Grocery shopping tips during Coronavirus quarantine

[squareandrabbet]

Rsbm. I find this interesting. USDA is quoted in the majority of other places this is happening: the child or children you are picking up meals for must be present. Is NYC paying for these?

I thought they said the NYC Board of Ed was? They may be saving money they ordinarily spend, as they don't have to buy and cook food for paying students with the doors closed.

I, too, thought it was a bit sketchy that they weren't requiring people to provide ID or children; but it will cut down on delays in the process. I, frankly, don't censure any adult who is legitimately "food insecure" hitting up the schools; but it's valid to worry, IMO, that people with enough money to buy their own food will take advantage of this.

 

[PayrollNerd]

<modsnip: removed quote too broken to repair>

The USDA is a federal (not state) funded food program. It is for students who qualified for the school lunch. That food has already been set aside for them. They qualified for it at the beginning of the school year. If an adult showed up asking for 6 meals and only had 3 kids, they might limit them. They also will give them the distribution brochure and/or they may give them a referral for the SNAP (food assistance) program.

The same program provides food for people on Medicare, SSDI (SS disability income), SSI (SS Income) and those meeting the income guidelines. You must sign up and be in their computer system. They’ll give you a card that you show to them before you can get in line.

 

[LadyL]

P.S.
Liquor stores near a laundromat tend to have more cleaning products. Bleach for example. It might not be cheap, however it is there.

sorry what?
your liquor stores carry cleaning products??

 

[LadyL]

In our ShopRite order yesterday we received a bag of clementines. We were so thrilled!! I told my husband it reminds me of a story his mom said, that when she was a little girl growing up in Germany during the war at Christmastime there was a naval orange in her stocking and how happy she was to get one.

my mom has the same story except she was in Ontario, Canada!

 

[cody22]

masking my spot......moo

 

[Rochelle Faups]

I was in the store a few days ago buying bleach, gloves, Clorox wipes, tums, Advil, etc. I didn’t see anyone who appeared to be on the same type of mission. I cracked a joke at the checkout line about my “coronavirus supplies” - people looked at me like I was nuts.

Our stores are empty and there is barely anything left at this point. I am finding it pointless to even try since there isn’t much left to buy.

 

[katydid23]

For those of you doing frozen veggies or other produce, fresh or not, try white vinegar instead.

And that's another thing Publix was low on but not completely out of. White vinegar.

Do you mean use the white vinegar to 'clean' or disinfect them? Or as a sauce/flavoring?

 

[Mountain_Kat]

White vinegar is not especially effective at killing germs and viruses.

A better way to disinfect your house

Does vinegar kill germs? It isn't the best disinfectant for viruses

A better choice to buying fresh produce at the moment is to buy frozen. Or canned if you don't have freezer space. JMO

 

[cody22]

White vinegar is not especially effective at killing germs and viruses.

A better way to disinfect your house

Does vinegar kill germs? It isn't the best disinfectant for viruses

A better choice to buying fresh produce at the moment is to buy frozen. Or canned if you don't have freezer space. JMO

West Texas - There are no canned,( canned meats either) frozen, or dried vegetables available at any time at the two major grocery stores (4 locations) in my area. You can sometimes luck into fresh potatoes and onions.....moo

 

[Lato]

Good Morning......I cannot believe that I found this thread this morning....!!!
I have been following the original CV thread and did not look for another one.
The only tip I can give re shopping from a fast trip to the Shell station.....besides gas, I found fresh Bunny bread, lots of sizes of milk, a pound of butter, a variety of soda, fresh shrimp and a few shelves of canned goods.
It was like finding a treasure less than a mile from the house.
Louisiana is going on lockdown at 5 pm today.

 

[oviedo]

I called all the Publix stores yesterday and none have TP - each said people lined up and waited for the deliveries - my Aldi had limits on canned goods (4) and dry beans and rice (2) - no eggs and none of the items most seem to be looking for (paper products /cleaning ) - and no bottled water which I find odd. Why the run on bottled water? Our local utilities are just fine - not sure why people think they need this - it’s not a hurricane
JMO

 

[WideOpen]

Meanwhile...I am waiting to bring in my 3 bags of groceries sitting on my picnic table. I had a Whole Foods delivery on Friday early evening. Mostly canned and pasta type items. Upon arrival, I brought in the bananas and placed in sink full of soap and water, washing well. I lysol sprayed the items in the bags and planned on a three day "cooling off period" then wash again.

