January and February can be hit or miss when it comes to the weather. While some are still excited for the colder months and possibility of snow, others pray that Punxsutawney Phil announces spring is coming sooner. Regardless of your preferences, it’s no secret that a huge amount of snow is hitting the southern United States this weekend. Due to a lack of plowing, ill-prepared schools and businesses, and inexperienced residents, this storm is inevitably going to create a frenzy of hibernation, leaving grocery store aisles bare. However, as a New Yorker turned University of Virginia student, I feel equipped enough from years of snow day experience to help my southern friends prepare for possibly being snowed in. Here is a snowstorm grocery store guide we all need to help us stock up on the goods before the storm hits.
Pantry Snacks
All I can emphasize when stocking up before a snowstorm is that shelf stable goods will be your best friend. You can create balanced, fueling meals with tons of things that don’t need to be refrigerated. Some pantry staples to grab before selling out are oatmeal, soup, beans, peanut butter, protein bars, beef jerky, crackers, pasta and sauce, canned tuna, and rice. These can all be bought in bulk without worrying about expiration, so save them up in the back of your pantry to reach for after your fridge supply runs out.
Fresh Produce
Although it very much could run out before you’re cleared to leave the house, buying fresh produce one to two days before the snowstorm is just as important as stocking up your pantry. You’ll want to have enough fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, and other chilled essentials to last you a few days so you and roommates don’t go completely insane. It’s also fun to mix in the fresh stuff with the other shelf stable products, such as oatmeal with fruit, soup with fresh veggies or chicken, and cheese with crackers. On top of fridge foods, don’t forget to buy some fresh bread, bagels, or other products that go bad quickly because you can always keep them longer by freezing!
Toiletries
You might not even realize how important these goods are until you don’t have any left. Paper towels, tissues, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and other bathroom or kitchen supplies can be detrimental to go without for multiple days when it snows. You may think being snowed in is fun, but until you have to master the “drip and dry,” you’re going to wish you listened to those crazy shoppers carrying eight-packs of toilet paper.
Electronics
It’s always up in the air if the power goes out during the snowstorm, but better to be safe than sorry. All my students and remote employees can relate to having to Zoom in from your bed as the snow continues falling, but school and work continue meeting. It’s important to have portable chargers with full juice, a plethora of batteries to charge all your different devices, and also manual replacements for any non-essential tools (such as an electronic toothbrush).