In our attempt to flatten the curve, grocery shopping has become somewhat of a risky venture.  Public health officials are asking us to not head out of our houses for random shopping excursions. But we do need to eat, so grocery shopping during a pandemic is still required.  

Stores are doing their part to help customers grocery shop with physical distancing in mind. Tape lines on the floor, limiting the number of customers in the store at one time, directing traffic and recently St. Malo Co-op introduced one-way aisles to help with physical distancing at their store.   Here are a few things we can do to make the grocery shopping process a little less stressful.  

  1. Make a list and map it out.  Before you head out for your groceries, make a list of what you need. And even better, map out the store and organize your list by the department and how the store is laid out.  The less time in the store, the less time to share germs and, you help the lines move faster if you’re not wandering around trying to check everything off your list! 
  2. Make each grocery trip count!  The more you can buy in one trip, the less frequently you have to shop. BUT....you can do this without hoarding!  2 weeks worth of groceries is a great goal to aim for.  Fewer trips to the store equal less time in the grocery store! 
  3. Go to the bathroom before you leave for grocery shopping!  It’s all about saving time and well...public washrooms.  Enough said. 
  4. If it’s possible, try to go shopping by yourself.  Leave your kids at home.  The fewer people in the store, the easier it is to practice physical distancing.  If you can’t go alone, keep your kids in your cart or right at your side. 
  5. Sanitize your hands and disinfect your cart as you enter the store.  A little baggie with a few disinfecting wipes in your pocket or purse is helpful.  You don’t walk into your house with muddy shoes, so try not to walk into the store with germy hands.  
  6. Touch only what you will buy.  Instead of picking up several packages to inspect before purchasing, make your decision to grab just one and move on.  This may require training your brain to NOT touch everything!  
  7. Give people space while shopping.  The grocery stores have done a great job of providing physical distance guides for lining up to purchase groceries, but we need to keep that 2-metre space in mind while we’re shopping.  For example, if you see someone reaching to grab a bottle of ketchup and you want the same brand?  Wait.  Let them grab their bottle and move on and then grab your bottle.  Grocery shopping may take a little longer, and most of us do have a little more time on our hands.  
  8. Use the bags the grocery store provides.  Now is not the time to be grabbing those dirty recyclable bags, unless you are washing them regularly.  If you’re not washing your re-useable bags, then use the bags the store provides.  Bonus...you now have some free trash bags! 
  9. Sanitize your hands on your way out of the store.  You’ve just been in a public place with many others, your hands will need to be cleaned again, make sure you give them a good wash with soap and water when you get home.  
  10. Some grocery stores also offer the option to purchase online and pick up. You can also use local online shopping tools like BringMeBasics. If you can fit this into your calendar, it's a great option. It’s all about spending as little time in a public location as possible. 

And a reminder...throughout your whole shopping experience...don’t touch your face!