10 Healthy Foods in Your Fridge Challenge
May 28th, 2009
Last weekend we visited with some good friends and when I went inside to get some water from their fridge, I was struck by the lack of any healthy food.
Foods included cheeses, pate, creamy pasta sauces, salad dressings, garlic bread, packaged foods and a few other items. There appeared to be a couple of vegetables in the crisper but that was pretty much all I could see.
For the record, I am not someone who goes around peering into peoples fridges but it got me to thinking about what you might have in your fridge and whether healthy foods are common or rare.
My fridge has a pretty good mix I think. Plenty of fresh vegetables, low-fat milk, chickpeas (always in supply because I love them), kidney beans, fruit, yoghurt, cheese, eggs.
My freezer has a little red meat, chicken and pork steaks – fat trimmed.
So here is my challenge to you, go to your fridge/freezer and try and find 10 healthy food items.
Do you have any fresh vegetables in your fridge? How about meat? Just how much processed, packaged food is in there?
Don’t just take the label as good enough evidence either, read the nutritional information and make sure it is what the manufacturer claims it to be.
I got caught out not that long ago with some low fat yoghurt. After a few days I read the label and was quite shocked at the sugar levels.
Your fridge can tell quite a bit about you and where exactly you are in terms of health and fitness.
If you struggle to find 10 healthy food items then perhaps this is a good time to head down to your local store and pick up some fresh produce.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Another perspective to add: A measuring tool of success here can also be as simple as a sound. Actually, a non-sound. My non-sound objective for success that I teach is simply this: When I open my refrigerator door, I like the sound of nothing. No bottles of sauces, salad dressings, ketchup, Asian cooking sauces, etc. That non-sound, is the sound of less calories for me and for those I teach this action to. That non-sound concept actually works. If your fridge makes noice when you open the door, there are too many extra calories in that door! Food for thought — so to say :-)
May 29th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Hi Roy,
That is a very good method as well!
Thanks for stopping by.
Sal
June 12th, 2009 at 1:05 am
My fridge passes the mental status exam with zero on the denial scale :-)
Lots of fresh veggies, nary a clink!
June 12th, 2009 at 1:23 am
Hi Dr. J,
Impressive! We are just heading off to the growers market so there will be plenty of veg in our fridge in a few hours time!
There is something quite special about stocking your kitchen with fresh fruit and veg. Make me feel healthy just by looking at it!
Thanks for commenting :)
Sal