Anyone stockpiling food?

[barkley]

No fresh Chicken,

went to 2 stores yesterday, only 1 had chicken of any type. per the butchers-they suspect it's the most popular meat b/c people not used to cooking are the least intimidated by it (bbq sauce and shake & bake are in short supply too). there's a ton of corned beef available, roasts and a good supply of whole turkeys but ground beef and chicken is in high demand (stores are also out of hamburger helper).

 

[RamblingMad]

went to 2 stores yesterday, only 1 had chicken of any type. per the butchers-they suspect it's the most popular meat b/c people not used to cooking are the least intimidated by it (bbq sauce and shake & bake are in short supply too). there's a ton of corned beef available, roasts and a good supply of whole turkeys but ground beef and chicken is in high demand (stores are also out of hamburger helper).

Funny. Adults devolving into kids.

 

[barkley]

Funny. Adults devolving into kids.

i think in part it's due to schools no longer offering home ec as so much as an elective but i can't blame it entirely on that b/c i had co-workers in their 50's and beyond that had never made anything from scratch whose ovens had never been used to cook anything other than processed foods.

 

[RamblingMad]

i think in part it's due to schools no longer offering home ec as so much as an elective but i can't blame it entirely on that b/c i had co-workers in their 50's and beyond that had never made anything from scratch whose ovens had never been used to cook anything other than processed foods.

This is why I had a difficult time finding a house with a decent kitchen.

 

[HeightRequirement]

I do wonder how those not accustomed to cooking are faring with many restaurants and eateries closed.

 

[barkley]

I do wonder how those not accustomed to cooking are faring with many restaurants and eateries closed

around us they are getting to go food (including liquor) as well as emptying the frozen meal aisles.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I do wonder how those not accustomed to cooking are faring with many restaurants and eateries closed.

In general if those places have curbside, drive-thru, delivery you're still good to go. Everyone's area may be different in the rules but when the dine-in ban occurred people the places switched to that, with our 30-day stay at home order so long as they continue with the curbside, drive-thru and delivery.

So places may opt to shut down if their operating expenses don't make sense with what they would be making even with curbside, drive-thru or delivery.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Funny. Adults devolving into kids.

i think in part it's due to schools no longer offering home ec as so much as an elective but i can't blame it entirely on that b/c i had co-workers in their 50's and beyond that had never made anything from scratch whose ovens had never been used to cook anything other than processed foods.

I cook most of our meals by scratch, sale shop food, and cook in bulk. Maintain a chest freezer that holds about enough prepped entrees and uncooked protein to keep us going for 6 months along w/ a well stocked stable pantry.

I'm still food shopping weekly for fresh vegetables and to restock the freezer when worthwhile. I really don't know what tomorrow will bring so don't want to eat up all our stocks. Cheaper to refill slowly anyway. I've also noticed we are consuming more food since DGD's school closed. Recently learned that the school is continuing to pay the lunchroom staff and plan to for as long as it takes. Good news as they are really talented.

Yes, people may be panic food shopping but there are other factors to be considered.

 

[HeightRequirement]

around us they are getting to go food (including liquor) as well as emptying the frozen meal aisles.

Similar to our area. Even though some traditionally sit-down restaurants are now offering to-go meals, the patronizing of these places is markedly down.

 

[HeightRequirement]

In general if those places have curbside, drive-thru, delivery you're still good to go. Everyone's area may be different in the rules but when the dine-in ban occurred people the places switched to that, with our 30-day stay at home order so long as they continue with the curbside, drive-thru and delivery.

So places may opt to shut down if their operating expenses don't make sense with what they would be making even with curbside, drive-thru or delivery.

I do see longer lines at many drive thru restaurants and lots of pizza deliveries.

 

[jo-jo]

I'm still food shopping weekly for fresh vegetables and to restock the freezer when worthwhile. I really don't know what tomorrow will bring so don't want to eat up all our stocks. Cheaper to refill slowly anyway.

We've been home 11 days, we've bought one family pack of chicken skinless breast last week. That turned into 5 meals for the two of us. Other meat came from freezer. Mostly we've bought fresh veggies, eggs , milk, bread, juice. There was a great buy for beef tenderloin at another store, but I didn't want to get a great buy and take a chance of picking up any germs along with it. Haven't bought anything to add to the freezer. I'm hoping in 3 or 4 weeks, we can go shopping in person again. I'm not enjoying these pickup/instacart shopping.

