and plain yogurt and tastes amazing [source: Jamie Oliver]!
Recipes with Only a Few Ingredients:
- BBC Good Food Family Meals
- Jamie Oliver’s Quick & Easy Food
- Rachael Ray 5 Ingredient Dinners
- 10 Easy Dinners From Canned Goods
Make Food from Scratch During COVID-19 Lockdown
Since you are isolated at home, and possibly need something to do with your children…try your hand at making your own bread, bagels, rolls/biscuits, tortillas, sauces, soups, spice mixes, jellies/jams, etc. (If you can find the ingredients you need!) It will be a memory your children will never forget!
Enjoy these inspirations to help you get started:
- Cooking with toddlers 10 Healthy Snacks Toddlers Can Make,
- Cooking with your older children How to Make Your Life Easier (With Tweens/Teens
- And if you do in fact make something from scratch, use this free printable recipe card to record your creation
Make Quick Safe Grocery Store Trips During Coronavirus
I wanted to end this article with a few tips on how to make your grocery store trips safe and quick. In our area, delivery and pick-up has been unavailable due to demand, so here are a few suggestions to make your grocery trip fast and efficient. Don’t forget to use hand sanitizer and a mask if possible.
- Know what you need (make a list and refer to your meal plan)
- Know how much you need (2 or 3 weeks worth)
- Organize your list by aisle or sections of the store for efficiency
- Be ready to substitute items due to availability
- Only touch packages or cans when you have made a decision
- Gather all produce and then weigh it (leave your cart in one spot)
- If allowed, bag your own items at checkout
I hope this article has provided you with some ideas of how to make meals less of a stressor at this unprecedented time. As much as we are apart, we are in this together. Stay safe and stay healthy!
For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Home collection
Featured Contributor: Katie Strohecker
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- Website: milestonefamilyexpos.com
- Facebook: @pafamilyexpo @lancasterbabyshower
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