I’m not good at menu planning. I never
have the right ingredients around the
house to make a healthy meal.
It always helps if you plan ahead, but
you can wing it and still eat well.
Remember that healthy eating doesn’t
have to be complicated or involve hard to-
find ingredients. When you go to the
grocery store, stock up on some of the
basics. If you have on hand foods and
ingredients such as the ones suggested
below, you’ll be able to prepare a good
meal.
Here are examples of good foods and
ingredients to always have on hand.
-Plenty of fruits and vegetables,
including canned tomato products and
vegetable soups and broth.
-Lentils and beans such as black
beans, kidney beans and garbanzos.
-Low-fat or fat-free milk, low-fat or fatfree
cottage cheese, and reduced-fat
cheeses.
-Kitchen staples that you know you’ll
frequently use, such as salt and
pepper. Add to your weekly shopping
lists fresh produce, meat, dairy and
bakery goods.
-Skinless chicken and turkey,
unbreaded fish, extra-lean ground
beef, and round or sirloin beef cuts.
-Cooking spray, olive oil and trans fatfree
margarine.
-Condiments, seasonings and spreads
such as low-fat or fat-free salad
dressings, herbs, spices, flavored
vinegars, hummus and salsa.
-Whole-grain bread, bagels and pita
bread, low-fat tortillas, oatmeal,
brown and white rice, whole-grain
pasta, and whole-grain cereals that
aren’t pre- sweetened.
