The Covid-19 pandemic has made everyone rethink how often they leave the house and how they go shopping. Many people have opted for fewer trips to the supermarket to minimize contact with others. While having fresh produce in the house is amazing, having a pantry full of food that fulfills these simple rules will help households plan for staying happier in the home bunker.
Rule #1: Plan for more non-perishable foods
A well stocked pantry drawer, courtesy of Napa Nuts
The days of daily trips to the market are over for the near future. Avoiding contact with people is now part of the daily routine. While grocery delivery services are killing it right now, buying in bulk to cut down on delivery fees makes a lot of sense.
Another “life-hack” that people are using--eat all the perishable food first, then move to the non-perishable food when that runs out. Otherwise, using non-perishable food to “stretch” the perishable food from one meal to two is also working well.
Canned foods, dry beans, and pasta are all having epic sales numbers this year. After three months of pandemic, “pasta surprise” got real old. Crafty households are looking for something more exciting.
Spice up that pancake mix with some diced pecans. Pecans are great on the shelf for about a year! They are tasty raw and lightly toasted. Adding some to pancakes or waffles will add some protein and help you feel full a bit faster.
Dried fruit is also very fun to cook with. It is very easy to make a chutney with some dried apricots for a fantastic rice dish. Soaking some dried pears in hot water and then blending them will create an awesome compote to add some sweetness to any steak. Professional chefs have used tricks like these for a long time.
Most importantly, dried fruits and nuts have great shelf lives. Read more about how long they last here on our earlier blog post.
Rule #2: Keep more healthy and nutritious food on the shelf
While some people have put the stay-at-home time to good use with fitness challenges, others have found the Covid-15 (or the same weight gain as the “Freshman 15” that many people find when their schedules are entirely reset).
Napa Nuts - Raw whole almonds
The reflexive actions of eating anything within arms reach is often too tempting for many people to resist. Surrounding yourself with choices that are healthier means you may trick yourself into eating better.
Nuts are great for you! A handful of nuts will fill you up and will satiate hunger for longer than sugary snacks. Read more about the health benefits of nuts and dried fruit here.
Dried fruit, like raisins, will also give you a quick jolt of energy without brewing another pot of coffee.
We have lots of trail mixes available which are a great mix of nuts and dried fruit.
Napa Nuts - St. Helena Blend Trail Mix
Rule #3: Make sure the elements in your pantry are versatile.
There is a reason flour is sold in large quantities; it is used in a variety of dishes. It is the basis for breads, pancakes, and awesome when making fried chicken.
Napa Nuts hears about new uses for our products all of the time.
Our fans mention using chopped nuts to coat a fish filet. Our photo gallery is full of nuts and dried fruit on cheese boards. Some of our fans have created their own trail mixes or just snack on their favorites. Salads are more exciting with some dried cranberries mixed in.
Of course, desserts are always a favorite, whether it is chopped nuts in a cookie or brownie, sliced almonds to “crust” the side of a cake, or nibbling a dried cherry with an aperitif, it is hard to go wrong.
Frankly, we find new ways to cook with dried fruit and nuts all the time. Please share some of your successful experiments in the comments.