Healthy food doesn't need to be a chore to find or prepare. Healthy, whole food can be eaten raw, with no complicated mixing or recipes. The trick is to have healthy, fresh, whole foods on hand for snacks, salads, side dishes and sandwiches. With the right foods in the pantry and refrigerator, it's easy to make meals both quick and healthy.
Start With Fresh
Head for the fresh produce when you first start shopping and you will have plenty of healthy choices for snacks, salads and side dishes. By starting with fresh veggies and fruit, you put the focus on vitamins and minerals that can be acquired without cooking or mixing with other ingredients. Slice fruit and veggies up and put out a flavored, low-fat yogurt dip for snacks and appetizers. Try different combinations of veggies and fruit in salads for zest and varied nutrition. Take in about 3 cups of veggies and 2 cups of fresh fruit daily as part of a healthy diet.
Play with Low-fat Protein
Try fresh fish, poultry and legumes instead of traditional red-meat meals. Fish such as salmon approaches beef in protein content with a fraction of the fat content. Try braising fish steaks or poultry breasts rolled in crushed nuts or fruit pulp for a quick and tasty main dish. Only about 6 oz. of fish, poultry or beans daily will provide a healthy dose of protein for most people.
Hold Out for Whole Grains
The complex carbs found in whole-grain breads and cereals provide lasting energy. Picking whole-grain pastas, breads and cereals instead of processed cereals and white bread and rice will make sure you have all the iron, B complex vitamins and dietary fiber you need for a healthy diet. Whole-grain wraps and pizza dough can make a meal healthy with no extra time spent cooking. Eat about three slices of whole-grain bread or 1-½ cups whole-grain cereal daily.
Low-fat Dairy Foods
It takes no longer to shop and use low-fat milk, yogurt and frozen desserts than whole-milk items. The low-fat dairy items provide plenty of calcium for strong bones without the unneeded extra fat in whole-milk products. Items such as low-fat cheese sticks and yogurt-covered raisins make tasty, healthy alternative snacks. Try drinking about 2 cups of low-fat milk or the equivalent each day for a healthy diet.
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