Healthy eating starts at the grocery store. Stock up on plenty of healthful choices and organize them so they are easily visible and accessible.
My freezer happens to have four shelves– perfect for each section of the FUEL plate. I load up on frozen vegetables at the top (because they are the best, of course), followed by frozen fruits, whole grains and potatoes, and lean protein sources.
Let’s take a peek inside…
Shelf 1: Frozen vegetables.
I don’t think I have ever met a vegetable that I didn’t like. Stock this shelf with plenty of vegetables of all colors such as broccoli, green beans, spinach, collards, broccoli rabe, peas, corn, carrots, edamame, sugar snap peas, butternut squash, vegetable medleys, and more. Vegetables that steam in the bag are particularly convenient. I stock up when they are on sale.
Shelf 2: Frozen fruit.
During the spring and summer, we focus on fresh, seasonal fruit. But fruit selection can be a little limiting during the fall and winter months. This is where I turn to the frozen varieties. I find the most inexpensive frozen fruit at Trader Joe’s and sometimes Whole Foods 365 Brand. Stock up with berries, peaches, pineapple, and mango. You can also freeze your own banana slices or grapes. Add thawed frozen fruit to oatmeal for breakfast, smoothies for a snack, or yogurt for dessert.
Shelf 3: Whole Grains and Potatoes.
Fill this shelf with whole wheat pizza dough (Whole Foods), brown rice that can be steamed in the bag (Publix, BirdsEye Steam Fresh), frozen steel cut oats (Trader Joes), baked sweet potato fries, whole grain rolls (Alexia) whole grain bread, whole grain English muffins, whole grain tortillas, whole grain pitas, and more.
Shelf 4: Lean Proteins.
Truth be told, my favorite protein source is beans– cheap, easy, nutritious, high in fiber and protein, good for the planet…what’s not to like? In addition to tons of canned and dried beans in my pantry, I fill this final shelf with other sources of lean protein such as frozen fish, chicken, turkey, turkey meatballs, and veggie burgers.
Now that your freezer is stocked, you can put together a FUEL plate in no time!