Fill Your Kitchen With Healthy Grocery Items
By Rachel Carver
Grocery shopping can seem daunting when you're trying to fill your kitchen with healthy food. You focus on fresh vegetables, fruit, and protein. These items can help you make dietary changes.
However, a variety of healthy food staples can keep you on the right track. Read on for some new items to add to your grocery list.
Frozen Berries
Frozen berries can be used during any season. They are tasty when you buy them fresh in the summer. But frozen berries go through a flash-freezing process, keeping all of the freshness intact. Berries only go through this freezing process at the peak of their ripeness and freshness. Frozen berries last longer than fresh berries.
Blend frozen berries in smoothies. Add them to your next batch of pancakes.
Seasoning
A good seasoning can turn an average meal into a great one. Most store labels will have guides, which give suggestions of what food will work best with the jar ingredients. Incorporating seasonings into your cooking is an easy dietary change to start with.
Avoid seasonings with MSG and other harmful compounds. Use seasonings low in sodium whenever possible. Spend some time in your store's spice section, or do some online research to make your own seasoning.
Dry Cereal
Low-carb diets and other trends have given cereal a bad reputation. However, since 95 percent of Americans do not get enough fiber, dry cereal is a great breakfast option. In addition to fiber, cereal comes packed with many important micronutrients. Dry cereal is also crunchy, which is a bonus for many of us.
Look for some non-organic cereal during your next shopping trip. These cereals are fortified, and organic cereals are not. The essential nutrients in fortified cereals and grains are hard to find in other foods. Choose a cereal low in sugar and added sugar. Multigrain Cheerios and Fiber One are two good options to try.
Tahini
Tahini is packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and protective health properties. This condiment is a great addition to your kitchen because it can be used in many ways. Add some tahini to your vegetable or grain bowl sauce.
The Bottom Line
Foods such as beans, fruits, and lean protein are important to any balanced diet. But there are many creative ways to keep your food tasty and fun. Eat some nutrient-rich dry cereal with milk for breakfast on the weekends when you have some extra time. Experiment with frozen berry smoothies until you find your favorite. Successful grocery store trips can keep you on track with your fitness goals.
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