Grocery shopping tips during Coronavirus quarantine #2

[BetteDavisEyes]

I'm not hoarding, but I'm not letting myself run out of anything either, in anticipation of a second wave. I'm making sure that my pantry, freezer, and fridge stay full, rather than run down right before a grocery trip. I'm keepin 1-2 extra of items and a couple of packs of unopened toilet paper on hand.

This is what DH and I plan to do, as well. When we go to Costco, we will get products that we use all the time and start to stock up on other items that we might eventually need at a later date. We don't have a freezer but will make sure that the pantry is well-stocked at all times and that we have essentials like ground round, chicken breasts, ground turkey, pork chops in our refrigerator/freezer. If hand soap and sanitizer is available anywhere we shop, we will buy it when we see it. Same with toilet paper, disinfectant wipes, paper towels, and Kleenex. I hope there won't be a second wave, but if there is, it's best for all of us to be prepared.

 

[BUF]

Just got back from Costco a little while ago. They had Charmin and Kirkland toilet paper! It wasn’t at the usual location in the back, but between the front isles. I would suggest you go in the morning sometime if you are after this.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Coronavirus pandemic threatens to undo progress on plastic pollution

Environmentalists and recyclers express concerns that hard-fought gains are being rapidly reversed as the sustainability debate is "parked."

DH and I both keep reusable shopping bags in our vehicles. We have used our own grocery bags for many years and are saddened that everyone has to use in-store bags during the pandemic. Last fall, our trash removal service (GFL) sent a memo to residential customers about which types of plastics can be recycled and how to properly recycle all items properly. Those limp plastic bags that are standard in many stores do not do well in processing equipment and should not be placed in recycle bins. Not only can we not use our own reusable grocery bags, but we also can't recycle the plastic store bags that we have to use during the COVID outbreak

 

[PayrollNerd]

I can’t find the article but this morning, I was reading about the top recommendations of canned goods to keep on hand. It was written by a dietitian. There were 6 items and these are the ones I remember. All of these are staples for us. Interestingly, the food bank actually has given all of these regularly except for black olives.

1. Pumpkin to add to smoothies, soup and as an ingredient substitute.
2. Beans as a protein source: black beans or other similar type bean
3. Tomatoes
4. Black olives
5. Low sodium or salt free vegetables

if I find the article, I will add it.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Coronavirus pandemic threatens to undo progress on plastic pollution

Environmentalists and recyclers express concerns that hard-fought gains are being rapidly reversed as the sustainability debate is "parked."

DH and I both keep reusable shopping bags in our vehicles. We have used our own grocery bags for many years and are saddened that everyone has to use in-store bags during the pandemic. Last fall, our trash removal service (GFL) sent a memo to residential customers about which types of plastics can be recycled and how to properly recycle all items properly. Those limp plastic bags that are standard in many stores do not do well in processing equipment and should not be placed in recycle bins. Not only can we not use our own reusable grocery bags, but we also can't recycle the plastic store bags that we have to use during the COVID outbreak

If the store as the plastic bag recycle bin outside the door, like Publix does, stop and transfer your items right then. That way you don’t take them home and have to remember to bring them back.

 

[JDG]

Coronavirus pandemic threatens to undo progress on plastic pollution

Environmentalists and recyclers express concerns that hard-fought gains are being rapidly reversed as the sustainability debate is "parked."

DH and I both keep reusable shopping bags in our vehicles. We have used our own grocery bags for many years and are saddened that everyone has to use in-store bags during the pandemic. Last fall, our trash removal service (GFL) sent a memo to residential customers about which types of plastics can be recycled and how to properly recycle all items properly. Those limp plastic bags that are standard in many stores do not do well in processing equipment and should not be placed in recycle bins. Not only can we not use our own reusable grocery bags, but we also can't recycle the plastic store bags that we have to use during the COVID outbreak

Just an idea, put your checked groceries back into the cart and pack them into your own bags when you're back to the car.
A friend of mine is doing that instead of taking the plastic bags.

 

[LadyL]

They were only sold in a bulk package of 1000 gloves. Ten boxes of 100 gloves all inside an over wrap together, sold as one bulk industrial sized package. This is the only way they were sold, she didn’t grab up ten boxes of gloves.

Sorry, I should has made that clear in my first post. I didn’t mean to make it sound like she bought them up to hoard.

no I'm sorry - I thought of that but I didn't think anyone would order that much lol

 

[LadyL]

I bought 2 gallon size jugs of hand sanitizer at Costco the other day, and felt like I scored!

I saw $250 jugs on the Costco Canada website!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

If the store as the plastic bag recycle bin outside the door, like Publix does, stop and transfer your items right then. That way you don’t take them home and have to remember to bring them back.

