Stock up Your Kitchen

Need to stock up? Whether you work from home, want to be prepared for emergencies, or need to self-isolate have these foods in your kitchen.

Eat well to stay healthy.

Dry Goods

Grains: Whole grains like oats, brown rice, quinoa, wheat berries and spelt keep well. They are healthy, filling and are easy additions to most meals.

Pasta: Whole wheat pasta can be added to soups and stews. You can make an easy, nutritious meal by adding beans and tomatoes.

Bread: Whole grain bread is nutritious and easily kept in the freezer, make sure it is sliced before freezing.

Beans: Dried or canned beans are great sources of fiber, nutrients, and protein. Lentils are easy to cook. If you have an Instant Pot, making beans is easy and fast.

Baking Supplies: Flours, yeast, baking powder, baking soda, sugar. You can make muffins, loaves of bread, cakes to enjoy and stay busy.

Cereals and crackers: Whole grain cereals and crackers make great snacks. Choose high fiber with minimal ingredients and don’t forget the popcorn! Organic, air-popped, popcorn with nutritional yeast makes a great snack when you are watching Netflix.

Fruits and Vegetables

Frozen: These are nutritious options and can last for months. Frozen fruit isn’t just for smoothies. Make a fruit crisp, add it to oatmeal or heat it up and eat with your favourite plant-based yogurt.

Frozen vegetables can be added to soups, stews and you can even stirfry frozen vegetables.

Fresh: Choose long-lasting fresh fruits like oranges and grapefruit. Buy green bananas to last longer and put them in the freezer for smoothies or baking once they get too ripe.

Long-lasting fresh vegetables like beets, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, squash, brussel sprouts, and broccoli are good choices.

Don’t forget canned tomatoes, veggie stock, and spices to make great sauces, soups, and stews that are easily frozen.

Plant-based Proteins

Besides beans, great sources of plant-based and vegan protein are tofu, hemp hearts, frozen edamame, nuts, and nut butters. Frozen veggie burgers and other vegan options like YVES and Gardein products make easy meal options.

You can also stock up on unsalted, roasted nuts and seeds; like pumpkin, chia, flax and sunflower seeds. These make great snacks, can be added to salads, smoothies and used for baking.

Grocery Stores

Grocery stores can be a bit crazy right now and a potential source of contagion, shop online and get your groceries delivered to stay healthy and flatten the curve.

Finally, some words of advice to keep the risk to others low.

Act as if you are infected, and don’t want to pass it on. Not as if you’re trying to avoid being infected.

Graham Medley, Infectious Disease Specialist

Take care, stay healthy and wash your hands.

Shayla