Table for One

Hey everyone! My name is John and this is my blog for my MMC2100 class at the University of Florida. I'm a Media & Society Major in my second year. I currently live in Maryland and I've been in the U.S. Marine Corps for 17 years. This blog explores a bachelor's guide for safe ways to grocery shop, make smart meal plans and prep healthy meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[john-odette]

Easy meal prepping can help find routine

After all the shopping, preparation and anticipation of eating smart during the quarantine, it is time to stay on track. At this point, I have bought a lot of groceries, I planned my menu and I have gained courage in the kitchen. Living alone in isolation, I need routine to keep myself focused. 

Meal prepping is a crucial part in finding that routine for myself. Putting meals together provides a level of consistency. I know what I am eating, I know that it is healthy and I know it is going to last for a long time. 

Crafting a solid set of meals to prep will reduce the trips to grocery store as well, thus reducing the probability of getting sick. These prepped meals can be done week to week. If I did my shopping smart, I will have the resources and ingredients queued for the long haul. 

It is possible to approach meal prepping negatively in two ways: it is boring, tedious work or the meals being made are uninspired. This does not have to be the case! There are a lot of resources on the internet that provide interesting and delicious avenues to meal prep in a healthy and tasty way. 

Photo: http://allyscooking.com/2017/02/26/healthy-greek-chicken-meal-prep-bowls/

The website Allyscooking.com carries many healthy and fun recipes. The above pictured meal is made out of bulk chicken, grains and produce. This covers the points discussed already in this blog. This meal is affordable when ingredients are bought in bulk. It has a respectable shelf-life of three to four days and is very healthy, under 400 calories healthy to be specific.

Photo: https://lifemadesweeter.com/beef-and-broccoli/

From website lifemadesweeter.com, more simple and inspiring meal prep ideas can be found. The beef and broccoli bowl covers the same wickets as the chicken meal mentioned previously. The key ingredients of rice, chicken and broccoli are very affordable and can be stretched out over many days. The recipe allows the user to make a large portion to fill out many meal prep containers to last out the week.

Photo: My meal containers and their lids are staged to the right of my two bags of frozen chicken drumsticks. I separate my chicken and other meat items into storage bags and remove them from the freezer on the days I wish to cook them. 

The process of meal prepping may seem intimidating to some, but once the first batch of a tasty chicken meal is made, the journey becomes simpler. I am living in a new world during this pandemic. I had to steer my meal planning to compliment this change. I believe that the steps for eating smarter and healthier are fair and simple. Shop smart, cook enough, stay healthy.

http://allyscooking.com/2017/02/26/healthy-greek-chicken-meal-prep-bowls/

https://lifemadesweeter.com/beef-and-broccoli/

[john-odette]

Tasty restaurant meals to be made at home

The restaurants are closed, mostly. I am fortunate that while a lot are closed indefinitely, some places I love to frequent are still open for delivery. However, while I love old staples like Outback Steakhouse and Chipotle, I find it easy to spend close to double the price of these meals to have them arrive at my door. 

So, what do I do? Fortunately, after researching what healthy meals I love to eat, and having retrieved the appropriate ingredients, I can recreate some of my favorite dishes. An added bonus is that my pocketbook does not suffer the burden of overpaying. 

I have found it easy to make delicious and tasty meals using the lasting ingredients I shopped for. From bulk chicken to boxes of rice, there is a long list of dishes to prepare. Some might take a trial and error approach on my part, but each day I get a little better. 

Photo: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cast-iron-skillet-steak/

Buying steak in bulk can indeed edge on the pricier side. I purchased a bulk pack of rib-eyes and separated them via freezer bags. Since they are so grand in size, I find myself having enough for both a lunch and dinner portion. Using a cast iron skillet or simple pan, add butter and garlic and sear the steak on both sides. Then place the steak in the broiler in the oven for about five minutes, remove from heat and rest for another five minutes.

