Adventures in grocery shopping during the lockdown

Going grocery shopping now requires detailed planning so that enough food is purchased to last the family for a longer period of time. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star

One of the seemingly routine things in life that the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdowns have totally transformed is grocery shopping.

Buying food essentials was once a matter of popping into the nearest supermarket, wet market or sundry shop and getting whatever you needed. There were no time limits – self-imposed or otherwise – and everything could be purchased at leisure. You could even shop for fresh produce every day if you liked. But those halcyon days of unlimited grocery shopping freedom are temporarily on hold, as Malaysians come to grips with the reality of the pandemic.

These days, in line with the current lockdown and high Covid-19 figures, locals have been advised to either buy their food essentials online or plan their grocery shopping trips well and stock up on food to last for a longer period of time, rather than risk unnecessary trips to the supermarket.