Your (almost) invisible health assistant

You may not pay much attention to the refrigerator, but when it comes to your health, the contents of the refrigerator become all the more important. It is up to you whether the fridge will become a treasure trove of unhealthy foods or foods that are beneficial to your health.

What foods should you be after?

Stock your refrigerator with foods that are great for making a quick, delicious and healthy meal or snack. The right refrigerated contents and ingredients will help you reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.

You should always make room for foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber in your fridge. At the same time, get rid of most processed and high-calorie snacks. Although, the occcasional icecream certainly deserves its place in the freezer.

Quick meal preparation requires some planning

Just about everybody knows the feeling of coming home after a busy day and not knowing what to cook. You want to prepare a meal that will be as healthy as possible and take as little time as possible. So, which foods should you always keep in your fridge so that you can quickly and easily put together a healthy meal? Here a (short) list.

Eggs

Aim for fresh eggs from free-range chickens, as they are a rich source of healthy proteins and nutrients that have positive effects on your body. In addition to keeping you healthy, eggs can be prepared quickly and easily in a variety of ways. Even if you don’t have much time, a combination of eggs and vegetables can be your lunch. You can prepare them in many different ways: scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, omelets… They are a nice supplement to a variety of salads, with eggs you get a meal that is still light and healthy while also satiating for a longer time.

Fresh vegetables

Salads, broccoli, onions, carrots, zucchini, peppers – fill your fridge with all the fresh vegetables that you like. Mind the seasons: spring asparagus, summer zucchini, winter red beet, and chicory. Seasonal vegetables make your meal healthy. If you don’t have much time to cook, asparagus or zucchini pasta, roasted vegetables in a tortilla or creamy vegetable soup are a quick and easy solution. The same goes for all kinds of salads: quickly roast a chicken or tuna and have a healthy meal on your plate.

Fruit

Fruit is a staple food in any kitchen. If you are tired after work and don’t feel like cooking right away, you can eat a banana or an apple first to quench your hunger. Then you can start cooking in peace. The fruit is suitable for brunch any day. You can start the day with a healthy breakfast that includes fruit, but you can also eat it as a snack.

Fruit can turn into a delicious meal: it can be used to brighten up your flakes and yogurt, you can make smoothies, or even include fruit in salads and main courses (hint: try adding pineapple and blueberries to your meals). It is also advisable to eat dried fruit such as apples, prunes, and cranberries as a snack between meals.

Greek yogurt

Greek yogurt is a natural probiotic that absolutely needs to have its place in your refrigerator. Not only does it have a beneficial effect on your digestion, but there are also numerous ways to use it in the kitchen. It is delicious in itself, but of course, you can refresh it with fruit, jam or cinnamon and have a healthy breakfast. It can also be used as a base for a variety of salad dressings and homemade sauces for tortillas or savory snacks, pancakes with bananas, and oats.

Home-made jams and compote

In winter, when there is less fresh fruit available, a great alternative is to turn to home-made fruit compote. It’s more than great for a snack, as you just open and eat it and it can be a good substitute for dessert. Choosing compote instead of artificial cakes and milk chocolates will do a great favor to your body.

Homemade fruit jams are also a good alternative for everybody with a sweet tooth. If you do not like the Greek yogurt mentioned above because it tastes too lean, you can sweeten it with jam. You can spread it on bread or pancakes and it lasts a long time in the fridge, so you can basically have it for breakfast every day.