Not sure if this is the right place but what would be best for one stock up on ahead of time? I'm thinking non-perishables or stuff with a high shelf life but what else should you consider buying?
Anecdotally, I was in Costco last week and saw a woman shopping directly from a "Disaster Preparedness Checklist". I strongly suspect that there will be a wave of panic shopping in the next few weeks. Better to get after it now. Actually ignore that, wait until I finish shopping then go out.
Anybody have a good way of dealing with this?
That said, it doesn't work for all drugs. One of the medications I'm on now I can't get filled one day early under any circumstance, nor can I get it shipped to me. For extra fun points, if I'm late by more than a week, it's doubtful I can get it refilled ever again.
Apart from obvious things like canned beans and veggies, dry quinoa is great. It is one of the few plant-based complete protein sources, it is rich in B-vitamins (mostly found in meat - short shelf life and could become scarce) and minerals, has good fat content, has a long shelf life, is relatively affordable, and tastes really darn good. You can get organic quinoa from Costco for a good price.
Speaking of B-vitamins, if you’re not able to access meat or eggs, you may want a B12 supplement - it is vital for cellular metabolism and nervous function, and isn’t readily available from plant-derived sources. A supply of multivitamins may be a good idea in general, depending on how long your access to fresh food is impeded. Vitamin C may be important if you’re not eating much in the way of fresh fruit or veggies.
Nuts - almonds and walnuts are good. High fat, moderate protein content, good sources of certain vitamins and minerals. Good shelf life.
Some non-preserved produce have long-ish shelf lives - squash, sweet potatoes, onions, cabbage, carrots. I just got some 10lb bags of organic carrots for $5.75/bag from Costco. It’s rare to find any food for just $0.57/lb.
In short, please don’t buy 50lbs of ramen noodles and pasta and expect to come out of this healthy a month or two down the line.
Imagine that you'll be stuck in your home for three weeks. What would you need?
i can do that!
This is by no means my area of expertise, but in provisioning for earthquakes and other disruptions, I have simply bought more of what we're already using.
Not only will you not waste the items, you will keep them refreshed and current as you cycle through your (longer) queue of normal foods you eat.
We stock up on very low glycemic index protein bars and water. Lots of bottled water.
This isn't some natural disaster where infrastructure is ruined, just people can't go out much.
If those people are sick, the water may stop flowing.