What to Buy at the Grocery During a Pandemic

Written by: Rita Magallona

With the ongoing enhanced community quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it’s crucial to stay home except for important trips like buying groceries. To minimize contact with other people, stock up on the essentials so you won’t have to go back for supplies too often.
Here’s a list of things you need to buy while you stay indoors. Do note that you don’t have to hoard any of these items because the supply chain is not interrupted.

1. Enough food for two weeks

Nutritious food should be your top priority, especially non-perishable staples. Just get enough for your household’s needs for two weeks (14 days).

Here are the recommended foodstuffs for your pandemic pantry.

• Staples like rice, bread, pasta, and cereal
• Canned fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables
• Frozen meats, seafood, fruits, and vegetables
• Shelf-stable milk and coffee
• Treats like dark chocolate as a morale booster (but don’t go overboard!)
• Dried or preserved foodstuff
• Hardy produce like potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and onions
• Fresh eggs
• Food for your pet (if you have one)

2. Cleaning products and toiletries

Washing your hands and keeping clean are two of the surest ways to keep from getting infected and prevent the coronavirus from spreading. Aside from the usual cleaning supplies, you also need to have two week’s worth of personal hygiene products for your household.

Be sure to have these in your shopping list:

• Soap
• Hand sanitiser
• Disinfectant like bleach or alcohol (choose 70% ethyl)
• Toilet paper
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo
• Diapers
• Feminine care products

3. Medications and other medical supplies

Just like food, maintenance medications and first-aid supplies are must-haves in the home. Purchase the following so that you’re ready for minor medical emergencies at home

• A 30-day supply of prescription medications for chronic conditions
• A first-aid kit
• Over-the-counter medicines like pain relievers, cold medicine, and antihistamines
• Vitamins and supplements
• Contact lens solution
• Formula milk

4. Drinking water

If you cannot drink water from the tap, you’ll need to stock up on clean water. The recommended amount is 53 litres (around 14 gallons) of water per person good for two weeks.

5. Batteries

These are for light torches and other battery-operated gadgets or appliances. Make sure that you have enough for the duration of the quarantine so you won’t have to go out and buy some should you run out of batteries.
With this recommended shopping list, you can now go and buy the essentials. Be sure to maintain a safe distance from everyone else and follow our grocery shopping tips on your next supply run.

For more peace of mind, here are more ways to keep the coronavirus out of your home. And don’t forget to take care of your physical health and mental wellness.