Step 3 to Mealtime Success: Stock Your Home for Success

Here is what I know – when I have the right foods on hand, my family eats a lot healthier.  We make stirfries, we make smoothies, we make vegetables to go along with our meal – all because we have them in the house.  Same thing goes for low nutrition foods (snacks that don’t have many nutrients) – when that is what you see, that is what you eat.  Instead of keeping fruits and vegetables out of sight, out of mind – keep them in your line of vision so you remember to use them at each meal.  Keep them in the refrigerator on the shelf you look at first instead of in the crisper drawer.  Keep them on the top in the freezer so when you open the door, you notice them right away.  Stocking your home for success means that you have the right ingredients on hand to make healthy meals, especially fruits and veggies since they can be all too frequently left out of the meal, yet they are so important.  They give us nutrients we are often missing, like potassium and fiber.  And they help keep us fuller longer.  Here are a few tips:

• Cut up your vegetables as soon as you get home from the grocery store and keep them in a veggie tray.  This way you can pull it out through the week and use what you have rather than throwing them away.
• Have an immersion blender on hand to make quick smoothies in a matter of just 5 minutes.  Just mix and rinse in hot water.  Easiest thing ever to get more fruits and veggies in your day.

• Stock your freezer with lots of fruits and vegetables.  And a variety – you can use them in smoothies, sauces, side dishes, soups, stews and more.  Having them on hand means you never have an excuse to not include them with your meal.  A variety is important because each color brings along different nutrients.

• And having great cookbooks is essential.  Make sure you have cookbooks that are easy to use, incorporate the kids, have a lot of pictures (I am a visual person) and have great recipes.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Related Posts:

Mealtime Success Step 1

Mealtime Success Step 2