So. We can’t go out.

With the increasing number of cases in Metro Manila, and this confusing quarantine, the bottom line is that we can’t go out, and we have to carefully plan trips to the grocery and the drug store.

So how do we make supplies last until the next supply run?

 

1. Using wash cloths instead of wet wipes.

We haven’t been able to potty-train Lucas, so we still need diapers and wet wipes. However it seems people have taken to hoarding wet wipes as well.

We still have a few packs here at home, but we’d like to conserve them. So if he’s just wet, we clean him up with a wet wash cloth. If it’s poop, that’s when we use the wipes.

 

2. Using cloth diapers.

We’ve always used cloth diapers at home, saving disposables for nights and for when we’re out. So now that we’re always home, it’s the default option during the day.

The nice thing about this is that cloth diapers are so cute and colorful. So we make a game out of diaper-changing, by asking Lucas which diaper he wants to wear.

“Do you want spider pwet? Or leopard pwet?”

“How about pirate pwet?”

 

3. Repurposing food.

One day I cooked pork giniling (ground pork with potatoes, carrots and bell peppers, in tomato sauce). When people got tired of it, we put it in a baking dish and added beaten egg for an instant baked frittata.

I should have added cheese.

The leftover adobo from one dinner makes great adobo rice for next day’s breakfast. The remaining sisig should be good for a midnight snack. That last spoonful of corned beef at breakfast that nobody wanted is good for an omelette, or in hot pandesal.

Waste not, want not!

 

4. Wash with water and soap instead of using alcohol.

The shortage of alcohol (thanks, hoarders!) has been much lamented. We have a few bottles at home, but as with the wipes, we want to conserve them.

Fortunately we bought a lot of soap on sale a few months back, so soap-and-water is the default. Frequent handwashing is the rule of the day anyway.

My mom says Lucas takes so long to wash his hands that she ends up singing Happy Birthday four times! I think he just wants her to keep singing.

 

5. Chop and store vegetables.

The biggest problem with stocking up for a long home stay is that you run out of fresh fruits and vegetables quickly. If you buy a lot, they’ll go bad before you’re able to use them.

I don’t remember where I found this tip, but it’s immensely helpful and something I’ve been doing for years.

This is what you can do if you buy vegetables but won’t be able to cook them right away.

• Peel and chop them as needed. Tiny cubes or medallions or sticks, whatever.
• Find a Mason jar or a watertight container that you can put in the fridge.
• Put the chopped vegetables in said container.
• Fill with clean water, making sure all the pieces are covered.
• Store in the fridge.

Your chopped veggies should keep for about week. And the water in which the veggies were soaking? You can use that for broth!

I do this for potatoes, carrots, bell pepper, zucchini and kalabasa.

 

How are you making the most of your supplies?