Things you need to stock up on in case of coronavirus lockdown

Humans are social butterflies by nature; some a little more than others. However, any idea of being put under lockdown creates a lot of anxiety among many. Many countries are implementing a lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus which leaves people wondering what sort of things they need to stock up in such a situation.

Experts say the thought of the novel coronavirus has heightened fears in people and the idea of loosing social contact entirely for a period of time or being quarantined till the streets are safe again has escalated people’s anxiety.

Laura Hawryluck, a critical care physician and associate professor at the University of Toronto said, “We don’t realize just how social beings we are until that contact is reduced or diminished because we can’t leave our homes.” 

You may be in South Africa which has just announced a lockdown or in a country where there are talks of a probable lockdown. Here’s a list of things you should have in case you fall into such a situation. The list might not be exhaustive but covers many essentials needed to survive a lockdown.

A Healthy Pandemic Grocery List

Beans

• Black
• Garbanzo
• Cannellini

Grains

• Quinoa
• Rice
• Lentils

Nuts and butter

• Almond butter
• Cashew butter
• Almonds
• Cashews
• Pecans
• Walnuts
• Pistachios
• Sunflower seeds
• Chia seeds

Items to freeze and frozen items

• Bread
• Berries
• Bananas
• Mangos
• Avocados
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Carrots
• Peas

Other necessities

• Canned fruits
• Pasta
• Chips
• Crackers
• Dried fruits
• Oatmeal
• Popcorn
• Tea
• Coffee
• Veggie bouillon cubes
• Nutrition bars

Oils and sauces

• Olive oil
• Grapeseed oil
• Coconut oil
• Sesame oil
• Honey
• Date syrup
• Hot sauce
• White wine vinegar
• Balsamic vinegar
• Apple cider vinegar
• BBQ sauce
• Red pasta sauce
• Chili paste
• Tamari
• Soy sauce
• Tahini

Spices

• Salt
• Pepper
• Cinnamon
• Cumin
• Cayenne
• Garlic
• Rosemary

For when you may have a sweet tooth and might want to bake, add some flour, powdered milk, vanilla essence and candy.

Perishables

• Raisins
• Dates
• Apples
• Oranges
• Mango
• Berries
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Bagged greens
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Lemon
• Lime
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Pickles
• Sweet potatoes
• Carrots
• Plantain

Most of these items will go bad after two weeks, but it will be comforting to have fresh foods for the first weeks of any lockdown. Plus, items like sweet potatoes stay fresh for a long time. Avocados can be purchased unripe and they take weeks to ripen. Most fruits, especially berries and bananas, can be frozen.

Finally, here are some suggested household items.

Household Items

• Toilet paper
• Toothpaste
• Dental floss
• Fluoride rinse
• Dish soap
• Hand soap
• Hand sanitizer
• Disinfectant wipes
• Reusable plastic bags (to freeze items)
• Tupperware
• Menstruation products
• Pet food