How to eat healthy during quarantine

There have been shortages at stores from ketchup down to toilet paper ( I still don’t understand the toilet paper shortage, but I digress).  Being a person that typically eats healthy what are you to do when your everyday food staples are out of stock?  So, knowing that I am not alone I decided to share with you all what I did at the beginning of the quarantine when food shortages were really bad, and now that there are a few items back on the shelves.

Here in Chicago I can't think of the exact day that we were put on the stay home order however, I know it was after St. Patricks Day weekend.  My first grocery store haul was a snack haul if were being honest.  I had a lot of frozen protein in my freezer, so I purchased snacks lots and lots of snacks.  I bummed a trip to Sam's Club with my mother and I bought several cases of Essentia and Bai liter waters, boxes of Skinny Pop (my new obsession), cases of pineapples, carbonated waters, whole wheat bread, spinach, and a massive box of fruit snacks (fruit roll ups). I wasn't quite sure how to quarantine shop at this time.

After a week and realizing I can't live off Bubbly Flavored Waters and Skinny Pop popcorn I decided to go grocery shopping and get staples that I was running out of (spinach, oatmeal, eggs, skinless chicken thighs). 

I had to go to all of the stores in my neighborhood, and even join Costco but with doing this I was able to get a variety of items that I needed to last me at least a week or two.  I have been cooking a lot, however I am now planning out meals after I shop, instead of planning out meals before hand as I might not be able to get all of the ingredients needed for certain meals.

If I am being completely transparent with you all I now officially hate cooking.  I hate washing dishes, even if I am just rinsing and placing in the dish washer lol! I am eager for the day I can meet my friends at a restaurant and cheat on my diet.  In the meantime I am getting use to this new normal.

When I ran out of major food items last week I was lucky to get a slot on Amazon's Fresh Delivery service.  This was my first time using this service and it was pretty seamless.  Placed the items in the cart, paid, and was given a delivery time. Groceries were delivered to my doorman within 3 hours. This is something that I will more than likely continue when all of this is over for those lazy days. 

So overall, as I wrap up.  I have been able to improvise healthy meals with items that I have been able to find at the store, I may not be able to purchase my preferred brand of something, but I do have options and I am grateful for that.  I would advise to you all that maybe struggling with purchasing healthy options during these times be strategic purchase what you can and make a masterpiece from that.  If you need ideas with the items purchased there is always Pinterest. Pinterest has helped me make a lot things past and present.

XoXo,

Amber