Find new ways to find the healthy foods on your program. | Photo by Eastern Market via Facebook.com
The COVID-19 crisis we’re facing impacts everyone. While we’re self-quarantined at home and navigating this new normal, it may feel even more challenging to stay on track with your Medical Weight Loss Clinic program. We’re here to help.
Between a new work-from-home lifestyle, teaching your children in a new homeschool setting and working hard to stay positive and healthy, grocery shopping and cooking the right meals can feel harder than usual. We’re hearing from patients who are having trouble finding or obtaining the healthy foods they need.
Yes, local stores may be out of stock temporarily when it comes to finding some of the meats or fresh vegetables you seek. Take heart. We’ve put together a guide on what to do when the grocery shopping gets tough.
Try curbside pick-up or delivery
Tabitha Panetta, training supervisor at Medical Weight Loss Clinic, encourages patients to “stick to the program as much as possible. Utilize country markets and farms that will even deliver to your home.”
Some options include:
Order online from John Henry’s Meats or Hungry Harvest and opt to have the food delivered to you.
Place an order for curbside pick-up or local delivery from places like Pure Pastures, Marrow and Farm Field Table.
Check to see if your local farmer’s market is still operating. The Flint Farmer’s Market and Royal Oak Farmer’s Market are open on Saturdays. In Detroit, Eastern Market is operating a drive-through, pay-online farm box for pick up on Saturdays and bulk purchases on Tuesdays. And Gratiot Central Market, on the southern end of Eastern Market, is open and stocked with some of the freshest meat available.
Be flexible about delivery timing as many services are busy fulfilling orders. Try planning ahead for foods you’ll need in the future. And if delivery times disappear, keep trying. They will open up.
When you can’t get fresh, go for frozen
Christina Karas, service director for Medical Weight Loss Clinic, says it’s a good time to seek out frozen fruits and vegetables to stock up. Be sure to look for brands that offer frozen fruits and vegetables without added salt, sugar or sauces. It’s also possible to freeze your own fruits and vegetables when you do find fresh sources and have stocked up. Save some for later. “Freezing fresh produce is exactly what I do with my fruits and vegetables,” Karas says.
Panetta also offered up some tips on freezing fresh produce at home. Wash and dry the produce with a paper towel, she says, then place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet and freeze them. Once frozen, it’s possible to store the produce in bags or containers in the freezer – and you won’t be left with a frozen block of fruit.
What can you freeze? Most fresh produce as it turns out. Panetta advises against freezing cucumber, lettuce, celery or watermelon.
If the meat counter looks empty
If fresh meats are sold out, consider additional sources of protein. Karas suggests trying tofu or tempeh. Cottage cheese, eggs and water-packed tuna are always ideal staples. For those in a pinch, items like tuna and beans may be good choices when seeking shelf-stable foods. Beans and protein are part of the maintenance program and provide complete amino acids.
“In times like these it’s OK to bend the rules with not ideal options,” Panetta says. Frozen protein - like Schwan’s Home Delivery - or marinated protein – like roasted chicken or a marinated pork tenderloin can be included if necessary.
She notes: “Foods are important but your mindset is tops. Do what you can and focus on portion sizes.”
Stay connected with Medical Weight Loss Clinic’s resources and find inspirational recipes on our website at mwlc.com.
