In the first few months into the global pandemic, you might have had trouble finding the food you prefer to eat. However, now that the supply chain issue seems to have eased, finding the particular food you want to eat is easier. That means now is the perfect time to increase your pantry.
Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Increase Your Pantry
There are several reasons why you might want to consider increasing your pantry goods now.
You Should Have at Least a Two-Week Supply of Food
If you do happen to get COVID-19 or get exposed to it, you will likely either be unable to leave the house or need to quarantine for 14 days. That means you should have at least that many days of food in your home because you won’t be able to go to the store.
Keep a Stock of Specialty Foods
If you have food allergies or intolerances, having an ample pantry is even more important. For instance, if you can’t have gluten or dairy, there are many items you can’t eat. You can’t go to the store and buy whatever foods you may find on the shelf as other people can.
Take the time now to stock up in case there is a supply shortage later.
The Supply Chain May Be Broken
In our city, the local UPS hub has nearly 50 cases of coronavirus, and the union wants to temporarily shut down the hub. Like many people, I’m trying to avoid going to the store by buying items online. Now, if our UPS hub closes for a few weeks, I won’t be able to get many of my orders. Having a pantry and freezer full with enough items to feed my family for a few weeks or a month gives me peace of mind.
States May Shut Down Again
No one knows what will happen in the future. If cases of the virus continue to climb, government officials may have no choice but to shut down the states again. If that happens, there may be another run on groceries as there was the first time the states started to shut down. You don’t want to be in the same position you were in March when there were very limited groceries to buy and the shelves were bare.
How to Stock Up
Of course, you don’t want to be a hoarder. Be prudent and fill your pantry and freezer with enough food to last for a few weeks.
If you don’t have a lot of extra money in your grocery budget (and who does right now as the price of groceries continues to rise?), stock up little by little. Maybe one week buy a few extra pounds of beans. The next week, buy a few extra cans of veggies and fruit. Each week that you do this, you’ll be expanding your pantry. In addition, you won’t feel the financial hit as much as if you bought everything in one week.
Final Thoughts
Having a full stocked pantry is always a good choice, even in normal times. In the time of a pandemic, which we currently face, now is the perfect time to increase your pantry.
Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in New York, where she loves the natural beauty of the area.
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