groceries
fridge

WHATS IN MY FRIDGE?

Sometimes it can be frustrating figuring out what to buy, what brands to choose, and knowing whether you’re on track or not when all you have to compare to is a couple of friends and your moms fridge. I thought I’d let you in on a look into my fridge this week so you can see what I typically keep stocked and hopefully you can get some ideas for your own fridge that can help you make healthy choices throughout your week! 

First of all, I have a grocery budget for the week. So with that in mind, I head straight to the produce section of the store and I always stalk up on veggies first. That way, my priorities are set and I won’t have to skimp on the good stuff when my budget gets low. Most of my groceries belong in the fridge. 

I always grab:

  • a bag of whole carrots (Organic preferably)
  • head of broccoli (Organic Preferably)
  • 2-3 avocados
  • 2-3 zucchini
  • 2-3 Bell Peppers
  • 1 large cucumber
  • small carton of tomatoes
  • Spinach (or some sort of salad base/leafy green) (Organic Preferably)
  • 3-4 Sweet Potatoes

And then whatever is in season, right now I’ve been trying out Eggplant, Brussel Sprouts, and beets. Also I've been loving sprouts on my salads to add a pretty much calorie free crunch!

For Fruit, I make sure to always grab:

  • a big bundle of bananas (buy ripe, then ones that go brown quick I get to freeze for smoothies! -just peel, break in half, and stick in a zip lock bag in the freezer. a staple in all my smoothies)
  • 2-3 apples
  • Frozen berries (fresh berries in season)
  • Lemon/Lime
  • Fresh Ginger Root (not really a fruit but usually in that section)

And then whatever is in season for fruit! Right now I’ve been loving clementaines, kiwis, and pears. I try to stick to those low glycemic fruits so my sugar levels aren’t through the roof. 

I then head to the Dairy & Meat section. There are some controversies over Dairy, but my stance is that Dairy is totally fine, unless you have a known allergy or physical reaction (such as being lactose intolerant). I prefer Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk over cows milk personally, but sometimes we switch off between the two. To be honest, we aren’t really big milk drinkers anyways, except for in smoothies/shakes, and the occasionally bowl of bran cereal, and the occasional craving for some sort of baked chocolate goodness that obviously can only be accompanied with milk :) I like to have cheese on hand when I’m needing a quick snack with protein & fat. Apples and cheese is one of my go to’s. Then I have a more flavor packed cheese, like Feta, to add to Frittatas or salads. I used to always have cottage cheese, but since in Europe unfortunately it doesn’t exist, that is no longer on my list. Plain Yogurt has been a must, I use it in so many things! Here in France they have Fromage Blanc, which is delicious. I replace mayo, sour cream, and other cream products with it.  And of course I always have eggs on hand. When it comes to eggs, if you can afford the free range, brown eggs than I highly recommend them, totally worth the extra 50 cents! The more golden the yolk the better! Healthy chicken, healthy egg right.

So my Dairy Staples:

  • snack Cheese
  • strong cheese
  • milk (unsweetened almond milk)
  • eggs
  • plain Greek Yogurt/Fromage Blanc (you don’t need to be afraid of fat)
  • Cottage Cheese (if you have access to it)

When it comes to meat, I try not to over do it. I usually make 3 dinners out of the week with meat, and then the rest mostly vegetarian. I try to keep it Diverse, and include at least 1 fish dinner a week. Then lately I’ve been loving smoked salmon with avocado and eggs in the morning, its divine. So typically I stock up on:

  • Chicken
  • Fish
  • lean beef/turkey
  • Cold Smoked Salmon (not sure if they have this in the US)

Once a month or so I’ll need to stalk up on my essential sauces that make for easy dinners. These include:

  • Soy Sauce
  • Mustard

(others will be in the “whats in my pantry” section, Part 2 of my Grocery Haul)

  • Butter
  • Salad Dressing, usually a no sugar added Balsamic (or ingredients to make homemade)

So there you have it. A typical week of grocery shopping from my kitchen to yours! And by the way, All of this cost around $50! You don't need to have a crazy expensive Grocery budget, or shop at luxury organic markets to be healthy. Your average markets provide plenty of healthy options. When your kitchen is stocked with healthy options, your 100% more likely to eat healthy! Stay tuned for part 2 of the series for whats in Pantry!

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