The winter months keep us busy, and without many farmer's markets available with fresh, local produce, finding options for fresh and healthy food can seem tricky.
Also, due to the holiday hustle and bustle, preparing healthy meals can be a challenge especially when you have dietary restrictions.
To keep your fridge focused on healthy options be sure to add these items to your shopping list.
Frozen doesn't just have to be a movie
Frozen vegetables and fruits are your friends, they are easy to store and have a long freezer life. Use them in stir-fries, soups, and smoothies without the hassle of cleaning and chopping. As a bonus, frozen produce provides similar antioxidants and nutrients as fresh produce.
Purchase pre-prepped and save yourself time
Buy pre-washed green leafy vegetables like spinach, spring mix, and kale. Pre-chopped squashes, bell peppers, and shredded cabbage are available at many stores.
Glass jarred and canned foods like marinara sauce, pasta sauce, olives, salsa, sauerkraut, kimchi, wild salmon, and artichokes, and of course canned beans and lentils make great meal components too!
To learn more about how we use Mason Jars to prep and store our favorite combinations, check out this article on how Mason Jars are our kitchen essential.
Frozen loafs of healthy breads are better than fresh
While whole grains are preferable to refined flour products, if you include bread in your diet, go for commercially available frozen sprouted whole-grain bread to get that extra protein and antioxidant action.
It is also advisable to check the ingredients and see what additives (read: “non-foods”) are hiding in your bread. One of our favorites is from the company Food For Life: foodforlife.com/products/breads.
Dazzle your fridge with dips and spreads
When we think of dips and spreads for those veggie sticks or that slice of bread, the first things that pop into our mind are peanut butter or cream cheese.
While peanut butter is fine, also explore almond, cashew, and sunflower seed butter to get a variety of nuts, seeds, and good fats!
Organic hummus and pre-made guacamole are great spreads, too, that you can purchase in small serving-sized cups.