One of the effects of the COVID-19 nationwide lockdown resulted in many of us stocking our homes up with a large variety of fruits, vegetables, pulses, grains and more. With the onset of monsoons and the continuing lockdown, food storage becomes an integral part of staying healthy and keeping our immunity up, as the nutritional value of the food products diminish in unfavourable storage conditions

Here are some tips to store food accurately during the monsoons:

Leafy Greens

One of the quickest food categories to go bad during this season are leafy greens! While it is ideal to avoid certain foods during monsoons, leafy greens being one of them, it is also important to clean, wash and store them properly as they wilt and slimy within days of purchase. The right way to store them would be to wash and rinse them in cold water and put them in the fridge in a box. Avoid storing them in plastic. 

Breads

Fungus is highly active during the monsoons. Therefore, breads at home are more likely to turn mouldy or attract fungus faster in the monsoons than other seasons. Breads should be stored in airtight containers, and kept in refrigerators. Try and consume it within 2-3 days. 

Spices 

Moisture in the air is at its peak during this season, which makes powders like sugar, salt and other spices wet. One way to avoid this would be adding a little bit of roasted, uncooked rice in the powders and store them in airtight containers. 

Pulses, Grains and Flours

The possibility of bugs and insects infesting flours and pulses is high during monsoons, therefore it is important to store them in glass jars, in the refrigerator so stop them from infesting. Adding dried neem leaves in the mix can prevent bugs and insects. 

Cook as much as you can consume; avoid eating leftovers. Additionally, leaving food open and unattended is also not a feasible option during the season, at the risk of contamination, due to excessive amounts of flies in the air.

Dharana Wellness Centre, a wellness retreat near Mumbai, focuses on holistic health which includes physical, mental and spiritual balance. One of the main pillars of this eco wellness retreat lies in the farm-to-table food philosophy, which encourages an organic approach to consuming food. Fresh produce is picked from the organic farm and is made with slow-cooking techniques. As an Ayurvedic healing center in India, Dharana combines the use of an integrative, modern approach for holistic health with Modern diagnostics with traditional practices like Yoga and Ayurveda to ensure a sustainable wellness journey.