Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, grocery shopping has transitioned from being a routine errand to a potentially challenging, and even dangerous, task. Many shoppers are awaiting the day when waiting in line before even getting inside the store is a distant memory. But regardless of when that day comes, it's likely the pandemic will transform the way we shop for food for many years to come.

TODAY Food spoke with a few industry insiders to get their take on the future of food shopping. Here are their predictions on what to expect in the post-pandemic era.

According to a consumer behavior survey released by Florida-based marketing agency Acosta, shoppers are currently making 52% fewer trips than they were before the pandemic. And 47% said it's extremely or very likely they'll continue to make fewer trips post coronavirus.

Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietician in based in Chicago, told TODAY Food that most people she knows used to shop for food items almost every other day. "And there would be extra trips to additional stores for specialty items that aren't in their usual store," she added. While she doesn't know if people will stick to the biweekly, one-store shops they're doing now, she agreed that it's unlikely people will be shopping as frequently as before.

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The survey also found that nearly half of respondents think they'll continue to stock up more in the future. Now that people have adopted the habit of shopping for seven-plus days at a time, Jackson Blatner said the stockpiling trend is likely to continue, but doesn't think people will continue to hoard such vast quantities of essentials.

"Stocking up is a skill people will likely keep using to save time once regular pace of life takes over again," she said.

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The days of spending hours browsing through the aisles may be over. If stores keep up two-cart social distancing rules, the days of impulse buys while waiting to checkout may also be a relic of the past. Instead, expect more lists.

"Right now, we're trying to go to the store as infrequently as possible, which requires forethought and creative menu planning," Trae Bodge, a lifestyle journalist who covers shopping trends, told TODAY. "I can see this kind of efficient shopping continuing once the worst of the pandemic has passed."

But even if menu planning remains a thing, recipes might not. "With fewer trips to the store there's more flexibility and creativity when people don't have all the ingredients a recipe calls for," said Jackson Blatner, who sees cooking "off script" becoming increasingly popular.

Jon Roesser, general manager at Weavers Way Co-op, a small chain of grocery stores in Pennsylvania, told TODAY he predicts customers will continue to want curbside pickup. For the foreseeable future, his stores will continue to offer the service.

Meanwhile, some major grocery chains are looking into offering online shopping only. Online grocery spend in the past month has already doubled, according to a new report by the fulfillment platform Fabric.

"After this is all over, I can see shoppers continuing to order online, especially those who, before COVID, struggled to squeeze shopping into their busy schedules or found shopping to be physically challenging," said Bodge. She credits the coronavirus with forcing older consumers to learn how to use technology to shop. "They'll have figured out the process and will greatly enjoy the benefits."

There was a large outcry when Costco first announced it had suspended in-store sampling back in March, but it's unlikely that many stores are going to bring that practice back anytime soon, experts say. Decreasing touch points and limiting areas where cross-contamination may occur will continue to be a priority for store management teams.

"It's incredibly hard to predict when we'll be able to open things back up for our customers," Roesser said. He also thinks it would be a shame if customers could no longer try before they buy since many of his vendors are from smaller farmers markets and rely on in-store samples to introduce customers to new products.

While not every store can be Costco and have gloved employees handing out samples, he hopes smaller stores will be able to find a different and regulated way to do it safely after the pandemic.

Year-on-year, fresh produce sales have continued to rise. Last month's increase was largely driven by demand for fruits, including oranges and lemons, that last longer. Potatoes have also become more popular. For weeks, they've been the top growth leader for fresh produce according to an industry report.

"Potatoes were demonized by diet trends, but during quarantine they're a life saver," said Jackson Blatner. She predicts that because they're so versatile, potatoes will have a special place in our diets and pantries going forward.

If you've noticed the freezer aisle shelves look emptier than usual, you're not imagining things. Fewer trips to the store means more food needs to be freezer friendly. Some stores are even limiting the amount of frozen vegetables customers can buy. While the practice of limiting might end, demand won't disappear. "People have been reminded of the convenience of frozen veggies so they'll likely stay around post-coronavirus," said Jackson Butler.

When farm-to-table and buy local movements surged in popularity in the early 2000s, frozen and canned goods got a bad rap. But they've made a huge comeback recently. Plus, most frozen produce is just as nutritious as its fresh counterpart.

Canned food is also poised to remain a shopping-cart staple. In fact, many canned goods don't have expiration dates so in theory, they can last for years.

Consumers have become all too familiar with hour-long waits at big-box retailers, so many smaller grocers have seen their businesses boom. Mike Geller, owner and manager of Mike's Organic, a grocery store in Stamford, Connecticut, told TODAY he's seeing an influx of new customers over the past month.

