How to Create a Healthier Pantry
Written by Kathryn Savage
Given the option between chocolate cake and broccoli I'd opt for cake of course.
Working from home, when hunger pangs strike I will turn to my kitchen with all the relish of a cat nip crazed kitten. Fridge beware, I must have your contents. That is why it's especially helpful to remember your not going to eat it unless you buy it at the grocery store. All our meal choices start at the same place. What to do next time you venture into the land of fresh, fish and chocolaty delicious? Here are five tips for stocking up and staying healthy. One brown bag at a time.
Plan it
Make a weekly meal plan. Plan something new, fun and exciting to cook one night to avoid the pitfalls of dietary boredom and culinary routine!
yummy.com
Download a few good recipes before you go to the grocery store. Pile up on farafel pasta to have on hand when the inspiration to pair it with vodka sauce strikes. Reading some recipe blogs and having a few affordable, self-life-friendly ingredients like various pastas, sauces, chutneys and oils on hand, makes inventive cooking a option any time, even if the bulk of your grocery list, like mine, consists of the same old same old's.
Don’t forget color!
When you hit the produce aisle buy a variety of various colored foods to get a good nutritional balance.
Snack ahead
Have a snack before you hit the store so you are not famished.
Plan for the 4 o’clock slump
Don’t obsess over every meal and make master list after master list of meal choices but take a second, breath, pause and think about your weaknesses - is it that 4 o'clock slump that sends you to the candy machine? What are some good snacks you can bring with you to the job? Bring a bag of roasted salted pistachios to work. How about hummus and baked pita chips? Is it late night snacking? What are some healthy late night options. Instead of entering the land of self loathing every time you sneak to the fridge when Conan is on, just say, ok, for now I really like to eat at night. But I'm not going to have a bag of M&M’s, a choice Pink Lady organic apple (perfectly crisp and sweet) sliced up will do.
So next time you shop plan for the weekly meal highs and lows, strategize breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner ideas and you will be sure to have great healthy snacks on hand at all times!
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