Life feels a little wobbly right now, doesn’t it? Holy smokes.
The news is changing every day with updates on the novel coronavirus, and now that it’s reached us here in the United States, and here in Minnesota, everything that used to be far away now feels a whole lot more real and uncertain.
School closures, job losses, and economic instability are all a lot to handle on top of the main event of a very real public health crisis.
One thing that remains predictable in all of this?
You need to eat. ♡
Your kids need to eat. My dog needs to eat. We all need to eat.
People need food, for their physical bodies, and I think also for nourishing their souls. And in a time when so much feels like it’s just hanging on by a thread, making and eating food can be centering. A small way to focus, provide, create joy.
It puts our feet back on the ground. It takes us out of the hypotheticals and brings us back to caring for ourselves and others in real-time. It is not rooted in the future but in the now. It is very present and fully human.
As is obvious, I’m not a doctor or an expert, so anything I say – it’s just me, okay? Just Regular Person Me, sharing my ideas and experiences. Read, absorb, and let me know what is working for you in the comments. I am writing this post in hopes that it gives us a place to talk and connect and be there for each other.
Our Approach, Generally Speaking
We are not in full blown quarantine mode exactly, but I would say Bjork and I have been in pretty serious social distancing mode by choice since last Thursday, March 12th.
We have been, well, just staying home. Not eating out, not going to events, not hanging out with groups of people. Is that completely necessary right now? Maybe not. Does it feel a little weird? Yes, especially as a lot of other people go on with normal life as planned. But will it make an impact for us and others? Oh man, we sure hope so.
Instead of our normal out-and-abouts, we’ve been going for walks, baking, reading, watching TV, and playing with Solvi. And for the foreseeable future, this is our plan.
This is in an effort to do the MOST GOOD for our family, for our healthcare workers, and for those most vulnerable in our community.
Bjork and I have been labeling normal life activities as green, yellow, or red in terms of what we’re comfortable with and what we’re not. Travel is red, for example. Going to crowded places is red. Having our full team in the office is red. We normally do a weekly date night, but that is now in the yellow category as we try to avoid restaurants. Quick grocery store runs are still green, but to be honest, all of this changes almost daily depending on what the CDC and the state of Minnesota is recommending.
Here is a detailed look at what’s happening in our kitchen as it relates to COVID-19 and food for the near future.
What’s In Our Fridge
This more or less looks how my fridge always looks, but the noteworthy things that I wanted to make sure I had extra to last us at least a few weeks are:
- Milk (not pictured, it’s in the door)
- Orange juice (also not pictured, also in the door)
- Yogurt
- Butter
- Eggs
- Cheese
There’s also some sturdy produce I bought that I knew would last well:
- Kale
- Oranges
- Grapefruit
- Potatoes and sweet potatoes
- Pineapple
- Onions and garlic
What’s In Our Freezer
(It’s impossible to see in the freezer itself so I pulled a few sample items out. Also, I keep a little chalkboard inventory of what’s in our freezer so I don’t forget.)
These are the essentials that do really well in the freezer that will help me build some meals.
- Mango
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Peas
- Mushrooms
- Chicken
- Bread
- Tortillas
But also, with not eating out as much, I wanted to have some fun, different, pre-made things to try that could FEEL like an eating-out adventure without actually going out to a restaurant. For example:
- Orange chicken
- Mozzarella sticks
- Pizza
- Potstickers
- Pretzels
- Gnocchi
I’ve been so grateful to have a few random, wouldn’t-usually-buy, fun things to munch on when we’re not going out during the weekend. It makes weekend eating feel a little more exciting than… like, lentils.
What’s In Our Pantry
My pantry is just a cabinet in my laundry room, so really, it’s not a pantry and it makes for a bad picture. But here’s what we’ve got (mostly overflow from the normal Costco trips we’ve done over the last few months).
