Ever been tempted to ask your Physician, or Nutrition Specialist what they keep in their kitchens? After all, they are the ones giving you advice on how to lose weight & stay healthy, right? And when it comes to staying on track with a diet plan, having the right items on hand is essential. Today is that day! Take a peek below at some of the common items you’ll find in our kitchens (and a few that you won’t).
Refrigerator: High quality proteins like greek yogurt, low fat cheeses, eggs, and hummus. A nice variety of fresh fruits & vegetables including leafy greens, carrots, peppers, berries, ripe melon, and avocado. Some refreshing & hydrating drinks like water with fruit and herbs, and unsweetened decaf iced tea (what you won’t see: soda or other sweetened beverages).
Freezer: Frozen lean proteins like chicken breasts, ground turkey, and seafood like salmon or shrimp. Also very handy are steamer bags of frozen vegetables to make meal prep a breeze (what you won’t see: high-fat processed meals like frozen pizza or ice cream).
Counter/Cabinets: Cooking essentials like garlic cloves, onions, dry seasonings, healthy oils like olive oil, canola oil, and coconut oil spray. Room-temperature friendly produce like bananas, tomatoes (yes, these lose flavor in the fridge!), and squash.(what you won’t see, bowls of candy or cookie jars that make sugary snacks too easily accessible)
Pantry: More quality proteins like canned or dried beans and lentils, protein supplements, and canned tuna, salmon, or chicken. A few whole grain starches like quinoa, brown rice, old fashioned oats, or steel cut oats. Easy healthy snacks and toppers like almonds, pistachios, and pumpkin seeds. Healthy cooking essentials like low sodium broths, canned tomato sauce, canned veggies including diced tomatoes (what you won’t see: white pasta, bags of chips, or sweetened cereals).
Just as important as having these healthy options available, is making sure that you don’t sabotage yourself by keeping less healthy options too handy. If you have a weakness for potato chips, don’t tempt yourself daily by keeping a bag in your pantry! For more tips, speak with a Nutrition Specialist today & clean up that kitchen.
