Since China announced the discovery of a novel strain of coronavirus, known as COVID-19, it has sent shockwaves globally and impacted on the lives of millions worldwide. Not only has this horrendous virus been catastrophic in terms of the death rate, but it has also had a significant impact on the global economy and the way people live their lives. One area of our lives that has already seen changes in the way we eat. It is possible that this novel coronavirus strain could also continue to impact our eating habits in the long-term. Here is a look at how coronavirus has changed eating habits along with some tips for cooking during the lockdown.
How Coronavirus Has Changed Our Eating Habits in the Short-Term
Panic Buying
When news of the coronavirus broke and people realized the potential impact it could have on their lives, many began panic buying. They stocked up on large quantities of goods, especially items such as bags of pasta and multipacks of toilet rolls. This is a situation that has occurred in many countries across the world.
In the UK, the panic buying situation has become so extreme that supermarket shelves have been left empty, says the BBC. There are terrible cases of the elderly finding empty shelves on their trips to the supermarket. Similarly, key workers are finishing their shifts only to find that there is no food left for them to buy. This has led to many people needing food parcels or to rely on food banks.
Governments have begged communities to stop doing this and to think of others. They have said that there is no need for this panic buying situation as there are plenty of goods available. People emptying the shelves in this way has put extra pressure on shop workers and delivery drivers to restock the shelves.
Bulk Buying
Although panic buying has created a difficult situation, there is an element of sense in bulk buying items. This doesn’t only apply to during the coronavirus lockdown, but also at any time. The current situation may simply have raised awareness of the benefits.
Buying dried and canned goods in bulk can save you both time and money. It also means that you have tasty ingredients to hand that have a long shelf life. During the lockdown, these are the ingredients that you can rely on as they are unlikely to go out of date and can bulk up your meal.
However, clearing the shelves in supermarkets is not the right way to go about this. Instead of panic buying, simply add one extra dry ingredient into your shopping basket at each trip to build up your supplies.
How Coronavirus Has Changed Eating Habits Due to Restrictions on Buying Goods
Consumers are now faced with restrictions on certain goods when they go into many stores. This was a step taken in response to the panic buying.
These restrictions were put in place to put a halt to the panic buying and make it fair to all shoppers. The restrictions will also reduce the impact on the logistics of getting food out of warehouses and onto the shelves.
Some of the goods that may have restrictions in place include toilet rolls, hygiene products, dried food, canned goods, and milk.
Use of Online Delivery Services
An increased number of people have turned to online delivery services from supermarkets. This is so they can abide by the stay indoors rule of the lockdown. This increased demand for food deliveries has posed some problems with the reliability of the service.
Due to the pressure put on packers and delivery drivers, people are experiencing problems with both getting a delivery slot and receiving the goods they ordered. People are logging and completing an online order, only to find there are no delivery slots available for weeks.
Those who are lucky enough to have an order delivered are then disappointed with what arrives. Many of the items they have ordered are unavailable. This either means that they are offered a replacement, that is often unsuitable, or that they receive no item at all.
How Coronavirus Has Changed Eating Habits Due to Financial Losses
The coronavirus outbreak has had a massive impact on the finances of many families. While some governments have put measures in place to help people financially, some families are still struggling. One reason for this is the business closures and redundancies created by the pandemic.
Those who are eligible for increased support may not receive it straight away, and there is uncertainty about who is eligible. Others have not suffered any financial loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The coronavirus outbreak will clearly change the ways that people eat if they have experienced a loss of income. Some of the measures they may need to take is buying budget items, using different ingredients to usual, preparing meals in bulk and freezing, skipping meals, and relying on food banks or charities.
Increased Use of Dried and Canned Products
Has coronavirus changed our eating habits in terms of the ingredients we use in cooking? Almost certainly. Due to the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables available, people are now using more dried goods. These include pasta, rice, pulses, and grains. They are also using more canned products, such as soups and canned vegetables.
Agriculture and Fresh Food Supplies
The restrictions put on agricultural processes is another reason behind how coronavirus has changed our eating habits. This has led to a delay in good reaching the shelves as farmers adapt to the new processes and restrictions.
Many shoppers have found that they are having trouble getting hold of fresh fruits and vegetables during the coronavirus crisis. There are conflicting explanations for the reasons for this.
One shop worker who works in a chain store in a village location has said that despite putting in their regular fruit and vegetable orders, examples of what they have received include one single lettuce and two pieces of broccoli.
The delivery drivers are saying that there is no reason for this is the warehouses are full of food and it is simply not making it out to shelves. On the other hand, The Guardian reported that there is an issue with getting food out to the shops.
According to their report, a shortage of agricultural workers means that it is impossible to harvest the crops to get it out to people, and there is the possibility of this food going to waste. Despite plenty of crops growing in the fields and greenhouses, a shortage on the shelves will continue unless more workers are found.
Different Shopping Habits
In the past, many people have relied on major supermarkets for their shopping, and this has been to the detriment to small local and high street businesses. Now people are starting to appreciate their local businesses.
Although many small businesses have closed their doors due to the social distancing restrictions, some have started to offer delivery services to keep their business going. This has raised awareness of what local businesses can offer and has contributed to a positive community spirit.
There is a divide in the level of impact the coronavirus crisis has had on local shops. For some, it will ruin their business and they may struggle to reopen when the lockdown is over. However, some small businesses have found that their sales have hardly suffered as the locals have begun to use their services instead of shopping at the supermarkets.
