Fridge/Freezer

In addition to a well-stocked pantry, you must also have some basic essentials in your refrigerator to make cooking better meals at home quick and simple. You don’t have to stock all these items at one time, but you’ll likely find yourself relying on them frequently in your day-to-day cooking.

You can find these and other staples at your local farmer’s market, grocer, or natural-foods store.

• 1% or skim organic milk
• 100% fruit or vegetable juice
• Almond milk
• Butter
• Capers (optional)
• Cheeses—2% cheddar, feta, freshly grated parmesan, mozzarella, romano, and blue cheese
• Chicken breasts—boneless, skinless
• Chicken (free range)—whole, skinless parts, rotisserie
• Chicken stock (homemade if possible)
• Cottage cheese
• Cream cheese
• Deli meats (nitrate and nitrite free)—turkey, chicken
• Eggs (free range)
• Fresh ginger
• Fresh fruit—organic apples, bananas, oranges, kiwi
• Fresh produce—tomatoes, onions, peppers, herbs, lemons, limes, oranges
• Frozen cheese ravioli or tortellini
• Frozen yogurt and/or sorbet
• Fruit—peaches, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
• Greek yogurt
• Hummus
• Keifer
• Leafy greens—spinach, kale, swiss chard, collards
• Natural peanut butter (stir and store)
• Nuts—almonds, walnuts, pine nuts, pecans
• Olives—black, green, kalamata, nicoise
• Polenta
• Reduced-fat sour cream
• Seafood—salmon, tilapia, shrimp
• Soy milk
• Soy products—tofu (soft, firm, extra firm, silken), veggie burgers, breakfast links, tempeh
• Vegetables—edamame (soybeans), broccoli, corn, bell-pepper-and-onion mix, peas, tomatoes, celery, carrots, squash, and other family favorites
• Vegetable broth
• Water
• Whole grain bread, tortillas, wraps, buns