Initially, Geller said he received feedback that shoppers came in because they were "stymied" elsewhere. Now, however, they say they're coming back for the convenience and the diverse organic offerings.

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Physical activity is essential to keep our bodies healthy and fit. This applies to all human beings irrespective of age or gender. Being active is very important, especially at a young age. There was a time when kids used to love playing outdoor games so much that the parents thought of ways to get their kids back to the house on time. Because of all those physical activities, kids used to be fit, active, and healthy.

Well, nowadays, the scenario is different. In most houses, outdoor games are replaced by mobile, television, PS, Xbox, etc. Too much of these games have an ill effect on kids. It hampers their eyes as well as body postures. Besides this, sitting in front of these devices does not involve any kind of physical activity. The only muscle that is developed by playing these games is that of our fingers. This inactivity further results in stiffness and lack of flexibility in kids. Lack of vitamin D and B-12 has become very common in kids.

Similarly, another most common health problem seen in todays generation is obesity. Yes, its true. Most of the kids eat food while watching television. This hampers their digestion. Lack of physical activity is another reason for obesity in kids.

Sedentary and lack of physical activity in childhood hampers adulthood also. Individuals who lacked physical activity in their childhood tend to carry forward the same habits and have higher chances of depression, diabetes, and heart diseases.

So, if you are a parent who is worried about your kids physical fitness, then this article can be of great help. Getting your kid involved in any physical activity does not means he/she has to be a football or basketball champion. If you want your kid to be physically active, you have to put an extra effort to shift your kids interest from playing video or mobile games to going for a walk, playing an outdoor sport, cycling, etc.

Below we have discussed eight simple ways by which you can improve your childs physical fitness and overall development.

Kids tend to look at their parents and try to imbibe their habits. So, to bring a change in your kid, you first have to bring a change in yourself. If you want your kid to take part in some physical activity, then you have to start working on the same line. Be a good example for your kid. When your kid sees that you go for a walk or swim regularly, then the chances of them following your footsteps would be quite high. Try to involve your kids in your fitness program. For example, go cycling with them or swim with them. In your free time, take your kid to some park and play with them.

If you are overweight, then you might first want to lose some weight to become a fit, active, and healthy dad. Start with eating healthy and following a healthy lifestyle. Phentermine could also support you in your mission of losing those extra kilos. Phentermine prescription can easily be obtained online.

If you want your kid to be regular with the physical activity, then try to make it a part of your daily routine. For example, if your kid knows that evening 5-6 is park time, then by default, he/she will follow that routine. Try to fix some time of the day or week for a particular physical activity. You can fix the weekend mornings for some kind of physical activity like riding a bicycle, swimming, etc. Another way to make physical activity a part of your kids daily routine is by putting in some kind of sports coaching like tennis, football, skating, etc.

If you are a gym-freak, you can improve your childs fitness by involving them in gym activities. Weight training sessions are highly avoidable for kids as it might hamper their bone growth. Rest, let them enjoy the gym with you. If they want to run on the treadmill, let them do it. If they want to join you in power clean, wind sprints, etc. let them do it but do teach them the proper technique. Let them do whatever they want. However, tell them how to use the equipment safely. If your kids love doing a workout with you, you can look forward to having a garage gym. Remember, if your kid is too young, let the aim of the gym only be fun and play. After all, you can always train them when they reach the right age.

When we talk about physical activities for kids, it doesnt only mean playing baseball or basketball. You can motivate your kid to go for any kind of physical activity that goes with their age. Some of the most common physical activities are:

Involving your kid in some physical activity will not survive the purpose of keeping them fit and active if they keep on eating junk food. A healthy and nutritious diet is essential for growing kids. At a growing age, our body needs lots of vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Hence, you need to make sure your kid gets all the essential nutrients that are required by the body. Nowadays, kids are more interested in eating burgers, fries, chocolates, etc. You need to tell them about the importance of eating healthy food. Try to use junk food as a reward like a chocolate/ a doughnut if the kid finishes all the veggies. Try restricting junk food only once or twice a week.

Little kids love doing things that have a fun element attach to it. They dont need much of a push to jump like a kangaroo or a frog. Similarly, kids love playing in the rain or having a pillow fight. Also, you might not have to push your kid to dance to their favorite song. Hence, try to engage your kid in a physical activity that they enjoy. This way, they will have fun doing it that too, with a smile on their faces.

Kids love doing things on their terms. If you try to force something on them, they might show resistance. Hence, instead of forcing your kid to go out and play, try using exercise as a reward or break. Yes, your child might love to go out and play if you use it as a way to take a break from studies. Try it, it works.

The pressure of peer group or whats in and whats not having a significant influence on kids. Try to persuade your kid that doing exercise is the new in-thing. Your kid might want to do karate like Bruce-Lee, kick a football like Ronaldo, learn the latest dance move that is popular on YouTube.

