Firstly, please dont think I encourage people going out three times a day to get some chocolate or ice cream or whatever. The guidance is clear to go as infrequently as possible (although unlike some people think, it's NOT to go shopping once a week or fortnight). However, the amount of people saying stuff along the lines - your shopping is not essential/ we did it, therefore everyone else can do it/you don't need this or that/ you can make your own bread* (whatever other item) is a bit shocking. In times when empathy is particularly important too.
So just to say, the reason while some people cannot just go out to shop once a month like you:
- some people have multiple food allergies and/or have limited diet, making shopping and finding the items needed more difficult.
- some shops around are not well stocked as those in other areas and essentials are not always available the time they go shopping
- not everyone has an industrial size fridge and freezer. I for one have no space to freeze 4 gallons of milk or 2 loafs of bread
- not everything people may need freezes well
- some delivery shops offer fresh produce which expire quickly. Our only delivery which we managed to sort out over the last two weeks had everything expiring within 2/3 days, with the bread expiring the next day, not a week like we hoped, we were not able to freeze all the stuff we wanted either. My two local small shops are notorious for selling fruit and veg which lasts 2-3 days is we're lucky
- not everyone had an amazingly stocked pantry before, nor space to buy a lot of items with long shelf life
- one's person essentials are not the same as other people- the fact someone do not consider something as essential does not mean it is also not essential for other people and the other way round
- not everyone has a car and can do a huge shop infrequently
- not everyone has an amazing support network
- not everyone is lucky to have enough money to make one big shop a fortnight
- not everyone has local shops which deliver to your doorstep- we have nothing in our area, no butchers, no corner shops do home deliveries so we depend on ourselves having to go out and actually hope we can buy what we need
- not everyone has equipment, know how and/or ingredients to make lets say bread or whatever else people think you can magically whip up on the spot.
- some people do not have a great support network, and asking strangers to do a huge shop is not always possible
I'm sure there are other reasons too, we all have different needs.
I think isntead of shouting at others that they dare to go out shopping, maybe lets just accept that without knowing the circumstances it may be best not to judge? Everyone is doing their best with what we have.