Saturday, December 28, 2013

Health Advice: Pantry Must-Haves

Q: Grocery shopping can be overwhelming.  It's hard to choose what to cook each week and than what to do to spice up all the leftovers.  I want to ensure I have basic staple foods on hand to provide variety for our  weekday meals.  Any suggestions?

A:  Cooking can be a fun experience and also stressful.  We eat with our eyes so ensuring you have some basic staple foods in your pantry will help to spice up leftover chicken from Sunday's meal.  Here are some ways to eat healthy in a pinch:

  • Quinoa:  Is a gluten-free, cholesterol-free whole grain and complete protein (seed).  It takes about 10-15 minutes to cook and tastes great on its own or an added punch to any meal.  Also vegetarian/vegan friendly.
  • Avocado: good source of fiber, potassium and vitamins such as C and K.  Can buy them firm and wait till they ripen otherwise ensure they are soft to the touch if needing to use same day.
    • Add it on salads, sandwiches/wraps, burgers, Mexican dishes, guacamole/dips, bean soups, use in place of Mayonnaise
    • Shrimp and Avocado Salad

  • Nuts: almonds, cashews, walnuts, pine nuts, pistachios
  • Dried fruits: such as cranberries, raisins, dates, apricots, plums, figs
    • Great for snacking on instead of dessert, add onto salads, sandwiches/wraps, tail mix, compotes, add into cottage cheese/yogurt
    • Dried Fruit Compote
  • Spices: cinnamon, garlic, curry powder, olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, oregano, parsley, nutmeg, cumin, mint, basil, cilantro, onion
    • Marinades, salad dressings, added flavor, cultural flair to meats, baking breads/muffins
Plan out your weekday meals and don't be afraid to get creative!