If you’re constantly stopping at the grocery in San Antonio, TX, to pick up odds and ends to make your meal, consider stocking up for a while. You’ll have a healthier home if you stock up on nutritious food staples. It can be comforting in these crazy times to have several weeks of healthy meal ingredients available. It also can save money when you purchase the food on sale, especially with increasing prices.
Frozen fruits and vegetables are healthier than fresh and canned are almost as nutritious.
Frozen fruits and vegetables are picked at peak ripeness and immediately frozen, unlike fresh ones that are picked early, shipped, and then set on the shelf for a while. They don’t have the long shelf life of canned goods but do have a far longer one than fresh produce. If you’re purchasing canned goods, buy fruits and vegetables without any additives like sugar or salt. Fruit packed in its own juice is one example. If you find a great deal on canned green beans but notice they contain salt, you can rinse them before you use them. Pour the beans into a strainer and rinse well with water. You can save money and always have the ingredients for healthy meals ready.
Keep a vegetarian source of protein always on hand.
Vegetarian protein sources, like beans and lentils, are convenient with a long shelf life. They’re a budget-friendly alternative to meat, poultry, and fish. If you’re storing them longer than three months, use Mason jars for three years, vacuum sealers for five years plus, or mylar bags or freezer storage for up to 25 years. Date your jars or bags and rotate the new supply to the back, using the older options first. They’re a good protein, magnesium, iron, and vitamin B source.
Have a source of whole grains on hand like brown rice, oats, and quinoa.
If you store whole grains in tightly sealed containers, like Mason jars, they can last approximately a year. Store them like dried beans, away from heat and moisture. Quinoa is a good protein source used in salads or as a main dish. Choose brown rice or wild rice as the healthiest options. Also, nuts and seeds are stored best in the freezer, vacuum-packed, or in Mason jars.
- Have canned mackerel, salmon, or tuna on hand to use in a pinch. Choose the water-packed options. Nut butter is another good protein source that has a longer shelf life. Make sure it only contains one ingredient—nuts.
- Keep herbs and condiments on hand, particularly apple cider vinegar for salad dressing and pickling. Distilled vinegar makes excellent cleaning products.
- Use the freezer to store leftovers and fresh meat. Pack it properly, store it for up to a year. You can store fresh fish for up to five months. Date any food you freeze.
- Hard cheese freezes well and has about a 6 to 9-month shelf life before you notice a change in taste and texture. Soft cheese does not due to the high moisture content. Shredded lasts three months in the freezer.
For more information, contact us today at Iron Fit San Antonio