Eating Healthy With a Limited Pantry

By Randi Morse

Eating fresh, healthy food is vital for those who want to live a healthy lifestyle. Healthy food can improve your energy level and can help you maintain a healthy weight. But life can be insanely busy and there are often times when you can't get to the grocery store to get fresh produce. Are there ways that you can eat healthy if you aren't able to get to the store for a while?

Look to Staples

If you can't get to the grocery store often it's important to make sure that you have a number of staples in your home. In the food world, staples are ingredients that you can use as a base, or accompaniment, for any dish, and they tend to be things that can last a long time. Rice is a great example of a staple. Rice can be dressed up with tons of meat and veggies added to it, or it can be eaten plain and served next to your main protein. Staples include things like:

• Rice
• Beans
• Dry pasta
• Canned beans
• Canned soups
• Peanut butter

While it is true that some of these staples have a bit more sodium than you would have if you had fresh ingredients, most of them are fairly healthy, especially if you're dealing with a limited ingredient list.

Go Frozen

Investing in a deep freezer is a great idea for those who are unable to get to the store regularly. A deep freezer will allow you to keep a wide array of different frozen foods available. One great thing about frozen vegetables is that they keep almost the exact same amount of nutrients as fresh vegetables do. Frozen veggies can last a very long time in the freezer and can be used in the exact same way as fresh vegetables. 

Home Delivery

Another option is to look for home produce delivery. There are a number of companies who specialize in providing fresh produce delivered straight to your home. A quick search engine check will show you which programs are available for the area you live in. 

Having staples and frozen foods can be all that you need to create healthy dishes. Don't limit yourself simply because you don't have quick access to your local grocery store. Try thinking outside the box and who knows what kind of amazing meals you'll come up with!

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Mesquite, Tex.