Your goal for good nutrition at home right now: just eat.
Hey, it’s a good time to clean the fridge drawers!
Does your fridge look like this? I am sure you are like us and stocked up on as many groceries as possible before hunkering down at home. We have more carbs and snacks than we could ever eat, some frozen meat and protein, and never enough produce.
Fruitless breakfast
Of course the first thing we ran out of were fresh vegetables. Second, the fruit. So for a handful of days we were relying on frozen only. This time away from the grocery store has forced us all to get creative with freezer and pantry meals. If we had had just a bit more notice, we could have made casseroles and crock pot dump bags until the cows came home. For us Plenty delivery is a lifeline for fresh food, but it only lasts for a few days until we’re on our own again.
I want to assure those of you who are used to having meals built on fresh green salads and antioxidant-filled fruit that your nutritional status will be fine.
While frozen fruit and vegetables might not be your first choice for taste or texture, nutritionally they retain their nutrients and may even have more than fresh because they are frozen at peak nutrition with no loss due to transport. Smoothies and soups will be the new salads for the short term. Now is a good time to try out Daily Harvest or Splendid Spoon. Both offer smoothies and frozen bowls and you can get $25 off each with my links.
A few frozen vegetable ideas:
- Omelets
- Spinach-packed meatballs
- Minestrone
- Frozen roasted broccoli
- Spinach Souffle
- Chile using canned or frozen
- Butter + parmesan make any frozen veggie taste great
If you’re eating more carbs than vegetables because you literally ran out of vegetables, that is fine too. When we’re going through a crisis, eating food in general is all you should worry about.
Plus there are tons of pantry staples and foods that last a while that you can rely on for good nutrition:
- Eggs
- Sardines / tuna / salmon
- Root vegetables
- Canned beans
- Shelf stable boxed soups
- Whole grain everything (rice, cereals, frozen bread, farro, pasta)
- Dehydrated and dried fruits
- And many more!
Kori says
I love this post & message! Eating period is better than not. Restricting because it may not be the normal amount of produce, etc. is not good for the body. I wanted to take this time to exercise creativity & make what we can with what we have on hand before going to the store.
Kath Younger says
<3
Gloria says
Love the post. How is your mom and dad doing.
Kath Younger says
They are hunkered down and healthy for now, thankfully.
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Thanks for the tips! Hope you’re well! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Eliza says
I’ve been shopping once a week just as I’ve always done and for the most part, there is plenty of fresh produce. For a couple of weeks, carrots were completely gone but they were back in stock the last time I went to the store. I have been buying fresh kale weekly plus radishes, broccoli, oranges, bananas and more. What I can’t get right now are frozen vegetables and certain pantry items.
I’m absolutely abiding by our state’s stay-at-home order and I’m taking this seriously, but other than that one week when everyone panicked and bought everything in sight, I haven’t had much change in my weekly shopping/meal planning routine.
Kath Younger says
We’re trying to stretch to every 2 weeks just to avoid that extra visit. It’s that second week that is harder. Weekly is definitely ideal for fresh produce though.
Haley says
Great post, thank you!
EH says
Daily Harvest is THE ultimate quarantine food. Nutritious and healthy meals delivered right to your doorstep. I have about 30 cups in my freezer right now and a delivery arriving today.
Sara says
I was so used to popping into the grocery store every other day or so in order to purchase what we FELT like eating. Now we’re shopping once/week and spending what feels like SO MUCH MONEY. Though I do think it evens out since we’re not dining out. A couple things I did last weekend when I shopped: I put all the apples, green cabbage and red cabbage and citrus in the garage fridge. So when it feels like we’re lacking produce come next weekend, I can bring those items into the house to refresh our produce drawers. I also put the green onions, cilantro and two bunches of asparagus in water and wrapped in saran wrap so they can stay fresher longer. I have realized that I’m more creative and inspired when I have fewer ingredients to work with. I think I enjoy the challenge of stretching my groceries.
Kath Younger says
Totally agree!
Apriori says
Honestly needed to read this today, as we are stooooocked up on frozen and canned veggies, but missing fresh! Thank you. All best wishes to you and yours, be safe and well.
LC says
Luv that… Stay calm and chew on…
Susan Crompton says
Thanks Kath, such great trips to minimise visits to grocery shops to every two weeks. We are trying to do the same but i’m mindful to build up an additional 14 days worth of easy-to-prepare food to hand, in-case we need to go into self-isolation at some point . I have mostly been trying to make double portions of stews, curries and baked dishes and then freezing the extras. I’d love your ideas on go-to freezer meals to make ahead, especially from your expert nutrition and family friendly viewpoint – eating well is so important right now to boost the immune system.
coco says
last week i was in panic mode when we run out of fruit and vegetables. i got 2 big deliveries and big run to costco, my fridge was full and I felt happy 🙂
hahahha….. i think it’s better than hoarding toilet paper
Fitoru Fitness Challenge says
Great post! So love reading your articles! Keep it up and thanks!