How is everyone doing with less frequent grocery trips and less eating out? I have been able to get by with one big trip per week to the store. I am definitely spending even more on groceries than I typically do but we are eating at home for every single meal and I haven’t done takeout since getting sushi once at the very beginning of all of this.
Since that stay at home restrictions went into place, I have been to Whole Foods once and ALDI three times. ALDI has felt kind of like my safe place because the one near my house is less crowded and I can buy multiples of things we use a lot at lower prices (for example, Finn’s organic whole milk). I always wait until Finn is with his dad to do my weekly shopping tip and I get in and out as fast as possible.
So far, I haven’t had any issues finding things like fresh produce, eggs, milk, flour, fresh meat, etc. Hopefully that continues.
Here’s a look at all the things that I’ve been cooking and eating over the last week or so.
BREAKFAST
Blueberry pancakes made with Kodiak pancake mix. I stirred frozen blueberries in before cooking them.
Mashed sweet potatoes with some butter, cinnamon and raisins mixed in and topped with peanut butter and granola. (this is reminiscent of the sweet potato breakfast bowls that I used to eat all the time!)
Smoothie bowl topped with granola. I think this one was frozen banana, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries with some frozen cauliflower rice thrown in there too. Also, a date, peanut butter, plain greek yogurt and oat milk.
LUNCH
Tuna melt with avocado on homemade sourdough. I used Blue Harbor tuna and mixed it with plain greek yogurt, mayo, lemon pepper and some chopped bread and butter pickles.
My Italian sausage, roasted potato and roasted veggie egg bake topped with avocado and served with fruit.
Have eaten a few of these turkey sandwiches that I ate SO many of while I was breastfeeding Finn. I don’t know that I’ll ever really understand how this became such a staple meal for me. The bread and pickles were the most important ingredient…and I’d never put pickles on a sandwich in my life before this!
This salad was so good! It was an ALDI sweet kale chopped salad kit and to it I added avocado, fresh mozzarella, strawberries and leftover salmon.
Peanut butter, honey and banana with some of Finn’s cheddar bunnies.
DINNER
I received a promotional box with wild salmon and cod from Sitka Salmon Shares and I have been LOVING their fish. Look how beautiful this salmon is! If you’re in the market for a delivery service for high-quality, sustainable seafood, definitely check out Sitka Salmon Shares.
This dinner was just roasted salmon, cauliflower and sweet potatoes. Super simple but delicious.
This dinner was awesome! Cast iron seared bone-in pork chops with my braised red cabbage and apples and roasted potatoes. I put the chops in a simple brine of kosher salt, brown sugar and smashed garlic for about two hours before cooking. I pulled these out of the freezer last week. I had bought them many months ago at the market from a favorite farmer.
This dinner was a Trader Joe’s shrimp burger and a stir fry of broccoli, baby bok choy, mushrooms and garlic over steamed jasmine rice. A squeeze of sriracha on top.
This honey balsamic chicken recipe is one from the archives but it is so tasty and easy. It’s a great way to add some flavor to chicken breasts. I served it alongside leftover braised red cabbage and roasted potatoes with ketchup.
I don’t do a ton of dinner salads but one night I was so in the mood for a big chopped salad with protein so I did a blend of romaine and spring mix with cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, avocado, carrots, fresh mozzarella and roasted salmon with a creamy Italian dressing.
Finally, leftover honey balsamic chicken breast over rice with roasted Brussels sprouts.
And that wraps it up. After a long and crazy day of balancing motherhood with teaching and work, it’s time to get this little one in the bath and off to bed.
QUESTIONS
Have you been going to the grocery or doing delivery service?
Are you having issues finding certain things where you are?
Are you enjoying cooking at home more or feeling burnt out? Are you doing takeout?
I love these posts—they always help with my own food inspiration! As far as food in the time of corona, I’ve still been going to the grocery store, though as infrequently as possible. I know food delivery services are overrun right now, and I’d rather save those time slots for people who really need them. I take precautions when I do go, and my nearby grocery store has been fantastic about keeping things safe/clean, making sure customers are properly social distancing, etc.
The only items I’ve struggled to find in stock are baking items. But not always being able to find the ingredients I’m looking for is driving me to get creative and experiment with substitutes, which is fun. 🙂
I’m also loving cooking at home, both comforting favorites and new recipes, and I’m not burnt out on it yet. We’ve ordered pizza twice from local places in recent weeks, so that’s been our only takeout so far.
Thanks Jennifer! I love to write them. 🙂
I have been craving pizza for weeks. Just trying to decide if I’m going to do homemade or order it! Making it happen this weekend!
Thanks for the food inspiration!
I’ve mainly been going to the grocery store, but I’ve been trying to limit it to a big trip once a week with maybe a smaller in between or to stretch out the big trips. Typically I’ve been shopping at Fred Meyer (Seattle’s Kroger Brand), but I’ve also done trips to Target and Trader Joe’s. When I went to Target and Trader Joe’s a couple weeks ago, they actually had some items in stock (paper towels, toilet paper, tissues and pumpkin at Target and tomato products at both) that the main grocery stores are out of. There was also much less people at these stores.