I'm thinking people in general may be told/asked to stay home an additional week, bringing us to Easter, but the at risk group being told /ask to stay home an additional few weeks.

 

[Imzadi]

My question is, if people were buying tons of food over the last two weeks, why isn't it getting easier to shop? Are people figuring they need to have a 6 month stash, so they need to keep buying?

A little over 2 weeks ago, we were requested to voluntarily self-isolate for 2 weeks. Then here in NYC, it became a mandatory order AND as we knew we would be the epicenter, that probably it would extend another 2 weeks beyond. A couple days ago, the governor now stated that we won't hit the peak here for about another 20 days. Making it around 6 weeks. (He didn't mention, that once it hits the peak, it could stay there for a few days or that it will take another several days/weeks as the numbers do down. We will still have to stay indoors so as not to get a second wave or infection and spike the numbers again. So, maybe 8(?) weeks?

So, after every time I go shopping, thinking I have enough for the required amount of time, the number of days increases, so I technically never have enough food or toilet paper. And I have to go out again. Add to that, the stress each time I go out - several days later, as the number of cases, the number of asymptomatic people, and the number of people who just won't self isolate or keep a social distance from each other, i.e. still playing group basketball, then needing a beer or water and go into the supermarket and touch everything else, and add in the people who cavalierly didn't stock up at all (or self isolate,) but are suddenly coming down with symptoms - meaning they are at the most infectious state, and are suddenly stocking up so they can ride out their illness at home, yet also touching everything and possibly sneezing over everything, the numbers will have increased exponentially every time I shop. So, it turns out, it actually was better to try to stock up as much as possible early on. I'm not talking hoarding, wildly buying for 6 months, I'm talking about being prepared for the required time and then several days beyond.

Add in, I'm not used to buying for so many days at once. The first time I tried, I went into my local supermarket, after seeing a zoo of people in Whole Foods, piled in so closely together, no one able to keep any semblance of social distancing. I got the few things I could along the perimeter, and left to do the majority of shopping at my local supermarket. Apparently everyone else in my neighborhood did the same thing. I get to my supermarket and gasped when I saw the empty WHITE walls of the meat coolers. It looked similar to the photos of empty toilet paper shelves.

There were only about 6 packages of Perdue's pre-packaged, 1-lb, ground chicken, and 2 measly, well-picked over salmon fillets, that on a normal occasion, even I would have left. I was so thrown by the empty coolers, I didn't do any math. I took the salmon. Yet, got only 1 package of the ground chicken. I usually make 1/4-lb ranch dressing chicken burgers. So that meant, I only had enough food for 4 meals. Not 4 days of meals - 4 meals. I could have gotten 3 extra packages, but didn't think it through. I did that with the dozen eggs I bought. I thought, 12 eggs, I'm good. Until the next morning and I'm cracking 2 eggs for 1 meal, and I realize I only have enough for 6 meals, unless I cut down to 1 egg.

So, even though I want to stay home and stay safe, and keep others safe, I'm having to go back to the supermarket for more items as they re-stock. I'm not a fan of sending someone else in via Instacart, who risks getting sick, shopping on my behalf.

 

[Scoobie]

Stores here are wiped out - only reason I know is the news keeps posting pics of empty shelves or massive lines outside the stores. I haven't been inside a store for 15 days I think? And no where before that for several days. The only place I've gone is to do 2 pick up orders in the last couple of weeks. Walmart & Fred Meyer. Many things out of stock - did manage to get milk, bananas, 2 ground turkey, yogurt, & some drinks mixes (ind. packets Dh can take to work). No butter, bread, distilled water (I can't find any! Ds has a cpap, I have some but looks like I'll be making some if I run out), crackers, most veggies, etc. Other stuff I've been ordering from Costco or Bj's, some Target & Walmart. Will be using my bread machine when we actually run out of bread. Would like to start the garden, but then I'd have to leave for fertilizer & such since that has also been out online. Strange times - stay safe everyone!!!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We are seeing some of the small shops and restaurants in our area turning themselves into markets on the side. One of the bakeries is selling basic baking supplies (flour, sugar, yeast, eggs -- all of which are getting hard to find now), in addition to their regular menu of breads and pastries. There is a cheese shop that is selling dairy and eggs -- and offering free delivery to seniors in the area. More and more small restaurants are now selling produce and basic groceries along with their take out menus. And one of our well known taco restaurants is offering one roll of toilet paper with each take out order -- lol!