Photo: https://www.lifesambrosia.com/linguine-aglio-e-olio/

Pasta is a staple that I can make a lot of and truly never tire of. Italian themed giants like Olive Garden and Buca di Beppo’s are currently unavailable to bring out fresh pasta dishes to my table while I sip on wine. However, I am able to make pasta agile e olio with a simple list of six ingredients: linguini, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, parsley and a lemon. It is practical, delicious and takes little time to prepare. 

I cannot stress enough the importance of spices and herbs to make my meals truly pop with flavor. Herbs like parsley and cilantro, and juices from oranges and limes can mix well to form a unique marinade for steak or chicken. This can possibly bridge the gap between average home cooking and ordering from a restaurant. 

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cast-iron-skillet-steak/

https://www.lifesambrosia.com/linguine-aglio-e-olio/

[john-odette]

Food to buy that last long during pandemic

Grocery shopping should be an adventure that needs to be taken sparingly. The less exposure to people, the better. A way to ensure that fewer trips are needed are to buy as much that can sustain a household for at least two weeks. 

This ties back to the previous post about crafting a smart shopping list. Mapping out a strong menu can allow a shopper to focus more on prepping meals instead of having to return to the store to pick up the odds and ends that were missed earlier. A sharp, pragmatic approach to the meals planned can ensure this focus lies more in the kitchen than in the store. 

It is one thing to grab a cart full of chips and cookies to keep oneself busy during the quarantine status. It is easy to return to the kitchen repeatedly when boredom strikes. Finding tasty high-protein and low carbohydrate snacks can be a healthy alternative, and as well as being more effective in staving off hunger pangs. 

Photo: https://www.healthymealplans.com/recipe-details/herb-and-garlic-goat-cheese-dip 

Vegetables chopped and staged next to a bowl of cheese dip make for an affordable and healthy snack. The website “Healthymealplans.com” furnishes very healthy, low caloric snacks that are easy to produce. The ingredients involved are simple produce and dairy products. The shelf life for snack ideas like this can be very high if stored in a refrigerator and not neglected. 

The vegetables above will last a week comfortably. Another snack alternative is apples and peanut butter. Both of these not only provide a very tasty combination, but both will last easily between grocery trips. Especially peanut butter. 

Photo: https://www.dessertnowdinnerlater.com/freezing-meats/ 

It is recommended to buy meat products, and meat alternatives for the vegan/vegetarian community, in bulk. Being a single man, I can make a 12 pack of chicken drumsticks or a six pack of chicken breasts stretch well over two weeks. The key is to separate the portions into large freezer bags, pulling out what I intend to make for lunch or dinner the morning of. 

https://www.healthymealplans.com/recipe-details/herb-and-garlic-goat-cheese-dip

https://www.dessertnowdinnerlater.com/freezing-meats/

[john-odette]

Safe practices for pandemic grocery shopping

Photo: https://livelaughrowe.com/printable-grocery-list-simple-to-do-list/ - 

Grocery lists are an invaluable asset. They provides the blueprint for getting what is needed and it helps cut down on time inside the grocery store. Before I am able to prepare anything healthy and long-lasting to eat in my house, I must first go out and retrieve whatever I want to cook from the stores. Thankfully, the grocery stores have remained open and their employees have risked their own health to serve the greater public. My goal is to leave my house as least often as possible, it is imperative I get all I can and what I can in one trip.

Having spent my entire adult life in the military, I am conditioned to prioritize safety above all else. The trip to the grocery store is my mission, the overall objective is to retrieve ingredients needed. But I must do so in a way that is safe and smart. After all, what good are groceries if no one is there to prepare and eat them?

The first step in shopping smart and effectively has nothing to with walking the store aisles and grabbing things for the cart. It starts at home, with a pen and some paper, or in these days, probably a note taking application on a smart phone. Before I can claim a victory at the store, I must first identify what I intend to bring back home.

Photo: https://www.cnbc.com/select/using-credit-cards-during-coronavirus-outbreak/ 

My grocery list is very structured, but also a little loose. I plan for meals, leftovers and snacks, but I leave space for other incentives that might catch my eye later in the store. Another reason to allow flexibility on the list is in the event of something at the store being sold out, I am able to find a substitute.

