Self-isolating - asking others to get food

[TigerJoy]

Been self-isolating for a week as I am pretty ill with Covid19. Dh is weirdly tired but not showing symptoms yet.

We are lucky to have enough food to eat as DH keeps our larder like we are expecting an apocalypse at the best of times.

However we are almost out of fresh fruit and veg and I can't get an online delivery from anywhere.

Would it be selfish to ask a friend or neighbour to get us fruit, veg and eggs whilst we are still self-isolating? We could just eat beans / pasta etc and we have some home-made meals frozen. I just feel its healthier eating fruit and veg especially when you're sick.

But then I worry about putting someone else at risk for something we don't necessarily need. We've had lots of offers from people to help.

Can you contact a local greengrocer or farm? All of those near us are now doing contactless delivery or collection.

I have tried all of them and they aren't taking any more customers for delivery unfortunately

We have had friends drop around fruit and veg. If they leave it on the doorstep and wave through the window it's fine, no different to a shop delivery.

With only two of you, I'm guessing they won't need to do it more than once anyway.

If people have previously offered to help, take them up on it. Remember there's a limit of three items per person and the person doing the shopping may need to buy those items too - if you need more than one of something perhaps give a list to more than one person, or split the list and ask a few people to buy a few items each so you don't effect their shop (Tesco have a limit of 80 items on an online shop now). Remember to return the favour when you're better.

Thanks guys. Didn't know if we were being selfish when we have enough to eat. And I like being self-sufficient!

Of course we would return the favour. Will pull together a reasonably short list tomorrow.

I know you said you've tried your local farm shops but have you also asked on your local Facebook groups if anyone is delivering fresh fruit and veg? We've several shops or florists near us that have switched business to deliver fruit and veg boxes as they can access the stock from wholesalers / farms. I'm only aware of this because their details are now on Facebook and it's contact via phone to the immediate area only so you wouldn't find them on a Google search. Worth a try?

How would asking with help for food be selfish? Go for it, you can do a bank transfer to pay back.
I agree fresh stuff is good for you especially if you are not well.
We have a whatsapp group in our small neighbourhood and when one of us goes shopping for essentials they ask if anyone needs anything. We sort of put an order in and if they find it that’s fine, if they don’t it’s not the end of the world. The buyer leaves the stuff by front door, then you put the money through letter box or do a bank transfer. Strangely enough nobody ever asks for alcohol yet they always mention what they drink of an evening.
Could you text a few people you know nearby to ask if they are going out anyway to do the shop to get you x, y, z?
Do you have any frozen or tinned fruit or veg to stretch it out a bit?

Selfish because we have enough to eat, it's just for the preference of having something fresh. Yes we have some frozen peas and tinned fruit. I hadn't realised how much fruit and veg we eat!

I will look at facebook thanks.

All this has made me really think about what we eat carefully and I would love to switch to a weekly local delivery of fruit and veg longterm.

Ask your local mutual aid group?

You’re not being selfish

How is it selfish? We have been self isolating now for what feels like ages because of symptoms and several people have dropped round food? They have dropped it off on the doorstep, not touched anything and then given us a call and we have waved through the window. And then we transferred some money. We have enough to literally survive but people have got us things like fruit and veg. Some of them have even popped total non-essentials like biscuits and gin in!

If you are worried about people going to the shops unnecessarily, then just ask someone who is going anyway.

Genuinely not seeing a problem with this?!

it's just for the preference of having something fresh.
Won't fresh fruit and vegetables help you to get better more quickly.
Once you're both completely better you'll be able to help others. Don't fret!! You are a long, long way from selfish.
Selfish would be going out to the shops yourselves!!!! Or going to a picturesque part of the country for some fresh air.
Get well soon

Ok awesome thanks, will ask for help. I'm just conscious so many people are struggling and we're comfortable, it's just for preference and a general belief in the power of fresh fruit and veg@

Thank you all and stay well xxx

We have a couple of Facebook groups set up for local help and support - I put a message on one last week along the lines of "non urgent, but if anyone is going to X chemist in the next few days could they pick up my prescription as well". One of my neighbours is going next week to pick up theirs so will get it for me. Someone doing a Sainsbury's shop picked up a bag of frozen spinach for another neighbour. People really are happy to help.