As a parent, we play a significant rule in the development of our child. It is we who are responsible for their physical fitness. So, let us start avoiding giving them the remote so that they can watch T.V. and we can have our moment of peace. Instead, let try to keep them busy doing some kind of fun-filled physical activity.

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8 easy ways to improve your kids Fitness - TechEngage

In an interview with NBCs Today show Thursday, Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared to argue that Americans should be willing to follow existing locking and social distancing trends before the COVID-19 vaccine is safe.

In comparison, the good doctor characterized the ongoing deterioration of the American economy as clearly inconvenient. I know its tough, but were going to have a lot of suffering a lot of death. This is uncomfortable from an economic and a personal point of view, but we just have to do it, said Fauci to NBCs Savannah Guthrie.

The head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases added that he claims that the Americans who remain at home are our biggest tool against this epidemic right now. We dont have a vaccine that can be delivered. This is difficult from an economic and a personal point of view, but we just have to do it. (National Stay-at-Home Order) is our biggest tool against this virus right now. We dont have a vaccine that can be delivered. This is the only thing weve got .- Dr. Anthony Fauci pic.twitter.com/EdUv1ucqLnTODAY (@TODAYshow) April 2, 2020 The problem with Faucis argument is that the vaccination seems to be at least a year away and with People questioning where their health may come from in the months ahead, that is much more than inconvenient. ABC News confirmed that the vaccination might not be effective until some time in 2022, for another vaccine.

Its an unnecessary amount of time to expect people to risk their jobs, their homes, their businesses and even their lives in some situations.

Do you think the White House will try to come up with a way to bring America back to work?

By what point is the new coronavirus cure of lock-up of whole populations going to affect the nation rather than the disease itself?

Are Americans going to be forced to hide from the sun forever like all theyve worked hard to get out of the window?

President Donald Trump said it was possible on March 23, when he assured reporters that there was a way to protect both life and the economy.

The solution can not be worse than the problem, he said, according to the White House transcript of his remarks.

We need to open up our society because it creates issues that, in my view, may be much more serious, Trump said.

Although the President has refused to heed the recommendations of the countrys leading health professionals as a natural leader, he is well aware of the implications of a continued economic shutdown.

At the end of March, more than 10 million people have now applied for unemployment insurance. Such figures are not supposed to fall, although some analysts forecast that the nation may lose tens of millions more jobs, Politico said.

While most Americans are trying their best to stay home and restrict their contacts with others if not totally removed from the outside world how long can this activity be practical?

Not to disprove Dr. Faucis experience on infectious diseases, but his proposed approach to the epidemic appears to be to plunge the United States into economic ruin on a par with the Great Depression.

In some way, it was encouraging to see Americans change their routines if not their whole lifestyle to pursue recommendations from health professionals on how to save as many lives as possible.

But the actual figures come in show the economic harm done by national shutdowns, and it goes way past inconvenient. At some stage, we have to wonder where the line is, and how many peoples lives will be lost until our solution ends up being worse than the epidemic.

Trump has been exasperated in the media for claiming that economic hardship would lead to high death rates from other problems, such as suicide.

People are going to have massive anxiety and stress, and youre going to get deaths over stuff like this because you have poor economies. Youve got death. Possibly and I say, definitely would be in a far bigger amount than the figures were talking about with respect to the virus, Trump said.

The Associated Press reality check quickly criticized the Presidents comments, saying, There is no indication that suicides would increase significantly if national social-distance rules have closed several businesses and are supposed to cause a spike in unemployment remains in place. But the AP is mistaken, according to several reports connecting unemployment levels to suicide.

The US suicide rate rose significantly in the first year of the Great Depression.

In addition, researchers at Oxford University found more than 10,000 personal suicides correlated with the Great Recession in the United States, Canada and Europe between 2008 and 2010, Forbes wrote.

Only the far-left Washington Post claimed in 2015 that suicide rates are rising and dropping with the economy. While the country is actually planning to commit economic suicide under intense social distancing rules, there are also mental health and drug abuse problems to address.

CNN estimated that 17 percent of unemployed Americans self-reported being addicted to illegal drugs and alcohol in 2015.

Like so many other Americans, Ive been working to be a decent person. A week before my state closed schools, I kept my children home. I stay home with them, and Ive grown very acquainted with the squirrels that live outside my house.

My only question: for how long is this sustainable? What about the people who count on their jobs and go to work to make the ends meet?

Like other Americans, the coronavirus potential fills me with confusion. It hurts my heart to see more of our beloved people succumb every day to this alien virus. But Americans are not, nor have we ever been, citizens motivated by terror.