- Peanut butter
- Flour
- Nut milk
- Nuts and seeds
- Pasta
- Canned tomatoes
- Canned beans
- Canned coconut milk
- Canned or jarred “flavor extras” – roasted red peppers, chipotles, capers, curry paste, etc.
- Rice / quinoa / oats / other grains
- Mac and cheese “for Solvi”
I also have some baskets with random grains and beans – mostly half-opened bags that are probably a little too old, but it’s what we’ve got.
What We’re Going To Cook with All This
It’s time to get really creative and flexible with recipes.
I’m viewing this season of cooking as heavy on the reverse recipe building, where rather than starting with the actual recipe, I’ll start with the ingredient I have to work with. Example: we have sweet potatoes and cashews. I’ll roast them and put them in tacos, with a cashew queso sauce.
Which is exactly how I like to cook and I’m excited to be stretched to get really resourceful with our food.
Here’s my game plan – it is LOOSE and that is the whole point.
- Tacos: most everything can be rolled into a tortilla and made into a taco. For this I am grateful. Examples: buffalo chicken tacos, or brussels sprouts tacos.
- Curries: We are well-stocked on curry paste and coconut milk. Again, most anything you can find in a freezer or pantry can somehow get converted into a curry. We also have A LOT OF RICE. Bless it. Examples: sweet potato curry, or red curry lentils.
- Soup and Stew: Onions, garlic, vegetables, and go. Add some grains, add some beans, and voila. Examples: detox lentil soup, or golden soup, or wild rice soup.
- Pasta: We have a Costco-sized package of spaghetti, so bring it on. While I have several jars of spaghetti sauce, I also plan to make spaghetti that is… not regular spaghetti. Examples: Garlic herb spaghetti, or pumpkin spaghetti.
- Baking: Bread, yes, but also muffins, cookies, and other things that just help to lighten the mood a bit. Examples: no knead bread, or 5-ingredient banana muffins, or the best of all time chocolate chip cookies (also, 2-person deep dish cookie bowls! which will be posted very soon).
Flexibility is key. The whole point here is making do with what we have so as to avoid unnecessary trips out. And the only way that works is by being a little bold and a little scrappy with some of the ingredients we have. Luckily, scrappy is my middle name. Let’s do this.
As we think about our own Covid-19 situation and food, my encouragement to all of us food lovers (including myself) is also think about our friends and neighbors who might need a little extra support to keep themselves and their kids well-fed, either due to health or financial stresses. This is a really good time to be watching out for others – those more vulnerable to the virus, those who work in healthcare, those who run small businesses.
Idea list, and things I’ve been working on myself:
- Contacting teachers to see what food needs their students might have during remote learning, as many of them rely on school lunches
- Buying gift cards to your favorite local restaurants or small businesses as you’re staying home more often
- Taking five minutes to leave a review for your favorite restaurant or small business on Google or Yelp
- Checking in with your neighbors who are elderly or have compromised immune systems to see if they need help getting groceries
- Making a donation to your local food shelf
Alright. How we doing, team?
What is happening in your life as it relates to Covid-19?
What changes are you making, whether by choice or not?
What does your pantry look like, and of course, what are you eating?
Take care out there! ♡ Things might be up and down and different day to day, but we’re here, we’re in this with you, we’re not going anywhere, and I look forward to seeing you around here whether that’s in good times or weird times. And right now it’s weird times. Time to be our best selves.
We can do this. xo
It’s discouraging to see the hoarding that’s going on in this area (south of Green Bay). So many others are being thoughtful and generous — we need to focus on that and do whatever we can to support each other and stay healthy.
I received a gift of Rancho Gordo beans and lentils at Christmas — your recipes have been the highlight of many meals, putting them to good use. Thank you!
Hi just wishing you and your family all the best in this time. I had been planning on starting a food blog of my own since December and then when this happened many people thought I was insane to want to start my own business in the middle of an epidemic. Things here in South Africa has been a bit hairy with us all going into full lock down yesterday. I am having issues with my hosting and lots of other technical things but I hope to be sharing some recipes soon. Anything to help others keep a smile on their faces and their tummies full. Thank you for what you do you are an inspiration to many people and I really hope that you and yours will be safe.