This was clear in a report by Kent Online, as some farm shop owners said that they had connected more with the community and had seen an increase in customers who live locally.
Shopping Frequency
The frequency with which people are shopping has also changed. Many people will do a big shop weekly, fortnightly or monthly. They then top up on foods such as bread and milk from local shops daily.
During the lockdown, people have changed these habits. They do not venture out as far to buy their groceries, so rely on local shops. People have been told to stay inside as much as possible, which means many are trying not to visit these local establishments daily. Instead, they are thinking ahead and buying supplies for a few days in advance.
There are also those who are at high-risk, such as the elderly and those with certain medical conditions, and these people are staying indoors. Family members, volunteers, and neighbours are shopping on their behalf, or they are receiving deliveries from local shops.
Growing Your Own Vegetables
Many people have now begun to grow their own fruit and vegetables due to shortages in the shops, despite never attempting to grow their own food before. This is a sensible measure to take as a precaution as nobody really knows how long this situation will last or the full impact it will have on the food supply chain.
It is a measure we have taken in our own home. We started planting a few things last year, and we have now increased our efforts in the garden. Below is a section of our garden. We are also growing our own veg in recycled pop bottles in the conservatory. As you can see from the image below, we do not have a large garden, but there is enough space to grow vegetables in pots and using a trellis for support.
Creativity
Not all the ways that coronavirus has changed eating habits are negatives. For example, one positive is that people are now becoming more creative with their cooking. Most people are guilty of making the same dishes over and again. This is just because they know how to make them, and the family enjoys that dish.
Now that people are struggling to get hold of their regular products and are buying new goods for their store cupboards, they have needed to get a little more creative in the ways that they use and combine ingredients. People that were not previously experimental are having a go at new cooking techniques and including different foods in their diet.
Celebrity Chefs’ Recognition of How Coronavirus Has Changed Eating Habits
There have been significant changes in the media in recent weeks, including many shows now being presented from home. You may also have noticed that there are more cooking TV shows being aired at the moment.
Celebrity chefs and food presenters have recognized how coronavirus has changed eating habits. They are presenting shows to help people through this difficult time. Just some of the chefs and presenters include Jamie Oliver, John Torode, and Gordon Ramsay.
Their recipes are focused on feeding a family on a budget, cooking with store cupboard ingredients, and using up leftovers. This reflects the current situation that many people face in their homes.
How Coronavirus Has Changed Eating Habits in the Long-Term
It is unlikely that the coronavirus outbreak will only have a short-term impact on our eating habits. However, the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the way we live is still a guessing game.
Only time will tell how businesses recover, whether crops will get harvested, if delivery drivers will meet the demands of shoppers, or if high streets will even still exist.
This is a time of continued uncertainty, and the likelihood is that it will continue to impact on the way that individuals and families live for years to come.
How Coronavirus Has Changed Eating Habits- The Final Verdict
It is clear that although the COVID-19 crisis only began at the beginning of 2020, it has already had a significant impact on the eating habits of people across the globe. With ongoing uncertainty of the consequences of this pandemic, the future is difficult to predict. Many experts believe that many aspects of society will continue to change for the foreseeable future.
Cooking Tips for During Coronavirus Crisis Lockdown
- Experiment– There is no time like the present to experiment in the kitchen. Try some new flavour combinations or cooking techniques to enhance your culinary skills and diversify your cooking repertoire.
- Use leftovers– Think of creative ways that you can use your leftovers. There are many ways that you can use your leftovers. For example, if you have a roast dinner for tea, use the leftover meat for sandwiches at lunch and then a curry or stir fry for dinner.
- Budget carefully– Times are hard financially, especially for those that have taken time off sick or are currently out of work due to the coronavirus crisis.
- Plan ahead– There are shortages of some products and problems with the logistics of deliveries. So, it makes sense to plan your meals in advance based on what you have in the home.
- Cook in batches– If you have time, cook large quantities of food in batches. You can then portion these out and store in the refrigerator or freezer. This will save you time, make sure you use up food without waste, and cut costs.
- Stock up on canned and dried goods– With fruit, vegetables, and fresh meat in short supply, stocking up on canned and dried goods makes sense. Dried and canned goods have a long lifespan. This means you can always use them as a backup in an emergency when food supplies are low.
- Include essential vitamins and nutrients– Even if you have trouble getting hold of fresh fruit and vegetables, you still need the essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients they provide. If you have canned, frozen, or dried vegetable products at home, make sure you are eating some of them every day.
A Final Tip…..
- Grow your own– Consider growing some of your own fruits and vegetables. This will mean that supply levels in the shops will have less of an impact on you. It is easier than you think! Check out this video for replanting hacks. I have found the hacks useful and have planted some vegetables with my children using these ideas.
Some Inspiration from The Fruity Tart
We have plenty of recipes that you can try on this website during the lockdown. These may give you some inspiration for things that are easy to make using items that most people have in their store cupboard. Check out the following recipes on our site:
Some Help from Our Sister Website
Visit our sister website supersoupered.com for some fantastic soup recipes. Soup is an excellent food to make during the lockdown. You can use dried and canned products, as well as fresh vegetables. Just some of the reasons to make soup include the low cost, ease of cooking, making it in bulk, storing in the freezer, using up leftovers, and having nutrients in your diet.
What are your experiences of how coronavirus has changed eating habits in your family or part of the world? Feel free to comment in the comments section below.
Finally, stay safe everyone! Liz xxx