Stocking My Kitchen for a Healthy Holiday Season
"The foundation of a healthy lifestyle starts with the choices we make in the kitchen. I've learned that if I stock my kitchen with nutritious foods that are versatile and easy to prepare, eating healthy meals and snacks isn't too difficult even during my busiest weeks." ~ Tina Haupert
The holidays are coming!!! As I shop for Thanksgiving over the next few weeks, I will also begin to stock my kitchen for the holiday season. With increased gatherings, activities, and gift shopping on top of our already busy schedules, it's a time when our healthy diet can seriously suffer! While I am all for enjoying the holiday season and the extra treats it brings, I also like to "make a plan" and stock my kitchen with lots of healthy choices so I don't end up reaching for something less healthy when tired, stressed, or in a hurry.
“Everything you eat impacts your health. The good news is that cooking meals at home gives you total control over what you are consuming. Food should be nourishing, healing and give us energy versus causing us to be bogged down, anxious, bloated and feeling sick and tired. What you cook and how you cook can have an impact – particularly at hectic times of year like the holiday season when you’re already stressed and vulnerable.” - Maggie Berghoff
Here's some of the things on my list (I choose organic whenever possible):
APPETIZERS & SNACKS
Olives from a good quality olive bar
Assorted Roasted Nuts
Trader Joe’s Organic Hummus Dip
Fresh Guacamole & Pico de Gallo
Trader Joe’s Organic Pop Corn with Olive Oil
Garden of Eatin' Sesame Blue Chips
Mary's Gone Cracker's Original Crackers
Simple Mill’s Almond Flour Crackers
BEVERAGES
Herbal Teas: current favorites are Traditional Medicinal's Roasted Dandelion Root Tea or Licorice Root Tea, Allegro Organic Relaxing Chamomile, Organic India's Tulsi Tea, and Numi Turmeric Tea
Bella Rosa (Low Acid, Mycotoxin Free) Organic 1/2 Caf Coffee Beans
Pellegrino Sparkling Water
Martinelli's Organic Sparkling Cider
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Organic Red or White Wine
PANTRY
Whole Grains: Brown, White Basmati, and Wild Rice, Quinoa, Stoneground Corn Meal, Red Mill's Gluten-Free Oats, Organic Brown Rice Pasta, Trader Joe’s Organic Polenta (in a tube)
Legumes: Lentils, Split Peas, Canned Black Beans, Garbanzo Beans, Cannellini Beans, Great Northern Beans, and Refried Pinto Beans
Tomato Sauce, Tomato Paste, Diced Tomatoes, Marinara Sauce
Trader Joe’s Organic Bone Broth (both chicken and beef), Imagine Organic Vegetarian No-Chicken Broth
Canned Alaskan Wild Salmon
Artichoke Hearts
Pumpkin Puree
Trader Joe’s or Native Forest Organic Coconut milk (no guar gum)
Dried: Shredded Coconut, Raisins, Apples, Cranberries, Tomatoes
Medjool Dates
Coconut Sugar
Raw Honey
Molasses
Trader Joe’s Organic Stevia powder
Nutrabiotic Organic Rice Protein Powder, Whole Foods Organic Pea Protein Powder, Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
Divine Organics Raw Cacao
Baking Powder, Baking Soda
Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract
100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Olive Oil Non-Stick Cooking Spray (no propellants)
Avocado Oil
Coconut Oil
Ghee
Bragg's Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar
Red Wine Vinegar
Tamari Soy Sauce
Squashes: Butternut, Spaghetti, Acorn, etc.
Sweet potatoes, Russet potatoes
Onions & Shallots
Garlic
Spices, herbs, sea salt
REFRIGERATOR
Raw nuts & seeds: Cashews, Almonds, Pecans, Walnuts, Pine nuts, Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Flax Seeds, Chia Seeds
Almond Butter, Peanut Butter
Organic Pastured Eggs
Goat Cheese Crumbles, Parmesan Cheese
Three Trees Organic Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
Whole Foods Organic Corn Tortillas
Pesto Sauce
Tahini Sauce
Amy’s Organic Red Wine & Olive Oil Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
Organic Butter, unsalted
Avocado Oil Mayonnaise
Maple Syrup
Assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables, and greens
FREEZER
An assortment of fish and meats (purchased generally when on sale)
Frozen Fruits for smoothies
Frozen Vegetables
Trader Joe’s Organic Brown Rice and Organic Quinoa (microwavable pouches)
An assortment of homemade soups or stews in individual portion containers
(You may notice that there aren't any sweets listed above. Personally, I simply can't have sweets in the house and NOT overeat them, so I generally purchase or make desserts as special occasion treats only. )
The holiday season can be a difficult time to make nutritious choices and keep up your healthy habits. It’s easy to indulge in all the goodies that are available this time of year. Be choosy instead. What foods do you really enjoy? Promise yourself that you will have a few favorites over the holidays and aim to make nutritious choices the rest of the time.