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Meeting the Challenges of Eating Well During COVID-19
By Patrice Powers-Barker, OSU Extension, Lucas County
The Truth Contributor
During stressful times, it can be challenging to eat well
for a variety of reasons. Although we cannot predict
everything that will happen in this next month, we can
anticipate that there will be continued changes and
transitions for individuals and families within their
households as well as in stores as Ohio prepares to gets
back to work this May.
What we know: Every
place of business needs to have plans in place to help
prevent the spread of COVID-19. There needs to be a minimum
of six feet between people. Employees, customers and guests
are not allowed to enter if symptomatic.
Suggestions for grocery shopping:
·
Check what
food you have at home first. This will help limit the number of trips to the grocery store
and avoid spending money on items that are not needed.
·
Make a
shopping list
to stay focused, get needed items, and keep the shopping
trip short. Prepare a shopping list that will cover the
household for about 2 weeks.
·
Be realistic
about amounts of food.
Buy only what’s needed and resist the urge to buy in much larger
quantities.
·
Buy fresh,
frozen, and shelf-stable foods.
Eat your fresh food first. Stock your freezer and pantry with
items you can eat in the second week and beyond.
Challenges for grocery shopping: One
of many challenges is showing up at the store and finding
empty shelves for popular items. Another challenge is that
even if the shelves are not empty there might be limits to
the amount of items to purchase. While it is very important
that people are not hoarding food or supplies, the limits
can make it hard to shop for a two-week timespan. It also
makes it challenging to shop for yourself and for a neighbor
or family member who cannot go to the store.
Possible Options:
As you write your grocery list add some additional or
options in case your first choices are not available. Try to
be creative with different foods and not become discouraged
while at the store. Explore shopping options like in-store
pickup, curbside pickup or delivery. Every store does it a
little differently. There have been some challenges with the
large surge of many more people using curbside pickup than
ever before but it might be an option for your household to
try.
What we know:
Farmers and producers are busy working to provide food
across the country.
The Challenge: Our
food system, including food processing was designed to meet
the food industry needs prior to COVID-19. It was
estimated in 2018, that United States consumers spent 43% of
food dollars in full-service restaurants, schools and
colleges, which have all been restricted by social
distancing. All of these sites purchase food in bulk and not
in family size packages. As the need for bulk food has gone
down by these sites, more people are grocery shopping to
make meals at home and require different sized and packaged
items. One specific example has been milk processing.
Previously, bottling small containers of milk for schools
and large packages of cheese for restaurants was the norm.
The processing was not set up for the increased demand for
gallon and half gallon containers that people wanted as they
stayed home. Also, the system for meat packaging has slowed
down during this time which makes less available on the
shelves.
Possible Options:
Try to remember that this is temporary. While it can be very
frustrating for the grocery shopper, know that all types of
farmers are trying to supply us with food. A vegetable
grower is not going to be able to solve problems for the
dairy industry and the dairy farms cannot control the meat
packaging plants. One way we are fortunate in Ohio is that
our greenhouses and large grocery stores are open for sales
of fresh produce, garden plants and vegetable seeds. Even if
you are not interested in growing your own garden, you do
have the option to buy produce from local growers as they
are selling seasonal crops.
With the current recommendations of social distancing, it is
not surprising that people have shown an interest in growing
their own gardens this year. While growing your own
container garden or backyard garden can be done solo,
community gardens can also decide on new recommendations
this year to keep a safe distance between growers. The Ohio
State University Extension, Lucas County office is closed
but staff are still working. In May we plan to offer
information on planting, growing – and enjoying – a
vegetable garden. If you are interested in learning more
about online classes or joining a monthly phone call
conversation on gardening, please let me know and we will
get you the contact information. Patrice Powers-Barker,
Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator, email:
powers-barker.1@osu.edu
phone: 419-574-0893. Web page:
https://lucas.osu.edu/fcs
or Facebook for ongoing updates:
https://www.facebook.com/OSUExtensionLucasCounty/.
Sources from MyPlate, OSU Extension, and North Carolina
State University Extension. Please stay well.
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