Health orientated store cupboard basics

Many diet plans advise dieters to make a clean sweep of their store cupboards and refrigerators.

This is to get rid of foods that contravene the philosophy or "theory" underpinning the diet.

Foods and beverages high in sugar, fat and/or sodium are frequently sited as food to lose,

Removing these foods and beverages as staples for your store cupboard or refrigerator and replacing them with staples for healthy eating can help you establish healthy eating practices.

Recipe books, diet books, and magazines often provide lists of store cupboard basics.

However, what you decide to include as food basics depends on your food preferences, your food preparation skills, convenience, cost and your philosophy towards healthy eating practices.

If you tend to purchase food as you need it or if your store cupboard and refrigerator are ill equipped for healthy eating you may find it quite costly to create an instant healthy store cupboard.

However, with some planning and organization you can gradually establish a store cupboard and refrigerator that contains the basics to support healthy eating practices.

Profile of health promoting store cupboard basics

Fundamentally your store cupboard should provide foods that provide you with a balance of nutrients: carbohydrates,  protein, fat, vitamins and minerals.

Your store cupboard may also contain other foods which contribute to the flavour of the food you prepare such as salt, pepper, herbs, mustard, sugar and honey, vinegar and other condiments.

Some store cupboard foods can be kept for a long time in a cupboard at room temperature.

Some foods need to be refrigerated once opened and have a shorter shelf life.

Most fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry, fish should be refrigerated and used within a few days of purchase.

Your freezer is also part of your store cupboard and useful for storing pre-prepared meals, frozen vegetables and fruit, and bread which can be quickly thawed and/or cooked when you are in a hurry.

To help you decide which foods you want to include as store cupboard basics it may be helpful to...link to the full article to learn more.