 

[dreamin_disney]

Peanut butter, heard from neighbor that are the far side of town next t the border they had peanut butter, so we traveled down from the hosptial for peanut butter and veggies...then wife need some Muscle milk from Sams club,,,,tons avaiable...also peanut butter, wife will only eat veggies with peanut butter!!!

I heard peanut butter is good to have on hand so right after the president speech on Friday the 13th, I went shopping after work because I knew things were going to get bad. Sure enough Sam’s Club stock was low. 1/2 of the frozen stuff was looking empty. Grabbed a few frozen things. Then hit Walmart grabbed peanut butter, jelly, bread, and a few other things. Luckily I already had toilet paper, water, paper towels. We usually stick up in those three items for out daughter that lives on campus

 

[jo-jo]

For those who are doing their own shopping, are you finding limits at the store? With the walmart pickup in my area, except for bananas and produce, everything has limits of 2. Now I could order 2 loaves of bread, 2 packs of english muffins and 2 packs of bagels, which I did and got none at all ...LOL...but I am wondering is this is just online or are people being stopped at the checkout with 8 loaves of bread. I realize if you have 6 people in your family, feeding them three meals a day, you need a loaf a day, but just wondering what and if any limits are occurring.

For one shop the bananas were limited to 6. Next shop , I ordered 9 and got them. A little banana tip that probably every one knew but me...........Normally we just buy a bunch and it sits on the counter and all the bananas go bad in 4 or 5 days. With this lack of just running to the store whenever....the bananas I got , I separate them and put them in the basement , spread out on a table. The basement is a little cooler than the kitchen and the bananas are lasting twice as long.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I heard peanut butter is good to have on hand....

Normally, I keep a smaller jar on hand from the farmers' market but since the local one closed down I bought a 40 oz. jar of Skippy @ Target for $4.00 (decent price) yesterday.

For those who are doing their own shopping, are you finding limits at the store? With the walmart pickup in my area, except for bananas and produce, everything has limits of 2. Now I could order 2 loaves of bread, 2 packs of english muffins and 2 packs of bagels, which I did and got none at all ...LOL...but I am wondering is this is just online or are people being stopped at the checkout with 8 loaves of bread. I realize if you have 6 people in your family, feeding them three meals a day, you need a loaf a day, but just wondering what and if any limits are occurring.

For one shop the bananas were limited to 6. Next shop , I ordered 9 and got them. A little banana tip that probably ever one knew but me...........Normally we just buy a bunch and it sits on the counter and all the bananas go bad in 4 or 5 days. With this lack of just running to the store whenever....the bananas I got , I separate them and put them in the basement , spread out on a table. The basement is a little cooler than the kitchen and the bananas are lasting twice as long.

Yes I am seeing limits w/i the brick and mortar stores. Target had a nicely worded sign up throughout the store stating that in an effort to accommodate all their customers certain products were limited to 1 per customer. Don't remember all the products on the sign but think it was the usual: TP, hand sanitizer, and paper towels. Their bread aisle was nicely stocked, tons of bananas; no Febreeze refills or gallons of white vinegar or ammonia but they did have 1/2 gallons of the latter and 32 oz spray bottles of the former. I've given up on the banana storage: bought them green and in one day they turned yellow, by day two brown spotting had begun. Now I'm storing them in the fridge's freezer section for smoothies. Wish I had a basement. Oh and I finally scored TP in the size and brand I prefer woo hoo, LOL.

 

[Mom2Stitch]

A co-worker mentioned that a store she went to was doing limits on types of items, i.e. 4 dairy items, or 3 meat items-mix and match. That can make it tough to get everything you need.

 

[barkley]

distilled water (I can't find any! Ds has a cpap,

try ace hardware, we were able to find it there after not finding it for dh's cpap at safeway, yokes....

 

[skyblue17]

So, here's something I didn't consider that has started happening here in NYC. Grocery stores are closing due to employees being sick. Currently, the Whole Foods in Columbus Circle, which services a large area, and the Trader Joe's on 72nd St., which is only about 12 blocks north of that Whole Foods, are closed indefinitely. That's going to strain the open markets, and also reduce options for product. I'm not sure if these markets are closed because they are being more careful than the others, but it seems possible that more markets could close and that would be a bit scary!