5 Foods That Should Be In Your Kitchen

A healthy diet is made up of a variety of nutrient-dense foods.  Nutrient-dense foods are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, lean meats, fish, eggs, low-fat dairy products (yogurt, cheese), and healthy oils.

Take some time to go through your kitchen and make sure you have plenty of nutrient-dense foods available for meals and snacks.

Here are 5 nutrient-dense foods that should be in your kitchen:

1.  Yogurt

Yogurt is packed with nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D, potassium, B-vitamins, and protein.  The probiotics, or ?good bacteria? added to yogurt after pasteurization can help promote a healthy digestive system.  Check the ingredient list before you buy yogurt because certain brands are loaded with added sugar.  Stick with plain yogurt or look for low-fat varieties that have about 150 calories per cup.

2.  Brown Rice

Brown rice is rich in B vitamins, iron, fiber, essential fatty acids and phytonutrients.  Stick with whole grain rice because a significant amount of nutrients are lost when grains are refined.  You can buy brown rice pre-cooked – it just take a couple of minutes to heat and serve.

3. Avocados

Avocados are one of natures healthiest foods and packed with fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, folate, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K, monounsaturated fats, and other phytonutrients.  Try replacing fats like butter and mayonnaise in your diet with mashed or sliced avocado.

4.  Spinach

Spinach is one of many vegetables that should have a home in your kitchen.  Some of the nutrients found in spinach include vitamins (A, K, C, E and B-vitamins), magnesium, calcium, potassium, fiber, iron, and a wide variety of other phytonutrients.  Try using spinach leaves to make a salad or add the leaves to cooked dishes, like pastas.

5.  Almonds

Their combination of protein, fiber, and monounsaturated fats makes almonds a perfect, hunger-satisfying, healthy snack.  Calories from nuts can add up fast so it?s best to stick with about 1 ounce per day, which is about 20 almonds.

What other healthy foods do you keep in your kitchen?

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Sincerely,

Lisa

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Almonds