Express delivery and shelf-stable food

I am writing this while convalescing. We were among those traditional types who preferred some physical effort when it comes to accessing food compared to delivery. But this unusual era of accelerated spread of communicable conditions requires a level of extra caution that protects oneself and the community. What if you are depleted of essentials like bread or some other staple food, so that you are now tapping into your back-up stores of canned food in case of a natural disaster? (Side note: I grew up in a tropical country where unexpected extreme weather events can happen and that’s why I am used to always having some form of canned meat or shelf-stable food ready for when disaster strikes.)

During the height of the pandemic, my family explored the use of a local contactless food delivery app after I received a gift card. We would enjoy it once in a while—I particularly like the fact that you can have some form of cash back that you can use for a later purchase. The service recently included groceries. And I am writing this now out of gratitude for this convenience after having some essentials delivered. I have also learned that many of the couriers are new immigrants or international students, and this is a way to support fellow settlers. I would often see couriers on the road on their bikes or e-bikes—some have vehicles. I’m not sure whether what they earn is sufficient, but I think it’s a good form of work especially if you’re a student living near downtown and have a bicycle. You do need to have a smartphone that can help you navigate, which is probably the pricier investment. I wonder how couriers navigate harsh winters…probably those who use vehicles for deliveries work more during that season.

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On the topic of comfort shelf-stable food: tuna, corned beef, SPAM, noodles, or canned vegetables. Cannot go wrong with that. There are many hacks online that help people prepare canned food in various enjoyable ways. Like what I mentioned above, there have been many occasions in my home country where people have experienced loss due to natural calamities and food drives usually involve the collection of canned food or any shelf-stable food that can endure shipment and require minimal preparation to be consumed. I often feel sorry for those who scoff at cheap canned food or instant food who argue that these are not healthy and contain lots of preservatives and sodium. The reason why I feel sorry for these people is that they will be the weakest in survival situations. Any food is healthy when there is scarcity. I am among the many lucky folks who can enjoy cheap shelf-stable food and have the fortunate capability of eating whole foods (or enjoy a buffet). Not everyone has that luxury. That’s why I appreciate people online who promote smart ways to feed oneself and one’s family through affordable means. The truth is, not everyone can afford to be in the latest nutritional trend. Unless it’s a gut disease or some form of extreme food allergy, many of us need to be aware that food (and water) insecurity is a big issue for humanity and that we cannot proselytize a particular way of eating as the uniform standard. Heck, even the use of so much gas or electricity to prepare one dish can be considered excessive. The fact that there are skin-and-bones malnourished people in one part of the world, while there are diet obsessed or anti-this-or-that-food proponents in another part of the same world is a testament to the extreme discrepancy/disparity in realities amongst members of our species.