Academic Medicine Open Forum

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  • 1.  Question of the Week: How has the pandemic changed how you grocery shop, cook, and share meals?

    Posted 01-25-2021 11:04:00 AM

    Last year the New York Times captured how grocery habits changed in 2020: fewer trips/better lists; increases in both online shopping and buying local; wider aisles/less crowding; more purchases of frozen food and fresh oranges. Data show our cooking trends have changed too—comfort carbs are back! Even though I loved to cook before the pandemic, I probably ate out 2-4 times per week — often for business reasons.  Since the pandemic, I have really escaped into cooking. My favorites have been 5-minute artisan bread, complicated day-long recipes like coq au vin, and I’m trying to find vegetarian dishes that a carnivore can love.

     

    How has the pandemic impacted your approach to food shopping or cooking? What has been the impact on your overall approach to nutrition? Has it impacted how you share meals with family and friends?



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    Janis Orlowski
    Chief Health Care Officer
    Association of American Medical Colleges
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  • 2.  RE: Question of the Week: How has the pandemic changed how you grocery shop, cook, and share meals?

    Posted 01-26-2021 05:04:00 PM
    It's cold and snowy here in the DC area today and I sure could use that 5-minute artisan bread recipe, Janis, if you are willing to share it. I'm doing a lot more cooking than I used to. I'm grateful for more shared family meals during this pandemic but I am also in a bit of a recipe rut. And comfort carbs are just what the doctor ordered.

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    Nicole Buckley
    Communications Strategist
    Association of American Medical Colleges
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Question of the Week: How has the pandemic changed how you grocery shop, cook, and share meals?

    Posted 01-27-2021 07:40:00 AM
    My first thought was - not that much. Then I realized that with my spouse (transplant, immunosuppression) working from home, he's actually started taking on some of the cooking! Coming home to find that dinner is (sometimes) already prepared is a luxury I've not been used to.

    On the negative side, nutrition and weight control have suffered. Comfort-eating (chips and dip, no-contact take-away pizza) while binge watching Netflix on a weekend seems like a deserved treat vs cleaning and prepping fresh vegetables for a healthy meal. I know better, but hedonism has won -- so far.

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    Nancy Hayes
    Director of Clinical Foundations
    Florida State University College of Medicine
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Question of the Week: How has the pandemic changed how you grocery shop, cook, and share meals?

    Posted 01-27-2021 08:55:00 AM
    My favorite go-to Chinese restaurant about a block from where I live was scheduled to close in December long before the pandemic hit - a company bought the land and poof. I tried to limit takeout to 1x a week but didn't always succeed. :-) 
    I used Amazon Prime for grocery delivery from Whole Paycheck fairly regularly before the pandemic. As I live in Chicago, I haven't had a car since 2008 and it makes it easier for larger purchases. So, that didn't change my habits too much in that regard. Lots of restaurants in my area shut down until spring when they can offer outdoor seating - though restrictions eased a bit this week to allow 25% capacity. I have been cooking more, like you Janis so that's a plus. Save a bit of money and improve cooking skills along the way! I live alone so it's been a bit lonely during meal times I suppose since eating out has been drastically cut or non-existent.

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    Max Anderson
    Dir of Instructional Design and Learning Innovation
    University of Illinois College of Medicine
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Question of the Week: How has the pandemic changed how you grocery shop, cook, and share meals?

    Posted 01-27-2021 10:25:00 AM
    Before the pandemic I mainly used Amazon Prime/Fresh and Instacart for grocery delivery and continue to do that. I found that it saved me from buying duplicate items (or extra) and I no longer have to develop lists to take with me to the store. The only thing that did change was going to farmers markets over the weekends, most were cancelled.

    Nutrition-wise it was a little bit of a rollercoaster. The first 3-4 months of the pandemic I was preparing most of my meals and following meal plans, but then lost some of that motivation for about 3 months over the summer. Now I'm back on track!

    I live alone (unless you count my pets) so meal times have mostly just been me telling the dog no and then giving in anyway.

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    Christina Magnifico, MLIS
    Director, Medical Education Technology
    University of Kansas, School of Medicine
    Kansas City, KS
    cmagnifico@kumc.edu
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    Original Message