Photo: https://www.thelocal.de/20200402/latest-face-masks-in-public-could-help-to-reduce-spread-of-coronavirus-says-germanys-robert-koch-institute 

Once I have my list put together, I’m off to the races. I put on my personal protective equipment (PPE), consisting of gloves and a face mask. A suitable stand-in prior to getting my mask was my scarf. I also tend to wear a hoodie or something with long sleeves.

Another factor to consider is time frame. When is the best time to shop? I find the stores are least crowded in the opening hours during the morning. This will reduce the risk of running into more and more people. After I am in the store, I maintain proper dispersion between myself and other patrons. Some stores have cordoned off their entrances and exits making a “one way in, another way out” situation. If a store hasn’t implemented this yet, I’ll purposely go towards the less crowded door.

Once my shopping journey begins, I stay as tied to my list as possible. In other words, I get what I “need” first. If what I am shopping for is out of stock, I will need to have the alternates ready to go. Once I have put all of my need-to-have items in my cart, I will gloss over my “loose choices” on my list. It won’t hurt to get that pint of ice cream or sleeve of cookies to have them staged in the freezer or pantry when things get rough.

Photo: https://www.thenational.ae/business/money/how-the-pandemic-could-trigger-a-surge-in-us-credit-card-losses-in-an-echo-of-2008-1.998249 

The last method of safety I employ when shopping is the use of credit or debit cards as payment over cash. This course of action comes highly recommended from the World Health Organization (WHO). Many stores in my state have begun refusing to accept cash as method of payment, due to the WHO’s guidance. To wrap up, it’s best to shop smart and safely with PPE with a fine-tuned grocery list in one glove, and plastic in another.

https://livelaughrowe.com/printable-grocery-list-simple-to-do-list/

https://www.cnbc.com/select/using-credit-cards-during-coronavirus-outbreak/

https://www.thenational.ae/business/money/how-the-pandemic-could-trigger-a-surge-in-us-credit-card-losses-in-an-echo-of-2008-1.998249

[john-odette]

Advice for bachelor healthy eating during pandemic

My name is John, I live as a bachelor in a one bedroom apartment and I love to eat. During the recent global pandemic caused by the virus known as COVID-19, I have found myself looking at health, living and eating with more scrutiny. The world is changing to help curb this virus’ reach and I am changing slightly myself to be safe.

We are facing new procedures for public travel into gas stations and grocery stores. Many people are donning gloves and masks if they need to traverse from place to place. For many states, to include the one I am living in, many businesses are closed indefinitely to help stamp out the virus spread.

When it comes to my health, living alone can be a challenge already. But with this changing world order that has descended on the public, the challenges have increased. I intend to hold the line with social distancing by limiting my runs to the grocery store and elsewhere.

This blog will cover my most favorite thing in the world: eating. But not just eating. I will be researching and posting tips and tactics to shop smart, cook well and stay healthy, whether someone lives alone or with a group.

Photo : https://onedishkitchen.com/avocado-toast-recipe/  - Avocado toast is one of many simple and delicious meals I enjoy eating. It requires minimal ingredients, effort and time. 

To maintain my health, my focus, and perhaps my sanity, I have decided that this pandemic will not stop me from eating well and taking care of my body. I cannot rely on what reality used to be to keep ample sustenance. There are many ways to keep myself fueled that will keep my energy and morale up. I will capture ways to shop, prepare and preserve food so that someone in my position can also fare well during this new way of life.

Photo: After I set the oven temperature, I wait patiently at the stove top with my baking sheet and chicken staged for the oven to preheat to 350 degrees. 

In the coming posts, the facets of navigating a bachelor’s kitchen will be explored. From shopping to storing, I will demonstrate procedures that cover all the bases. The end goal here is help others save money and stay healthy. Along the way, I will be showing ways and resources to craft delicious food that will reduce trips to the store and help stifle this pandemic’s progress.