Padma Lakshmi Shares How You Should Be Stocking Your Pantry Amid Coronavirus

As many people worldwide are staying home in voluntary self-isolation amid the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), Padma Lakshmi is sharing her top picks for foods to stock up on. 

"A lot of you asked what type of pantry items to get to hunker down for the next few weeks," the Bravo's Top Chef host wrote alongside the March 14 Instagram video. "You don’t need to [be] hoarding 30 boxes of macaroni."

Instead, Padma recommends starting your shopping trip with a visit to the frozen food aisle.  "I know it's a very scary time. What I would say is buy frozen vegetables if you can," she said in the clip. "They sometimes have as much nutrition as fresh vegetables because if you buy a good brand, they're usually flash-frozen right when they're picked." 

Padma also suggested dry goods such as beans, lentils, quinoa, orzo, canned tomatoes, and canned tuna. "It doesn't cost as much as buying, like, steak or something," she said. "But it still gives you protein and it can last for a long time on the shelf if need be."

For any home cooking (she suggested opting for stews), Padma recommends freezing a large meal in  portions. 

As panic surrounding the global health crisis continues, Padma encouraged her followers to prioritize remaining calm. "It's a very serious thing that's happening to all of us," she said. "It's important just to help our neighbor and get what you need, but also remember your humanity."

In recent weeks, Padma has been using social media to spread a bit of joy. Alongside a video of a puppy getting pampered with a face mask and massage while classical music played in the background, she wrote: “Take care of yourself during the quarantine, folks,” 

On Twitter, meanwhile, she quote-tweeted a clip of a fruit bat eating a banana slice from a shirt pocket, adding the quip: “Me in self-quarantine.” 

Want more of Top Chef? Season 17 premieres March 19 at 10/9c or catch up through the Bravo app.