The easiest way to eat healthy is to make sure your kitchen is always stocked with healthy foods.
For people with diabetes, that means choosing foods high in fiber and protein and low in calories, fat and carbs.
We found some tips from the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, that we agree, offer sound advice for keeping your kitchen healthy.
Foods to have on hand:
- Keep fresh fruits and vegetables on hand. If you can buy broccoli, peppers and fruits pre-cut or chop them up when you get them home, they’ll be ready for meals and snacks. Frozen fruits and vegetables are great for soups and smoothies.
- Low-fat milk, yogurt and cheese are good sources of calcium and protein, and good options for healthy snacking.
- Low-fat peanut butter or other nut butters are full of heart-healthy fats and very filling. Low-fat margarines help fight cholesterol while adding flavor.
- Whole-grain pasta and breads add fiber and protein to your diet. Brown rice and other whole grains, such as barley or quinoa, are good building blocks for side dishes and entrees and good alternatives to white rice and potatoes.
- The right tools make healthy cooking much simpler. Single-serving storage containers make portion control easy. They also make it easy to pack up leftovers for healthy lunch.
Foods to clear out:
- Sugary pastries, pop, cereal and fruit drinks; high-fat lunch or deli meats; fried foods; and whole-fat milk and dairy products.