Does anyone have suggestions on delivery for fresh vegetables? I don't think I can go without onions, potatoes, celery-just simple veggies mostly! I made a wonderful stew yesterday very aware of possibly running out of onions and potatoes soon~how are we cleaning our veggies? vinegar? I need more proof that is going to be sufficient. I did wash my red onions with soap and water real well.
jmo

how bizarre how bizarre

 

[Shelby1]

Those that have a bit of ground or even a balcony might want to consider planting a garden. It's not hard...all those little seeds want to do is grow I know I said this many threads ago, just posting again for any new people Those in apartments could do container plants.

 

[Gardenista]

Meanwhile...I am waiting to bring in my 3 bags of groceries sitting on my picnic table. I had a Whole Foods delivery on Friday early evening. Mostly canned and pasta type items. Upon arrival, I brought in the bananas and placed in sink full of soap and water, washing well. I lysol sprayed the items in the bags and planned on a three day "cooling off period" then wash again.

Does anyone have suggestions on delivery for fresh vegetables? I don't think I can go without onions, potatoes, celery-just simple veggies mostly! I made a wonderful stew yesterday very aware of possibly running out of onions and potatoes soon~how are we cleaning our veggies? vinegar? I need more proof that is going to be sufficient. I did wash my red onions with soap and water real well.
jmo

how bizarre how bizarre

If you cook the veggies, you'll be fine. Use a meat thermometer to check the food temp when cooking.

Worried about coronavirus on your food? 165 degrees is universal safe cooking temperature, but not often necessary

 

[SA55]

Does anyone have suggestions on what we can do for our delivery persons, such as mail persons, UPS, FedEx, etc? I know I try to show my appreciation at Christmas time since they save me all the shopping with their endless deliveries. However, since I'm doing my best to not go out unnecessarily right now, I'm struggling with an appropriate way to show some gratitude to those that are enabling me to stay home.

 

[Gardenista]

Does anyone have suggestions on what we can do for our delivery persons, such as mail persons, UPS, FedEx, etc? I know I try to show my appreciation at Christmas time since they save me all the shopping with their endless deliveries. However, since I'm doing my best to not go out unnecessarily right now, I'm struggling with an appropriate way to show some gratitude to those that are enabling me to stay home.

I'm going to put some money in an envelope for my UPS driver and label it "for delivery person". Hopefully someone else won't pick it up.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Does anyone have suggestions on what we can do for our delivery persons, such as mail persons, UPS, FedEx, etc? I know I try to show my appreciation at Christmas time since they save me all the shopping with their endless deliveries. However, since I'm doing my best to not go out unnecessarily right now, I'm struggling with an appropriate way to show some gratitude to those that are enabling me to stay home.

Make snack bags and tie them closed. In the shipping comments, put a note to pick it up. Hopefully, the driver will see the label with the note but also put a note on the bag.

I saw online where during the holiday season people were doing this and the door cams were capturing the drivers delight!

one lady had a small tub of drinks and a small dish of snack bars.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I participate in the Food Pantry picks locally. (I’m a cancer patient.) Today was our biweekly produce handout. Instead of waiting in line, and them verifying our food cards, they turned it into a drive thru. You didn’t even need to show your card. You put your window down and they sat the bags on your seat. They were wearing gloves but no masks.

I did notice there was considerably less produce. That could be due to the season, the donations, or lack of food they could purchase. I was given 5 lbs white potatoes, 1 carton of strawberries, 1 box of mushrooms and 4 yellow fruits that I don’t recognize. Does anyone know what these are?

We have many food allergies and cannot eat mushrooms. I have a friend who will take them tho.

 

[raja]

Make snack bags and tie them closed. In the shipping comments, put a note to pick it up. Hopefully, the driver will see the label with the note but also put a note on the bag.

I saw online where during the holiday season people were doing this and the door cams were capturing the drivers delight!

one lady had a small tub of drinks and a small dish of snack bars.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could put out hand gel or wipes for them.

 

[epiphany]

I participate in the Food Pantry picks locally. (I’m a cancer patient.) Today was our biweekly produce handout. Instead of waiting in line, and them verifying our food cards, they turned it into a drive thru. You didn’t even need to show your card. You put your window down and they sat the bags on your seat. They were wearing gloves but no masks.

I did notice there was considerably less produce. That could be due to the season, the donations, or lack of food they could purchase. I was given 5 lbs white potatoes, 1 carton of strawberries, 1 box of mushrooms and 4 yellow fruits that I don’t recognize. Does anyone know what these are?

We have many food allergies and cannot eat mushrooms. I have a friend who will take them tho.

MAY be yellow mangoes.