Before bracing yourself for the long lines at the local supermarket or waiting for an open delivery time, make sure you have a shopping list to avoid buying things that you really don’t need. Forget about stockpiling on instant noodles and frozen dinners and look at what you already have on hand. Below are some items to use as a starting point for your shopping list, but keep in mind you should be buying foods or drinks you would normally consume!

Grains

• Pasta (i.e Macaroni)
• Rice (i.e. White, brown, medium-grain, short-grain)
• Bread
• Ancient grains (i.e. Quinoa, farro, barely)

Legumes

• Lentils
• Beans (i.e. Chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans)

Vegetables & Fruits

• Canned vegetables/fruit
• Frozen vegetables/fruit
• Dried fruit
• Long-lasting fresh fruit (i.e. Apples, oranges, lemons)
• Long-lasting fresh vegetables (i.e. potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, ginger)

Protein

• Poultry (i.e. Chicken or turkey)
• Seafood (i.e. Frozen salmon)
• Beef
• Pork
• Tofu (i.e. Silken, soft, firm, extra firm)
• Tempeh
• Seitan
• Eggs
• Nuts (i.e. Pistachios, almonds, cashews)

Dairy

• Shelf-stable boxes of milk
• Shelf-stable boxes of non-dairy milk (i.e. Almond milk, oat milk)
• Hard cheeses (i.e. Parmesan or pecorino)

Pantry Items

• Spices (i.e. Cumin, bay leaves, paprika)
• Salt & Pepper
• Oil (i.e. Vegetable, coconut, olive, avocado)
• Spreads (i.e. Chocolate, peanut butter, nut butter, maple butter)
• Flour
• Sugar
• Broth (i.e. Vegetable, chicken, beef)

Happy Items

• Ice cream
• Snacks
• Chocolate
• Candy
• Anything that can make your day a little better!