Have you ever opened your refrigerator or freezer only to find jars of salsa and cheese dip, leftover pizza, cans of soda, and TV dinners? It’s not always easy keeping only healthy foods on hand, especially if you’re single and you eat out a lot. But if you do cook at home, there are healthier food choices that you can stock your refrigerator and freezer with for better eating.
Butter and Margarine: If you enjoy real butter, you should be aware to use it in moderation. And when choosing margarine, choose margarines that are trans-fat free.
Canola Oil and Olive Oil: These two oils last longer when stored in the refrigerator. When these oils are left at room temperature, exposed to heat and light, they oxidize. Oils that oxidize may promote free radicals.
Cheese: Hard and sharp cheeses, like cheddar, contain less fat and are less expensive than soft cheeses.
Chicken Broth: Use low-sodium chicken broth when cooking, in place of butter and oil.
Eggs: Eggs should be stored on the lower shelves of the refrigerator in order to prevent a loss of moisture.
Frozen Foods: Instead of buying frozen foods that may be high in sodium, make your own meals for freezing. When you’re in control of what ingredients go into your meals, you can enjoy better eating.
Mayonnaise: Choose low-fat mayonnaise.
Meats: Buy leaner cuts of beef, such as London broil, round tip steak, or stew meat. And buy turkey bacon instead of pork bacon.
Milk: Buy 1% milk instead of 2% or whole.
Produce: Always keep fresh produce in the crisper bins for longer shelf lives. And if you buy packaged salads, you should buy single bags of greens, such as baby spinach, instead of mixed greens. Mixed greens may contain greens that spoil sooner than others, which in turn can spoil the other greens.