Food in the time of Coronavirus / Covid-19 / SARS-CoV-2

On April 9, 2020, Oregon announced the inevitable as the formal 2019/2020 school year and along with it all extra-circular activities and athletics have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I have been on revolving two-week isolation periods broken up by trips to see my father and resupply since the initial school closure was enforced on March 12, 2020. As an athletic trainer, I am effectively jobless, unless called on to support an overwhelmed hospital system, until August at the earliest. In the month since normal life ceased I have learned a few things and had a few experiences that are noteworthy and may provide some insight.

Food

I have for some time now been a person who shops and eats fairly fresh. This means purchasing ingredients as needed every couple of days. Can’t do that when it is highly undesirable to find yourself in public close quarters with other people. While still wanting to eat as healthy as possible, budget like my laid-off life depended on it, and not waste any food while buying sustainable and durable foodstuffs, I have put together a list of must-have items.

Produce

Produce tends to go bad fairly fast depending on what you buy. Here are some things I have discovered in the fruit and veg realm.
Cabbage - Cabbage is a remarkably dense food meaning that one slice off a head of cabbage can go a long way, lasts a very long time, and can be used in just about any dish.
Bok Choy - Bok Choy is again a remarkably dense food that produces more bang of your buck. With both a leafy dark green and a crunchy stalk high in water content, bok choy is a two for one deal on texture, flavor, and visual appeal.
Onions - Onions have staying power and add flavor to whatever you might be cooking. A little typically goes a long way as well with onions so you don’t need to use a whole onion in most dishes.
Carrots/Parsnips - These standbys, when stored in water, will stay crisp, last a long time, and from slaw to carrot cake, are remarkably versatile.
Kale - You might be surprised what you can do with a dehydrator or put in a zucchini bread recipe. Kale is dense, nutritious, and has staying power. Try adding it to your next batch of tomato soup.
Radishes - These little roots last forever when stored in water and aren’t just garnish. Ever have a stewed radish? They are sweet!
Potatoes/Sweet Potatoes/Yams - Mashed, baked, fried, stewed, hell some people eat the things raw. Once again root veggies are staples that last forever and pound for pound provide a great deal of nutrition.
Apples - If you get creative apples can provide you with a long-lasting sweet tooth satisfier when dehydrated, can add a new flavor to a salad or slaw, go great with pork and potatoes in German-style cooking, or liven up your banana bread recipe.

Dry and Canned Goods

Like it or not you should be staying home, or at least away from places frequented by other people, so get over your gluten-free paleo bullshit and eat, unless you actually have Celiac Disease in which case ignore what isn’t applicable.
Pasta - Need I say more?
Rice - Jasmine, Brown, White, Long Grain, Short Grain, Wild, or get fancy with some pilaf. Rice if your best friend right now. Switch up your sauces and choices of veggies and/or meats and you can eat rice for weeks without your first world problems getting in the way.
Canned Beans - From black beans to chickpeas, canned beans are diverse, versatile, nutritious, and delicious. But it’s not just about the beans, it’s about what they are canned in. ‘Bean water’ (appetizing I know) is typically just water, salt, and starch from the beans. Drain it or add it depending on the recipe, but in a pinch, you can use this liquid to cook other dry goods like pasta and rice.
Oats - Light, pack-able, calorie-dense, and nutritious, oats can be a meal or an ingredient in things like cookies and energy bars.
Tortillas - Like bread, but better.

Protein

Yes, I know you can get protein from non-animal sources.
Smoked Meat - From fish to fowl, smoked meats preserve remarkably well and are rich in flavor.
Cured Meat - The name of the game is longevity. Cured meat like sausages freeze well and last for quite a while.
Eggs - Eggs are an important part of a large amount of recipes when baking and cooking. Cooked and raw eggs keep well and can be prepared in a host of ways to satisfy boredom.

Eat well… and stay home!