Nino Salvaggio's never had bag recycle bins, and Meijer and Kroger got rid of them a long time ago. Nino's plastic bags are actually very nice - not like the flimsy CVS or Meijer bags. I keep most of them for future use. Nino's also has very nice plastic produce bags that I also keep. Both come in handy for many household/outdoor purposes, so in that regard, I do recycle them. Nino's also has brown grocery bags for shoppers who prefer them. We've been getting some of each. I use the brown bags for gardening so I don't have to drag a gigantic compost bag around while I'm cleaning up flowers.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I can’t find the article but this morning, I was reading about the top recommendations of canned goods to keep on hand. It was written by a dietitian. There were 6 items and these are the ones I remember. All of these are staples for us. Interestingly, the food bank actually has given all of these regularly except for black olives.

1. Pumpkin to add to smoothies, soup and as an ingredient substitute.
2. Beans as a protein source: black beans or other similar type bean
3. Tomatoes
4. Black olives
5. Low sodium or salt free vegetables

if I find the article, I will add it.

Found it! I didn't remember everything accurately but I was close.

Limiting trips to the store? Stock up on these canned foods nutritionists swear by

 

[mickey2942]

I saw $250 jugs on the Costco Canada website!

No, they were like $8.00. I bought two. And my friend recently moved to a new apartment, I gave her a jug of hand sanitizer as a "house warming" gift.

It was just a joke. Gotta get your laughs in now.

 

[Teche]

When I saw the ArtNaturals hand sanitizer advertised on Amazon, I looked into the company and saw that they were a relatively small California based cosmetics company. I noted in my original post that they are a California based company, and I did not say that they are imaginary. It was not a new company. That’s why I decided to order the hand sanitizer - the company appeared to be credible. However, their advertising was deceptive, as it was not from the US, and the alcohol content is questionable. The quality is appalling. There were many, many complaints about the product from others who ordered it, and then both the hand sanitizer and the negative reviews disappeared from the Amazon site.

The company that sold the “hand sanitizer” with no alcohol or germicidal content was apparently based in China, and has multiple seller names and pass-through entities. The company that sold the defective forehead thermometers also has multiple names and is difficult to trace.

Hand sanitizer continues to leave the store shelves very quickly. My sister-in-law cares for her special needs young adult. Due to the high rate of infection, she furloughed her home health nurses. She had to be creative and made her own sanitizer wipes and spray with a fifth of EverClear alcohol. It has the highest level of alcohol available. Super 1 carries the alcohol.

 

[Warwick1991]

Hand sanitizer continues to leave the store shelves very quickly. My sister-in-law cares for her special needs young adult. Due to the high rate of infection, she furloughed her home health nurses. She had to be creative and made her own sanitizer wipes and spray with a fifth of EverClear alcohol. It has the highest level of alcohol available. Super 1 carries the alcohol.

I agree that making your own hand sanitizer is a good option if you can find the alcohol.

The ArtNaturals product is back on Amazon again. There are still quite a few negative reviews, although some have disappeared. It is difficult for Amazon to examine all of their sellers. If these were normal times, I’m guessing that the company might have had to be more responsible as a seller.

The Chinese product, which was advertised on Amazon as containing 77.5% alcohol, had no alcohol. It had arginine, a silver derivative, in some indeterminate quantity. There is no testing from anywhere in the world that shows that arginine in a hand sanitizer can kill viruses of any kind.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I just placed my May order from the CVS online account through my insurance. No baby wipes, no hand sanitizer, no alcohol wipes, no rubber gloves, no thermometers. These items were out of stock or simply not offered. Good thing I selected those items in my March and April orders.

 

[Teche]

Sorry I couldn’t find the post I needed to respond to regarding my post on the empty bottles I found on Amazon that turns water/liquid into a continuous aerosol, but the brand is Houseables and the bottles are used for beauty salons. Another brand is Flairosol Hairspray bottles. I absolutely love the bottles and wouldn’t buy more Lysol spray again.

 

[LadyL]

No, they were like $8.00. I bought two. And my friend recently moved to a new apartment, I gave her a jug of hand sanitizer as a "house warming" gift.

It was just a joke. Gotta get your laughs in now.

awesome gift for these times

 

[155etta]

Hand sanitizer continues to leave the store shelves very quickly. My sister-in-law cares for her special needs young adult. Due to the high rate of infection, she furloughed her home health nurses. She had to be creative and made her own sanitizer wipes and spray with a fifth of EverClear alcohol. It has the highest level of alcohol available. Super 1 carries the alcohol.

My chemist son says EverClear and KY jelly is the way to go to make hand sanitizer.

 

[Midwestmom2019]

Restaurant supply stores in our area sell disposable vinyl gloves, and also food service stores like GFS. One of my friends just bought a bulk package of 10 boxes with 100 gloves in each for $30.

Autozone.

 

[Midwestmom2019]

Ahhhh. Nutella.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Am I on the right forum?
Everclear, KY Jelly and Nutella?