Nutrition-
Have the changes of your daily routine had an effect on your diet? How has grocery shopping changed for you in the last month or so?
Normally, I head to the grocery store, two, three times a week. I buy what I need for a few days. I always forget something, meaning I always “need to go to the grocery store”. On top of that, I go to two or three different stores regularly. We also frequented several local bakeries and restaurants during the week for pastries, sandwiches, and special meals out.
Things have changed.
In the effort to stay home as much as possible, I’m trying to shop as little as possible, meaning I go to one store, and try to buy for as long as I can (which led to a very large Trader Joe’s bill a couple of weeks ago). Since I can’t buy 2 weeks of fresh veggies and fruit, I’ve mixed things up with frozen and canned food, and some shelf stable snacks, canned tuna, soups, etc.
We are certainly not eating from outside the home as much (though at least once a week we are supporting a local restaurant with takeout). I may be making up for that by craving a lot of comfort food. Velveeta shells and cheese are just as delicious as I remember (they get a nutritious kick when I mix in steamed broccoli). I’m eating more crackers and chips, and my baking might be out of control, which is kind of funny, since I’m not really a baker.
If you’re feeling like your diet is falling apart and want to pull the reins in a bit, here are three things to focus on:
1. Eat veggies with each meal, and whole fruit as a snack – these are your nutritional powerhouses, providing vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, and water! As mentioned in the next section, it’s important to keep buying as much fresh produce as possible. I also recommend keeping several frozen and canned options so you always have something available.
2. Portion control – sometimes we need the reminder. If you are also craving more comfort food than normal, don’t fret, just watch the portion sizes. Pour some chips into a small bowl instead of eating from the bag. Baked a cake? Slice a small piece, for now.
3. Don’t put too much stress on yourself when preparing meals – we are all likely under enough stress. Just do your best. Graze if you want to graze. Make do with the ingredients you have. Eating while anxious can affect your digestion, which can be uncomfortable, and affect nutrient absorption. Being anxious can also lead to emotional eating, which can lead to more anxiety. Just check in with yourself. Relax and notice your hunger level. Ask yourself if you are indeed hungry. Maybe you need to take a walk, color, do a puzzle, or talk to someone.
Your food supply-
There is a huge shift going on in the food system. Farmers who produce for restaurant and school accounts are throwing away fresh produce and milk due to closed schools and restaurants. It is financially hard for many farmers to switch from a system that sells to large accounts, to a system that can package and get the product to the public.
Now is a great time to renew your deep appreciation for the food you eat, and to consider where your food comes from. My thoughts are with the restaurants, distributors, and farmers. This is certainly the time to support them in any way you can. From seed to harvest, much time and effort is spent producing the food that we put on our plates. It’s not just that our food comes from the farm. Think about the years that go into raising the cows that provide your steak, or the people that tend to your squash and beans, from preparing the soil, to harvest, to transport. Supporting your local farmers and food systems keeps your food source closer. This is beneficial for many reasons, such as less impact on the environment, most often better quality product, a stronger local economy, and in times like this, a better chance that your food supply won’t feel the effects of the system shift.
When everything begins to return to “normal”, let’s try to remember to keep supporting our local farmers and restaurants, and remember the value of the food we put on our plate.
-M