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’ll 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’m all for enjoying the holiday season and the extra treats it brings, I also like to plan ahead and stock my kitchen with lots of healthy choices so I don't end up reaching for something less than healthy when tired, stressed, or in a hurry or when a spontaneous get together happens.
“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
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 or Lemon Balm, Allegro Organic Relaxing Chamomile, Whole Foods Decaf Green Tea, and Numi Turmeric Tea
Bella Rosa (Low Acid, Mycotoxin Free) Organic Coffee - I like French Roast!
Pellegrino Sparkling Water
Martinelli's Organic Sparkling Cider
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Organic Red or White Wine
Eggnog
Brandy
PANTRY
Whole Grains: Brown, White Basmati, and Wild Rice, Quinoa, , Gluten-Free Oats, Granola, Brown Rice Pasta, Polenta (in a tube)
Dried: Shredded Coconut, Raisins, Cranberries, Dates, Figs, Tomatoes
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
Vegetable Broth, Chicken Broth, and Bone broth (both chicken and beef)
Canned Alaskan Wild Salmon and Safe Catch Tuna
Artichoke Hearts
Pumpkin Puree
Applesauce
Coconut milk (no guar gum)
Sweeteners: Coconut Sugar, Raw Honey, Stevia powder
Soy Milk
Brown Rice Protein Powder, Pea Protein Powder, Collagen Peptides
Baking: Divine Organics Raw Cacao, 72% Dark Chocolate Chips, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Vanilla Extract, Almond Extract, Almond Flour, Wheat Flour, Cornmeal
100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil, Toasted Sesame Oil, Ghee
Bragg's Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar, Red Wine Vinegar
Tamari Soy Sauce, Coconut Aminos
Squashes: Butternut, Spaghetti, Acorn, etc.
Sweet potatoes, White Potatoes
Onions, Shallots, & Garlic
Spices, herbs, sea salt, pepper
Emergency water supply
REFRIGERATOR
Raw nuts & seeds: Cashews, Almonds, Pecans, Walnuts, Pine nuts, Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds
Almond Butter, Peanut Butter
Organic Pastured Eggs
Goat Cheese Crumbles, Parmesan Cheese
Greek Yogurt, Cottage Cheese
Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
Ezekiel Sprouted Grain Tortillas
Turkey Breast slices (no nitrates or nitrites)
Pesto Sauce
Guacamole (individual serving containers)
Primal Kitchen Salad Dressings
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
Frozen Brown Rice
An assortment of homemade soups or stews in individual portion containers
(You may notice that there aren't any sweets or breads listed above. Personally, I simply can't have these in my house and NOT overeat them, so I generally purchase or prepare them as special occasion treats only. )
And if you’re not sure if an item is “healthy”, you can download the Bobby Approved app , scan your item, and it will let you know. Plus if it’s not, it will tell you why and give you suggestions for a better option. I highly recommend it!
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.