I intend to be well supplied with food

Public health nutritionist Bronwen King talks about her pandemic plans:

If pandemic influenza strikes I intend to hole up either at home or at our bach. I believe isolation is the best defence and have prepared for that eventuality.

Our kit is stocked with masks (of the heavy-duty dust variety), disposable gloves, soap, alcohol-based wipes, paracetamol, disinfectant, tissues and toilet paper.

We have filled the gas bottle on the barbecue and found out how to decant more gas from the bigger gas bottles supplying our heater should the barbecue supply dry out.

Above all, I intend to be well supplied with food. This is important to me, not only as a nutritionist, but because I also believe good food is fundamental to mental health and well-being.

My pantry has always been overstocked. Coming from a large family, I have difficulty planning food for anything less than the masses. For this reason, I have not had to do much extra shopping to prepare for pandemic influenza.

Firstly, I have the staples - the foundation foods for survival. They include flour, sugar, yeast for bread making, rice, pasta, rolled oats, milk powder and a wide variety of dried legumes (chick-peas, lentils, black-eyed beans etc).

Next I have shelves packed full of canned foods. Essentials here include canned tuna, salmon, tomatoes, corn (creamed, whole kernel and baby), beetroot, mushrooms, asparagus, baked beans, chilli beans plus other canned versions of legumes (chick-peas, four bean mix etc). Then there are dried foods, particularly dried fruit and vegetables.

For flavour and interest, I have a wide variety of spices and sauces.

I am lucky to have a freezer stocked with meat and fish. I intend maintaining stocks there and hope that electricity supplies continue.

I am banking on the hope that if the threat of pandemic influenza does become a reality there will be some warning. That is when I will dash out and buy last minute items such as cheese, salami and bacon as well as the longer-lasting fruit and vegetables like potatoes, kumara, onions, pumpkin, apples and pears.

Courtesy of The Press