Get Healthy with Deanna: Stock your pantry with these healthy items

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Stock your pantry with these healthy items

Making smart food choices is easy when you're prepared.
Having healthy go-to options at home is essential for weight-loss success. Keep these smart choices on hand for fast and flavorful meals and snacks.
Fruits and vegetables

Fresh fruits
Fresh vegetables
Pre-cut fresh vegetables
Salad in a bag
Frozen fruits

Frozen vegetables (no sauce)
Frozen chopped onion and green peppers
Canned fruits (packed in their own juice or water)
Dried fruit
Low-sodium, low-fat pasta; pizza and tomato sauces
Canned diced tomatoes
100 percent fruit juice, including calcium-fortified (but limit juice intake to 4 ounces a day)

Dairy

Fat-free or 1 percent milk
Low-fat or fat-free yogurt
Low-fat or fat-free cheese
Frozen yogurt or fruit sorbet

Whole grains

Whole-grain breakfast cereal
Rice: brown (regular and instant), wild, blends
Oatmeal
Whole-grain bread
Whole-grain pita bread
Whole-grain pasta
Whole-grain crackers
Low-fat microwave popcorn

Protein

Low-fat refried beans
Black, kidney or navy beans
Low-sodium water-packed tuna
Other fish with omega-3 fatty acids
Skinless white-meat poultry
Soy cheese
Tofu
Dry-roasted nuts
Individually frozen skinless chicken breasts
Individually frozen salmon, cod or other fish
Frozen shrimp or scallops
Frozen vegetable burgers

Cooking staples

Fresh garlic and onions
Olive oil
Canola oil
Red wine and/or balsamic vinegar
Fat-free cooking spray

As you can see, eating well at home doesn't require expensive or unusual ingredients, and you certainly don't have to be a master chef. Whole-wheat pasta tossed with loads of veggies, salads, and whole-grain wraps or quesadillas are all easy meal options. You can even put together a snack plate and include your favorite raw veggies, nuts and healthy dips, like hummus.