I haven’t done delivery or pickup as they are scheduled so far out. Also, I’m scared I won’t get something I was counting on and then I’d have to go to the store anyway. I have ordered some dry goods from the Kroger ship to home service.
In Seattle it has been hard to find canned goods like tomatoes and veggies, pasta and sauce, olive oil, flour, oatmeal, and paper products. It seems like items are slowly starting to come back in stock and be there when I go to the store though.
I enjoy cooking but am sick of the dishes! My boyfriend moved in with me about 1 week before Washington’s stay at home order started, so I instantly started cooking for two, plus dishes for two! Meal planning has become more complex as I didn’t have any time to figure out how to cook for two before it was a full time thing. However, we have been getting take-out on the weekends as we’re worried about some of our favorite local restaurants and want to be sure to support them.
Fortunately we’ve had some good weather which has made grilling possible again and that’s super helpful in changing up the meal rotations. Plus prep is a lot easier.
You’re welcome Marie! Thank you for your comment!
Thanks for sharing about Target. There are a few things I need to get but I have been nervous to go.
I’m glad to hear that they are slowly starting to get things back in stock where you are. I know you guys were hit hard and early by all of this.
Exciting that your boyfriend has moved in…put him in charge of the dishes! 🙂
Loved reading this post! These are always fun to read and give me great ideas- especially of “normal” everyday foods that are yummy yet forgotten.:) We, myself included, try to make food and meals so complicated, and I am reminded of the nourishment of all kinds of foods. Thanks for posting. I have enjoyed becoming a new reader of your blog! I live in Birmingham, so I have enjoyed learning of this connection. Have a great rest of the week!
Thank you so much Laura! I really enjoying writing these posts and it’s always my intention to share/promote good, real food! Yes, I lived in Birmingham for 3 years but it’s been over 10 years since I’ve been back!!!!
I have lived here my whole life, expect when I went to college in Mississippi, and I do enjoy the city and being close to family. If you ever visit, please contact me!
Perfect timing. I pulled two chicken breasts out of the freezer for dinner so I’m going to try your honey balsamic chicken recipe!
I’m going to the grocery store once a week to stock up on produce and dairy. The WF near me is doing a great job sanitizing and ensuring people properly distance themselves. And luckily they seem to be well stocked.
Doing takeout/delivery usually once on the weekends to support local restaurants.
(as an aside…I’m loving your strength workout videos on Vimeo!)
Let me know what you think about the chicken and thank you for trying my workouts!
I went to Aldi yesterday after several weeks of using Instacart. They have stepped up their cleanliness game! A greeter meets you at the door with a clean cart. The aisles are one way. I feel they have really taken to heart the process needed for safe shopping!
Mine has been doing the greeter/cart cleaner but I’m happy to hear they’re changing the aisles too. Although when I went to WFM yesterday, people were definitely NOT heeding the one-way directions.
Perhaps an odd question…. do you drink alcohol ever?
Wine sometimes but that’s about it!
Have you been going to the grocery or doing delivery service? I have been going to the grocery store. Delivery service, at least in Minneapolis, has been spotty. I add items to my cart and by the time I checkout I lose a lot of items, so better to go to the store! I have been limiting visits, though, and buying twice as much as I normally do (freezer and dry foods mostly to not create food waste) to prevent the need for multiple trips.
Are you having issues finding certain things where you are? Yes, depending on the time and day. I go early in the morning during the week rather than weekends and have had less issues.
Are you enjoying cooking at home more or feeling burnt out? Are you doing takeout? I have been mostly eating at home since I’m partially furloughed (I work in Cardiology; right now we are only doing urgent and emergent cases, with elective cases being pushed off until a later date) but of course miss restaurants, so I occasionally order. I have had Greek, Korean, and Japanese food so far…I guess three orders isn’t bad?! I’ve also been eating a lot of Trader Joe’s frozen meals to get some variety while I can’t visit restaurants.
Thanks for sharing Katie. It’s interesting to read what is going on in different parts of the country. I also find delivery to be tough to navigate and it easier just to go and buy a lot more than I normally do. Trader Joe’s has the best frozen foods selection!
Hello there 🙂
I’m from Germany and the situation is quite similar here: canned goods and toilet paper are gone as soon as they get restocked, but it seems people are slowly relaizing that supply chains are and will be intact (thank god!!!)
I’ve been cooking a lot at home and I’ve been trying lots of recipes from two cookbooks that have been decorating my shelfs for way too long: both are from Jamie Oliver, one is called “Veg” and the other one is called “everyday superfood”.
Following the recipes really helps me as I am lacking inspiration while at the same time wanting to make good use of all the free time I have 😉 And I’ve discovered recipes that I will make over and over again…
Best wishes to you! I really enjoy reading your blog 🙂