
1. Make a shopping list
Know beforehand what you want to buy, both to make sure you don’t forget anything and to minimize time spent at the market, and thus possible exposure to the virus from others.

2. Don’t impulse-buy
Just because something’s in plentiful supply, if it isn’t on your list and you don’t really need it, leave it on the shelf for others.

3. Don’t be a copycat
Just because others are stocking up on something, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you need it too.

4. Be careful when buying perishable foods
Pay attention to use-by dates and don’t buy more than you think you’ll be able to use in the allotted time period.

5. Choose as many long-lasting products as possible
Dried pasta, rice, dried legumes, grains, and UHT milk are among the foods that are long-lasting — two to four weeks for UHT milk, almost indefinitely for pasta, rice, legumes, and grains if stored away from moisture.