By Marci Lutsky
I’ve heard endless complaints from people about the current grocery situation. They can’t get what they want when they want it. Okay, I get it. We are accustomed to making a list, going to the supermarket and when the cashier asks if we found everything okay, responding YES! Hopefully those days will be here again soon. In the meantime, we need to be flexible. Here are some suggestions for how to make that happen.
I am normally a three times a week ShopRite shopper. The last time I stepped foot in ShopRite was on March 15th. So what have I found that works? While I am devoted to ShopRite, getting a time slot for pickup or delivery is like winning the lottery. I’ve heard of people waking up in the middle of the night to refresh their browser when new time slots are opened, much like booking Disney dining reservations. I placed an order for Acme delivery two weeks ago and had an excellent experience. Delivery is done through Instacart. The person who shopped for me made great substitutions for what they didn’t have in stock and I ended up getting almost everything on my list. Instacart also services Aldi, BJ’s, CVS, Sam’s Club and Petco. For more information visit www.instacart.com.
I’ve been a Misfits Market subscriber for almost two years and cannot recommend it enough. I get a weekly delivery of imperfect produce which is mostly organic for around $25. Now more than ever, I’m grateful for this service. I can get by for weeks with what I have in my pantry but a weekly refresh on greens, vegetables and fruits is just what I need right now. To find out more about how it works, visit www.misfitsmarket.com.
Last week I found myself running very low on eggs and milk (so much baking happening in this house!). Since I was not in need of placing a big food order, I called B.F. Mazzeo and asked if I could just order a few items, pay over the phone and have them brought to my car. They couldn’t have been nicer or more helpful. I’ve seen people posting pictures of boxes of produce they’ve been getting from B.F. Mazzeo as well.
How ever you are getting food during this time, you should try to avoid going to the supermarket. It’s very important to be flexible right now. If you place an order and don’t get all of your preferred brands, try to be understanding of these strange times and make the best of what you get. And when possible, plan ahead to stock up on things you know you can make meals out of. I’ve been making a lot of pizza so I’m stocked up on pizza sauce, cheese and flour. There are so many lessons being learned during this strange time. One thing is for sure, I have learned that I don’t need to go to the supermarket more than once a week! Stay safe and well nourished. We will get through this, one day at a time.
Marci Lutsky is a food blogger at Vegging at the Shore, www.veggingattheshore.com and can be reached at veggingattheshore@gmail.com.
