Coronavirus tips: An Indian’s shopping guide during the outbreak

While lentils (dal) have their place, it is not uncommon to crave for a veggie dish every once in a while. Vegetables like onions, potatoes, and garlic will last quite a while — just make sure your quantities are at par with your consumption.

Broccoli and cauliflower are also hardy vegetables, provided you store them in your fridge. You can even stock up on rations like frozen corn and peas to add a little colour to your diet.

Fruits like apples, bananas, oranges and lemons, will last longer than others on the market. In case they start to go bad, you can always turn them into a smoothie. Store the drink in your freezer and consume at your convenience.

An alternative would be to stock up on dry fruit and nuts like cashews, peanuts, almonds and raisins. Not only will they last longer, but studies have shown that they best boost immunity.

Food as its place, but drinks are just as important. Regardless of whether you’re a tea (chai) or coffee lover, make sure you pick up one or two boxes of your favorite brand — depending on consumption.

Keep in mind that since you’re probably going to be bored at home, consumption is likely to increase from your daily average.

But that’s not all you need. It would also be wise to pick up powdered milk since fresh milk means going to the market on a daily basis. If your budget is a little more flexible, you could pick up creamer or a Tetra Pak carton of milk that will last longer than fresh milk.

And, what is chai without some biscuits? Most brands have bulk packing that lets you pick up plenty of packets on the cheap.

It’s not easy to keep yourself entertained during self-isolation, so when you’re out shopping, it’s okay to indulge in a few guilty pleasures. Even though your first instinct may be to head for the chocolate — which is also fine — it may be more economic to pick a jar of jam or a bottle of ketchup. Some can even keep Maggi as the feel good factor of their diet.

When you are indoors and staring through the window, some comfort food can only do you good.

Before you overindulge in the food department, make sure you’re stocked up on your first aid supplies. In case you’re already on prescribed medication, stock up on at least two weeks worth. This is especially important for individuals with chronic medical illnesses like lung disease, heart disease, blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes.

In addition to your own medication, make sure you have the required things to address the symptoms of coronavirus and coronavirus-like symptoms. According to doctors, seasonal flu is common as the weather changes and not every sneeze means that you’re infected.

Keep a thermometer, fever reducing medication, cough syrup, and glucose for rehydration at home to check on your symptoms so that you don’t have to head to the doctor unless you absolutely need to.

Other basics to always have at home are antiseptics like Dettol, baid-aids, cotton, pain relievers and anti-allergy medication.

Around the world, there’s a global shortage of toilet paper. In India, that isn’t the case. However, it may not be a bad idea to pick up a roll or two keep as a contingency plan in your bathroom.

More importantly make sure you’re stocked up on hand soap, toothpaste, shampoo and body soap for daily hygiene. Ladies, make sure you have enough tampons and pads for at least a month and couples, invest in some condoms.

In addition to your own hygiene, it’s also important to keep the house clean. Pick up disinfectants for the floor, surfaces that you use on a daily basis and washing powder. You don’t want to be running out of clean underwear in the middle of a crisis.