What's in Your Fridge?

I'm so excited to be partnering with the wonderful team at Chelan Fresh Marketing. Read on to see what we're up to!

In a recent post, I shared this simple piece of advice:

“If you stock your kitchen with donuts and soda, you’ll probably eat or drink them. And if you stock your kitchen with pre-cut veggies, fruit, and tea you’ll be more likely to eat or drink those, too.”

That’s why I’ve recently partnered with the wonderful team at Chelan Fresh Marketing to see what’s in your fridge. I’ll be dishing out my fun, light-hearted yet expert opinion on the state of your fridge with tips for better health and ideas to make your day easier!

It's easy – just pin a pic of your fridge using the hashtag #ChelanFresh. We’ll pin it to our group board here and then you can see how your fridge ranks!

Here’s an example of a not-so-healthy fridge (I gave it a 2 out of 10 on the Pinterest board here). Read the fun evaluation below to get a few ideas for how you can stock your own fridge just a little bit healthier.

It looks like this fridge may be in need of a makeover! But isn’t there something fun and exciting about embarking on a new project? The types of foods in this refrigerator could certainly use a push in a healthier direction. And that’s why I’m here to help!

Rather than turning to pre-packaged, pre-made meals, which can often be high in sodium and refined carbohydrates, and limited in fruits and veggies, fruits and veggies deserve to be your first priority. Since half of our plates at each meal should consist of these colorful healthy foods, your fridge should reflect this, too. And with such a wide variety to choose from such as apples, pears, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, squash, zucchini, potatoes, corn, and leafy greens (I could go on!), you’ll find that eating well is much more about what you CAN eat than what you can’t. And fruits and veggies really are nature’s fast food. It doesn’t get any easier than grabbing an apple or a handful of baby carrots when you’re in the need of a quick snack. 

Speaking of leafy greens, be adventures and get outside of your “leafy green comfort-zone.” Think: kale, Swiss chard, arugula, collard greens – the sky’s the limit!

Another easy way to give your fridge a healthy shift is to start making your own homemade salad dressing rather than purchasing store-bought varieties that are often higher in sodium and sugar than you may realize. Simply combine 3 parts oil to 1 parts acid (think 3 tablespoons olive oil to 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar), add your own seasonings, stir, and voila!

Let’s also not neglect your loaf of white bread hiding in the back there! Simply swap out your white bread for a loaf of whole grain bread. When looking for which bread to buy, narrow in on the ingredient list. Look specifically for the word “whole” right before the name of the grain—for example, whole oats or whole wheat. This should be the first ingredient listed.

I do have to give you two thumbs up for your eggs and peanut butter. Both are cost-effective, nutrient dense sources of nutrition. Just be sure to purchase peanut butter without any added sugar or hydrogenated oils, and keep an eye out for the expiration date on those eggs.

And while I’m a believer that all foods can fit in a healthy eating plan –including butter, sour cream, half and half, and yes, maple syrup – the key is moderation. These flavor enhancers should really be the accessories of your meals and not hold a starring role. If you shift your way of eating to more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes, both your health and wallet will thank you in the long run.