A man in Los Angeles was arrested this week for paddleboarding on his own according to the Los Angeles Times.

A pastor in Florida was arrested on Monday for keeping church services after going the extra mile to keep his congregation safe.

Its the United States of America. We have always been able to compromise, if necessary. Yet, our patience with scientific professionals and their ever-changing data structures can not be forever.

We have to consider if we are ready to become a citizens who cause our civil liberties to be violated forever.

The solution to our dilemma should not have to be linear, however difficult it might be for Dr. Fauci.

We should give our politicians in Washington the benefit of the doubt by pursuing these prolonged lock-down steps into April, but at some stage we need to find the middle ground, and wed better find it soon.

At some point, our economies will come back to boom before we all risk being the victims of another major crisis.

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Editor's Note: This story is part of a new series on HealthCentral called "Get Your Ph.D.!", which is geared toward people who've got the basics of their condition down and want to up their expertise. Who's ready to go pro?!

Scientists have long known that obesity and psoriasis go hand-in-hand. Like chips and salsa or gin and tonic, if you have one disease, youre likely to have the other. The reason is that a high BMI can lead to inflammation in the body, which increases the risk for developing the challenging skin condition known as psoriasisor worsening existing symptoms if you already have it. Now, a new study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology suggests there may be another mechanism at work: Fat cells themselves may not be the culprits, say researchers, but rather specific types of foods are to blame.

In the study, conducted at the University of California, two groups of mice were fed different diets. Once group got a typical mouse meal; the other one was given a characteristic Western diet (basically, the mouse equivalent of a moderate-to-high fat, processed-sugar diet that mimicked what humans would eat on the same meal plan). The mice kept it up for four weeks, after which scientists took stock of their skin, and found that the creatures whod been chowing on the rodent version of burgers, fries, and shakes showed visible inflammatory changes including redness, scales, and thickened skinthe same hallmark symptoms consistent with human psoriasiseven if the mice hadnt appreciably gained weight.

This is important because many people think that its obesity alone that leads to the increased risk for psoriasis, says senior study author Sam T. Hwang, M.D., Ph.D., department chair and professor of dermatology at the University of California Davis School of Medicine. What this shows is that dietary changes can have a radical impact on the skinso its not just weight that makes a difference for developing psoriasis, but the types of foods you eat.

These so-called Western foods are typically high in saturated fat (butter, red meat, cheese and other dairy products made from whole milk, for example), plant-based oils (such as palm oil, coconut oil, and canola oil) and processed ingredients, like those in many baked goods. The foods also contain high levels of simple sugars, found in fruit juices, soda, candy, and even some whole fruits like apples, bananas, and watermelon.

So, what is it about these foods, common in American diets, that causes inflammation in the first place? Researchers believe they alter the composition of the microbiome, those billions of bacteria living in your gut that help maintain general health and the health of your immune system. Changing the balance of these bacteria through diet may ultimately lead to an inflammatory response related to psoriasis.

To break it down even further (we know, its complicated), high-fat foods cause bile acids from your gall bladder and liver to go into the gut to help with digestion, says Ronald Prussick, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at George Washington University and medical director of the Washington Dermatology Center. These acids then cause bad bacteria to form, leading to inflammation inside the body.

What this all means: The study proposes that what you eat can alter the gut microbiome, causing changes in bile acid levels, which can affect inflammation.

This theory was tested in the study when the researchers administered cholestyramine, a drug used to lower cholesterol (high levels of which are found in fast foods and other western fare), to the mice and found that it helped reduce the risk of skin inflammation. Cholestyramine was shown to bind to bile acids in the intestine and release through the stool, allowing for inflammation to be lowered in the mice, Dr. Hwang says.

Doctors have long maintained that there is no single food that can treat or cure psoriasis, and thats still true. But if you have the skin condition or are at risk for the disease (which is frequently genetically determined), limiting or eliminating foods high in saturated fats and simple sugars can lessen the chances for inflammationand therefore possibly psoriasis, Dr. Hwang says.

What to eat instead? A Mediterranean-type diet, characteristically rich in healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids, is known to help fight inflammation. It includes foods such as olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, fish like salmon and lake trout, and some meat or dairy from grass-fed animals, as well as fresh vegetables and fruits low on the glycemic index, like berries. Switching to a healthier diet can increase the chances of treating psoriasis more effectively, says Dr. Prussick.

Additionally, Dr. Prussick suggests cooking on lower heat by stewing, poaching, boiling, and steaming foods rather than grilling, frying, or toasting them. Heat causes sugars in foods to bind to proteins, known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which causes more inflammation, he says. He also recommends cooking with acids such as vinegar or lemon juice, which can reduce AGEs by 50%.

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Psoriasis and Diet: What's the Link? - HealthCentral.com