Keep these nutritious fridge and freezer staples on hand so you could reach for them anytime.
Here are the top healthy fridge and freezer items tostock up on at the grocery storeand keep on hand.
Buy milk in opaque containers to protect it from light, which can reduce the vitamin content.
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Another tip:Dont store your milk on the refrigerator door!
Yogurt-based dips like tzatziki are fantastic for an easy, healthy snack option.
Use for sweet and savory dishes, from lasagna to a creamy veggie dip.
Butter
Is butter a superfood?
But whats a happy kitchen without butter?
Aged Cheddar and Parmigiano-Reggiano are good varieties in the cheese drawer for sandwiches and dish-topping.
The shells may look impermeable, but they are covered with tiny holes that can absorb odors and flavors.
(Add broth to a warm skillet with the vegetables; cover and cook until tender.)
you might alsoupgrade boxed chicken brothwith some fresh additions.
Ikeep the good onesin a paper towel-lined airtight tupperware.
Perfect when you want to get a crisp, healthy salad on the table fast.
Combine them with more economical lettuce, such as iceberg, as needed.
Leftovers
Spoon leftoverseven from take-outinto amicrowave-safe glass or plastic container.
Some take-out trays and yogurt tubs are made from plastic that can leach chemicals into food at high temperatures.
Avoid reheating in plastic containers that aren’t designated microwave-safe.
This high-fiber and -protein snack will keep the hangriest folks satisfied until mealtime.
Almond butter and tahini, a rich, toasty sesame butter/paste are also wonderful.
Theyre not only great for snacks, but for sauces, dressings, and marinades, Manian says.
Plus, its great for topping salads, tacos, burgers, sandwiches, and so much more.
A little goes a long way, and with a few dashes, any plate is instantly transformed.
Tabasco sauce, Cholula, and Frank’s RedHot are good starter bottles.
A jar of chili crisp or chili crunch is nice to have, too.
Miso Paste
Miso paste is a nice addition as well, Manian suggests.
Bonus: It lasts forup to a yearwhen covered, so youll be set for a while.
Mayonnaise
Go for low-fat mayonnaise rather than the low-cholesterol kind.
Alternatively, trymaking homemade mayonnaise!
The germ contains some fat.
And, like cooking oils, that fat can oxidize at room temperature.
Nuts and Seeds
Another freezer storage surprise for many: nuts, seeds, and nut flours!
These beauties are all loaded with antioxidants and contain natural, monounsaturated fats that are excellent for you.
When bananas get too speckled to pack in lunch bags, throw them into the freezer whole and unpeeled.
The skins will blacken, but the fruit will stay sweet and ripe inside.
Plus, frozen spinach is another sneaky superfood smoothie ingredient, too.