Lock the Doors!
Have you stocked up on groceries in case you have to be quarantined? If so, what did you buy?
If you are following the DASH diet, it’s actually very likely that you have the right foods on hand. I’ll share my DASH stockpiles. It’s all real food. Unprocessed or minimally processed. Easy to combine to make many different types of great meals.
Freezer
ground beef
hamburger patties
pork loin chops
chicken breasts
salmon filets
Bags of broccoli, green beans, sweet corn, peas, diced onions
Leftovers
On the counter
Fresh tomatoes
Bananas
Garlic cloves
Olive oil
Bananas
Refrigerator
Milk, light yogurts
Juice
Salad dressings
Condiments
Fresh veggies: bagged (or not) lettuce, baby carrots, broccoli slaw, grated carrots, diced celery, radish slices
Fresh fruit: berries, oranges and tangerines, apples.
Applesauce
Cashews and mixed nuts
Light whole wheat bread
Eggs
Sliced cheeses and low sodium deli meats
Peanut butter and jellies
Hummus
Salsa
Pantry
Cans of diced tomatoes and sauce
White basmati rice
Crackers
Soups, reduced sodium
Canned beans
Canned fruit
Tuna
Whole grain cereals
Dry spices and herbs
Staples: flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, powdered sugar, honey
With this as a foundation, I can make many different meals, with enough food for 14 days. The only thing that I’m concerned about is fruit. Today I bought some canned fruit, in case I really should have to self-quarantine, since I would run out of fresh fruit. Canned peaches, mandarin oranges, and applesauce were my picks. There is a much smaller variety of canned fruits compared with canned vegetables. So, add in some frozen berries for variety. While you are at the freezer section, add some extra types of frozen vegetables. Get some fresh food, too. In the produce aisle think about getting a few heads of lettuce, some grated carrots or broccoli slaw, and tomatoes. Pick up some fresh fruit that will carry you for a week or so, berries, bananas, tangerines, or whatever strikes your fancy.
As an aside, one thing I don’t understand is people stocking up on bottled water. This isn’t a hurricane. The water will still keep flowing.
And as long as you’re spending more time at home, you could start thinking about a garden. Vegetables, fruits, and herbs make it super easy to make fresh, tasty meals with the basics that you have on hand. I live in Southern California, so it is garden time right now. Citrus trees are blossoming like crazy. I still have a couple of oranges on my tree, and there are hundreds of lemons on my tree. I am late to planting vegetables this year, it’s too hot to start lettuce, peas, cabbage, broccoli, or beans. But I just planted tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers, and refreshed my herb garden. This makes for healthy living and eating without having to try very hard and at a very low cost. Plant, water, harvest. Couldn’t be simpler.
This really is the DASH diet formula for a lifetime of healthy eating, with or without a quarantine. Keeping the right foods on hand makes it so easy!