I posted this picture (below) on Instagram a couple of weeks ago. It’s a photo of our fridge right after grocery shopping, and it makes me ridiculously happy to see so many wonderful, tasty and healthy foods right at my fingertips.
While there are so many beauty bloggers and lifestyle bloggers showing us “what’s in their makeup bag” and “what’s in their purse”, I figured the cliche for nutrition/health bloggers is to show everyone what’s in our fridge. So here you are. But today I want to go a step further and talk about my fridge staples. What do I have in my fridge on an ongoing basis to set myself up for healthy-eating success?
*Yes, there is beer in my fridge. Along with all the other nutritious and healthy things, we do allow ourselves the ability to indulge every once in a while. We are human, promise ;).
Want to eat healthy? Here are my top 10 fridge staples for healthy eating.
1 | Stir fry veggies: Basically this is my category for any veggies that would do very well in a stir fry. I’m often looking for quick dinner ideas, and many nights this involves a stir fry of some sort. Chop up some great veggies, pan-fry them with some coconut oil an spices, and voila! A great, veggie-tastic side-dish or veggie-based topping for a quinoa or brown rice stir fry – check here to see my simple stir-fry formula! My go-to veggies are: cauliflower, asparagus, broccoli, red peppers, leeks and carrots. Most of these also double up as great raw veggies or veggies to roast in the oven. Yum!
2 | Kale and leafy greens: These vegetables are great for salads or adding to smoothies for a good burst of quality nutrients. I really enjoy kale sautéed with a little bit of garlic, so I’ve been preparing this alongside my morning eggs lately. I try to buy all of my leafy greens organic, as kale is an honourable mention in this year’s EWG’s dirty dozen list. I don’t want a side of pesticides with my kale, thanks.
3 | Variety of fruit: Next time you get a sugar craving, don’t go for the cookie jar. Have fresh fruit instead! At the beginning, your tastebuds will be all “What?! This isn’t sugar…” but I promise you, one week without refined sugars and apples, strawberries, and even oranges will be treats for your tastebuds. Get yourself used to natural sugars – they’re much better for your body since they are accompanied by the fibre and nutrients that come with the fruits themselves.
4 | Probiotics: I take a daily probiotic right after dinner to keep my gut flora happy! A happy gut means happy digestion, and happy digestion means a happy Kelly! For real though, get a good quality probiotic and take it daily. Even if you don’t feel a difference right away, your gut will thank you down the road when you’ve finally worked up to a great bacteria balance.
5 | Fermented foods: Sort of along the same lines as probiotics, fermented foods also encourage a positive gut flora! They’re great for your digestion and are often lacking in the standard american diet. To be honest, I don’t know many people who incorporate sauerkraut, kimchi or miso into their daily diet. What people don’t realize is fermented foods are powerhouses of beneficial bacteria and nutrients that our bodies thrive on! Along with your probiotics, this helps keep your gut flora in check. In my fridge, I currently have some sauerkraut and some Genuine Health greens+ fermented greens powder for those days when I need an extra boost.
6 | Nuts and seeds: I keep most of my nuts and seeds in the fridge because they last longer that way. Nuts and seeds are so essential to a healthy eating routine, but not only to eat on their own. I use my chia seeds and hemp hearts daily in smoothies and other recipes. I make my own nut milks with almonds and cashews, or my own seed milk with hemp hearts. You can also make yourself some homemade snacks (like these matcha protein balls) or top your salad with nuts and seeds. They are filled with lots of healthy fats and protein. The nuts and seeds that I currently have in my fridge include chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp hearts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews and hazelnuts. I basically have some of everything!
7 | Organic eggs (buy local, pasture-raised organic eggs if you can): High quality protein is essential at breakfast time. When you eat a high-protein breakfast, you will stay fuller for longer, experience less sugar cravings, and have more energy for the day ahead. I make this happen by eating a couple of eggs in the morning along with some sautéed veggies. The other day I threw it in a wrap and it was pretty freaking awesome. For vegetarians or vegans who don’t consume eggs, organic and fermented soy products like tempeh can be a great occasional high-protein alternative.
8 | Nut butters: Ahhhh nut butters. The quick and easy snack when there’s nothing else in the house. I grab a few gluten-free, seed-based crackers and dip them right into my almond butter. It’s filling and nutritious and obviously super tasty. Some other great nut butter combos include nut butter + apples, nut butter + bananas, nut butter + sprouted grains toast, and the list goes on! There are so many tasty kinds of nut butters out there. Right now I have some sunflower seed butter in my pantry that I’m dying to try…
9 | Leftovers: Yes, leftovers are always mandatory! Why? Because if you’re on the go, or if you have a short window of time to eat, leftovers leave you with no excuse. I always bring dinner leftovers to work for lunch the following day. It saves me from spending money at the cafeteria, where I don’t even know what is put in the food. Money and health saved? Check!
10 | Homemade energy balls or snack bars: Like I mentioned above, nuts and seeds are essential to make awesome on-the-go snacks like homemade energy balls, protein squares and more. I like to keep some homemade snacks in my fridge or freezer at all times for busy days. We all know those happen, and sometimes it’s hard to find a quick, healthy and portable snack. Enter homemade energy balls and/or snack bars. Looking for a recipe? Try my matcha-powered energy balls or my nut butter balls!
What do you stock your fridge with? Do you set yourself up for healthy-eating success?
Need some healthy inspiration on what to fill your pantry and fridge with? Get access to my Free Resource Library here and check out my printables!
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