How are you shopping for food during COVID-19?

[mamaandthegirls]

We cannot seem to get an online delivery slot ANYWHERE! The next available slots are the middle of April!!
I have been to Tesco and it was carnage with huge queues out the door and hardly anything on the shelves!
Having to grab what we can, so isn’t the usual stuff we buy for a family of 4.

Definitely need to be a lot more flexible about what we’re buying and eating right now - and I’m trying to go to the shops every day to get what I can when I can

I’ve been going to more of the local shops - butcher, farm shop, bakery and that has worked well so far - and more companies keep popping up offering delivery

Today I did an inventory of everything in the freezer so know exactly what we have and am going to do the cupboards tomorrow

I did Scan and Go at Asda which eased my stress levels a bit as I didn't have to queue. Not many seemed to be using it. Not much available though. Had to go to my local Budgens for a few things and DP found a couple other bits at a garage near his work. So it's been a mix of frequent trips to the supermarket and shopping round in random local shops.

Last week I was lucky enough to book Tesco slots for next Sunday and the following Friday. The trouble is you either can't get a delivery slot or half your delivery is unavailable when it arrives. So you then have to go to the shops to get what's missing, where the shelves are empty anyway.

Meal planning has pretty much gone out the window!

I've had a milkman for a few years and have added some bread, eggs and yogurts to the next order as we are quarantined for the next 14 days, we are fairly well stocked for other supplies.

I’ve been using my local independent places, butchers deliver meat boxes, fishmonger is still open, and we have a big market that is full every day and my local Middle Eastern and polish shops are fully stocked. Just shopping as normal every 3/4 days. I don’t use tinned other long life stuff normally, so no need to start now!

I’ve been batch cooking and freezing stuff so if we do go into isolation we have plenty of meals. It’s just the supermarkets that are bare.

We've barely been able to buy anything for some time now. Managed to pick up odd bits at local shop but that's getting emptied really fast now. We are hoping to get a delivery that was booked ages ago in a few days. Goodness knows after that.

I’ve been walking to our local shops every day as I always do. Just practising SD

I’m running low on food because I’ve not been well enough to go shopping (nothing to do with Coronavirus). I’ve got a supermarket delivery booked for next week. I booked it a couple of weeks ago and am hoping that it doesn’t get cancelled. Until then, it’ll be using up those bits that are lurking at the back of the cupboard. Got plenty of cat food though so he’ll be OK

Carrie. Do you have local helpers? We have a community group and local pubs and restaurants are also delivering food packs

Have you tried your local town/ village centre? Where I live the supermarkets are running out of stock fast but the independent traders are fully stocked. If you have a local market, maybe check that out. X

Where do you all live where you have butchers bakers and candle stick makers? We have just the usual chains.

Norwich! Loads of Indy places, thankfully.

Aldi, queuing at opening time, they had everything then. I have enough for 2 weeks currently

I’m about to go try and do a weekly shop!

My fridge is currently sad and bare so I hope there’s some food in Lidl or I might need to eat the cat.

Yeah, there are maybe some food stores in your area you don't even know about. In my city, the touristy/upmarket area has lots of delis/bakers/grocers which are apparently well stocked and, conversely, some of the more deprived suburban areas also have grocers and butchers which are posting all over sm that they've plenty in and are welcoming new customers. It's just the obvious large and small supermarkets which don't.

DH ventures out at night with a mask on to get what we can from the big TESCO while it's quiet.
We've got food although not the food we would have chosen!
Yesterday poster paints were unavailable because Doh! Everyone is a home educator now.

I’ve actually got a delivery slot for next week and the week after but have had them booked for ages.

After that I’m moving to click and collect slots to free up home delivery slots for peopLe who need them more. I’ve got my first click and collect slot booked for 3 weeks time.

Also using the local farm shop and village shop.

Even if you can get a slot it's no guarantee it will actually arrive. I booked mine over a week ago for delivery last night and it got cancelled at 11pm. No message, no email, no warning. Id had my substitutions emailed at 5pm all fine. I'd sat up like an idiot waiting for it for ages as well. I've still heard nothing. I'm going to try to get out to one of the local shops to see what they have left but I work for the nhs and by the time I finish there is nothing left on the shelves. At least I might be lovely and slim by the time this all ends.
I think local is the way forward now.

Fearney, oh that’s pants. I had my last delivery come 3 days ago and had most stuff come. I had some subs but accepted everything. But am going to take some bits down the food bank box today.

Fochit My lovely neighbour has just come round with a bag of groceries for me. I wasn’t expecting it and I’m so grateful.

Got most of our stuff in the town market yesterday where there was an abundance of food. Struggled with the handful of none fresh stuff we needed in the supermarkets and I visited three. Gave up in the end and had to get creative. Definitely visit independent retailers though, they are coping far better.

I'm booking delivery slots well in advance. I have one booked for next Friday (booked nearly a fortnight ago), but then can't get another slot after that for nearly 3 weeks. So will have to get 3 weeks worth of long life goods for next weeks delivery. However fresh food won't keep for 3 weeks and nor do we have the space in our little fridge / freezer for 3 weeks worth of fresh food. So I think we'll be getting a couple of extra take-aways towards the end of that 3 weeks!

Our most recent delivery was okay but we did get a lot of substitutions, and God knows how much food will arrive in the delivery we have booked for next week, so we might have some 'interesting' meal combinations coming up!

I'm trying to avoid the shops as it just looks like hell out there.

Went to Lidl first thing and got 95% of my shopping for the week.
Couldn’t get a few things like Greek yoghurt and butter but we’ll live! Just grateful I have food to feed my family.

We shop for food the same way as ever. DH likes to do all the shopping. He likes to go in the mornings, about every 3 days. Just has to remember a mask & bags. Once a while I'm in a supermarket and whiz around picking up stuff DH doesn't think about.

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