I really didn’t want to write an article about the COVID-19 virus, lockdown, safety precautions, and pantry prepping. I would much rather ignore it all and hide away in my quiet home, baking cakes and sipping tea and pretending it’s not happening. But reality has hit here in Australia, even in my small country town. And I’m really feeling the need to help reduce the overwhelm for those who are used to popping down to the shops daily, and suddenly have to stay home (maybe with kids bouncing off the walls and wanting to eat constantly)… And also for those who are not used to buying whole foods online, or making up meals using what they have on hand.I’ve been buying pantry ingredients online for about 20 years now – usually through whole food co-ops and bulk buying websites – and it has not only saved me a lot of money but also greatly reduced the need to be always dashing to the shops! (See this article I wrote on Bulk Food Buying & Co-ops – March, 2011.) I’ve  gone through stages of meal-planning and shopping once a fortnight or once a month, and I often challenge myself to make meals from the pantry and freezer to use up what I’ve got! (See my “Using up what I’ve got” videos on IGTV and Facebook.)
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