Lots of love
Magda van der Walt
Loved this! I had never read your blog before, but this is a little call to calm in the middle of all this madness. So thank you for your words.
I think food has become some sort of oasis for me during this quarantine. I’ve been browsing online recipes and I’ve been able to cook so much more beyond your regular mac n cheese, which is what I usually did.
A recipe I recommend to you and to anyone reading this: chicken with creamy herb, which you can find here: https://colleenscateringservices.com/recipes-corner/ Takes half an hour tops and the cream is delicious.
Strength in these times of pandemic! Stay safe!
I misread that last line and thought you said “time to be our best SHELVES.” Haha! Pantry pun.
Such great resources! Please tell me more about this chalkboard??!! pictured
Thank you for this post. I am a transplant in Georgia from Minnesota and love your posts! Been on a queso chicken chili binge lately, so thank you for that. My husband and I were empty nesters until last week when all our college children were sent home for the rest of the semester. Since leaving for college, one has become a vegetarian, one is immune compromised, and one has food allergies. Your recipes are saving me right now! My goal during all of this is to teach each of them how to cook per their preferences/tolerances. We are all staying home as I am also immune compromised. My pantry and fridge looks very similar to yours at the moment, even the random lentils. We make a thick lentil soup and put it over spaghetti with a little cheese and hot sauce. Our vegetarian version of Cincinnati chili. Stay safe and keep the great food ideas coming!
Thank you for sharing this blog with all.
Hiya!
So I am just about to toss the ingredients for Magic Green Sauce into my food processor. I am grateful to be well-stocked with basics here in Vermont, but I figure no matter what I decide to eat, MGS is going to turn it into a l’il party! Thanks for your wit and wisdom, always!
Thank you for this great content in my feed this morning! Very calming, humble, and real.
I work front lines in Emergency and my site is the pandemic center for the region. Needless to say, all hands and minds are on deck and working very hard.
You bring up social distancing… it is not too early, it’s already mandated in many areas and is vital.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of the grocery clerks out there who are working so hard in close quarters with large volumes of people and without any PPE. We really need to give them some thanks and some personal space. I have seen quite a few very scared clerks of late and whilst we may feel well, they do not know that, they are truly on the front lines.
I also extend my sincere thoughts & regards to those who are being impacted financially as a result of this situation. It only adds to the stress and uncertainty and I hope we can all get back to a new norm.
I think phone/skype coffee dates on a regular basis are vital to keeping in touch and giving comfort and camaraderie to those near and far.
Thoughts and prayers to you all, across the miles x
Thank you for playing this safe! To stretch our supply of fresh veggies, I’ve been making lots of healthy meals and freezing them for later, including your Detox Lentil soup and Instant Pot Spicy Carrot Soup. I figure if we do get mildly sick, it will be nice to have healthy foods that can be easily reheated. I hope you and your family stay safe and healthy!
Thank you so much for putting this series together. Your website has always been my go-to and it won’t be any different in a pandemic!
Lindsay, thank you so much for this. My husband and I are stranded in Peru right now, where the government closed the borders before we could get a flight out. We have an AirBnB and this is so helpful to know what to get when one of us (yes, just one person per family allowed to get supplies) goes shopping. (you can read about it here if you want: http://lechoufou.com/covid-19-in-peru/)
I am in Toronto Canada where we are now closing all restaurants/non-essential businesses. Many are home and feeling a bit on edge! Hard to not listen to all the news all the time, so to distract I am doing extra cooking/baking while off work. I love reading your blog and gives a nice distraction!
I used all this new free time to make baked ziti. Can you guess where I found the inspiration? I’m slowly settling into a new normal working from home. There is only a limited amount of time and money I can spend worrying and buying more groceries, and I’m slowly maxing that out.
