How to Stock the Refrigerator

How do you balance good nutrition with a hectic lifestyle? By having nutritious foods readily available. For anyone wishing to live a healthy life, having a stocked refrigerator is a must. Read on and get the low down on how to simplify your cooking needs.

Instructions

1. Think about your cooking needs. Consider how often you cook, what types of foods you (and your family) enjoy, your nutrition needs and the size of your refrigerator. Knowing the answers to these questions will allow you to make educated decisions while visiting the grocery store.

2. Make sure you have the following items on hand: cheese, milk, eggs, cottage cheese, sour cream, yogurt, lettuce, potatoes, carrots, apples, bananas and oranges. Such food items will provide nutritious options to any meal.

3. Spice up your meals by having these condiments: low fat salad dressing, lemon juice, mustard, catsup, barbeque sauce, pickles, hot sauce, soy sauce, green peppers and onions.

4. Be prepared for quick and easy meals by having these items in stock: luncheon meat (for quick sandwiches), pita bread/hummus (instant nutritious snack), biscuits and rolls (easy way to dress up any meal), tortillas (put some cheese and meat in for an easy snack), bagged salads and vegetables (quick and nutritious) and V8 juice (for on-the-go nutrition).

5. Stock your freezer section with nutritious options such as lean meats (ground or roast), fish, poultry, frozen veggies, sorbet and bagels.

6. Pay close attention to the "sell by" and "use by" dates on your food items. Try to buy items as far from the "sell by" date as possible. In addition, check your refrigerator monthly for items that are past their due date.