Thanks for sharing. We all need to feel as normal as possible right now. We have lots of the same things in our fridge. We have a lot more in the pantry, but we have four kiddos to feed who keep us busy. Sweet potatoes are a great idea right now. They keep for a long time. We still have sweet potatoes in the garage from last summer.
I felt called last night to just sit down and write about what is going on in the world right now and how we can navigate our new normal. I was inspired by our minister and provided a link to her sermon (podcast) in my post.
https://www.homeecathome.com/the-home-economist/finding-calm-in-the-chaos
I made your 5 ingredient banana muffins yesterday for the first time to make good use of some past their prime bananas and use my pantry stash to make something wholesome! And I also made your detox instant pot lentil soup for the 17th time! It’s a pantry/feel good winner!
Yes! “Mac and cheese for Solvi”…this is exactly how I had to shop for my son who is just a few months younger than yours. I laughed super hard.
I’m freaking out on and off. Our school closed on Friday, with the alert coming at 9pm on Thursday. We are all trying to figure out how to teach remotely now. Deep breaths!
I’m a teacher in southern MN and, as I’m sure you know, received the news that I’ll be planning for some digital learning starting on Wednesday. It’s been a but surreal teaching at school today. All I could tell my students was that I’d know more after our meeting after school today.
We live out on a farm, so social distancing isn’t really much of a big deal, but after Gov. Walz declaration of bars, restaurants, gyms etc. closing has me concerned for all the small business owners around me! On a personal note, my biggest concern is the fact that my local library might be closing!! What will I do for entertainment for my kiddos! My fingers are crossed that it’s still open tomorrow and I can grab some books!
How are things in the great state of Minnesota? I have a special place in my heart for Minneapolis. My son was born there in 1992 and I will always treasure my three years there. I’m living in a Seattle suburb for the past two decades and love it equally. I haven’t commented thus far on your blog, but always read and enjoy your content. Thank you for this very informative post. We are hunkered down here and are a bit trepidatious but hanging in here! My best wishes to you and yours during this trying time. Keep safe and well!
Best,
Jan
I love your coffee date posts, keep ’em coming! I made spicy shrimp tacos with garlic cilantro lime slaw tonight and they were exactly what I needed. I go between panic and calm about every 30 minutes. The only thing keeping me from stress eating my entire pantry is the thought that we need to eat out of it for the coming weeks. I feel fortunate that I can work from home and my husband is as well. We’re choosing to keep our 3 year old home with big sis while school is closed so that we can do our part.
Shrimp tacos in quarantine. Excellent.
Thank you for this gentle distraction. I work in a long-term care facility for kiddos with special needs. I am not worried about myself getting sick, as I am young and healthy, but I know the implications of “the virus that shall not be named” for people with weak or compromised immune systems. Today I went to the grocery store, saw the empty shelves (canned food, bread, toilet paper) and had a panic attack, right there in HyVee. Thank you for the good ideas and the calm pep talk- it’s amazing how little of that I’ve actually been hearing.
You’re right, though. WE CAN DO THIS!
xo, Erin
Sending lots of love to you and the kids you are working with Erin. ❤️These are really hard times. This is so uncomfortable. But we can do this.
Hi Lindsey – I want to thank you! I didn’t have time to make my usual meal plan before heading to the store to stock up on essentials for my family on Friday but I did still have my printed copy of the sugar free January starter pack with a month’s worth of healthy and delicious recipes. I used it as my guide to do some meal planning on the fly in a very crowded grocery store. These are challenging times – thanks for your voice of calm and great resources.
This is amazing. I will pass this on to Jenna who did the bulk of the work to put this together. So glad it’s been helpful.
I love this! Reverse recipes are such a challenge for me…but with two growing boys and a husband all stuck home…it’s a challenge which must be conquered!
Love this post! Thank you so much for sharing your ideas! Stay safe. Sending all the love.