In our fast-paced lives, having a well-stocked freezer and pantry can be a game-changer for maintaining a healthy diet. As a nutritionist, I often emphasize the importance of planning ahead and having nutritious ingredients on hand to create balanced meals. Let's dive into the essentials for your freezer and pantry that will help you stay on track with your health goals, finishing off with a family friendly, gut loving recipe for your freezer.

1) Freezer Filling Essentials:

• Frozen Fruits and Vegetables: Frozen fruits and veggies are just as nutritious as their fresh counterparts and have the added benefit of a longer shelf life. Stock up on a variety of options like berries, spinach, broccoli, and mixed vegetables to easily incorporate them into smoothies, stir-fries, and soups.

• Lean Proteins: Keep your freezer stocked with lean protein sources such as skinless chicken breasts, fish fillets, tofu, and lean ground turkey. These protein options can be thawed quickly and used in a multitude of dishes, providing the building blocks for muscle repair and overall health.

• Whole Grain Products: Look for whole grain bread or sourdough (if these come as loaves slice them before they go in), wraps, and tortillas that can be stored in the freezer. These items serve as a convenient base for sandwiches, wraps, or toast, offering fiber and essential nutrients for sustained energy levels.

• Homemade Meals: Spend some time batch cooking and freezing nutritious meals like soups, stews, chili, and casseroles. Portion them into individual containers for easy reheating on busy days, ensuring that you have wholesome options available when time is limited.

• Healthy Treats: Keep a stash of homemade healthy treats like energy balls, whole grain muffins, or portioned-out dark chocolate squares in the freezer. These can satisfy cravings without derailing your nutrition goals.

  2) Pantry Cupboard Essentials:

• Whole Grains: Stock your pantry with a variety of whole grains such as brown rice, buckwheat, quinoa, oats, and whole wheat pasta and noodles. These staples provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals, serving as the foundation for nourishing meals.

• Canned Beans and Legumes: Beans and legumes are budget-friendly sources of plant-based protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates. Opt for low-sodium varieties and have options like black beans, chickpeas, and lentils on hand for adding to salads, soups, and grain bowls.

• Healthy Fats: Include sources of healthy fats in your pantry like olive oil, nuts, seeds, and avocado oil. These fats are essential for nutrient absorption, hormone production, and brain health. Use them for cooking, dressing salads, or adding to smoothies.

• Herbs and Spices: Build a collection of herbs and spices to add flavor to your meals without relying on excess salt or unhealthy sauces. Essentials include garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, paprika, turmeric, and cinnamon allowing you to create delicious and flavorful dishes.

• Nutrient-Dense Condiments: Choose nutrient-dense condiments like salsa, coconut aminos, mustard, tahini, and balsamic vinegar to enhance the flavor of your meals without unnecessary additives or sugar.
  

  By keeping your freezer and pantry stocked with these essentials, you'll be well-equipped to prepare nutritious meals even on the busiest of days.
  

  Plan ahead, batch cook when possible, and prioritize whole, nutrient-dense ingredients to support your health and well-being. With a little organization and preparation, eating well can be both convenient and delicious.

a freezer-friendly, super speedy, one pot

spiced butternut and lentil curry

Ingredients:

• Coconut Oil for cooking

• 400g Butternut Squash, cut into 1cm cubes

• 1 Onion, sliced

• 200g Brown Lentils (tinned is fine)

• 200g Chopped Tomatoes (tinned is fine)

• 1 large clove of garlic, sliced

• 200ml Coconut Milk (1/2 tin)

• 1 Vegetarian stock cube (Knorr or similar)

• 1/2 tsp Fenugreek

• 1tsp Fennel Seeds

• 1tsp Cumin Seeds

• 2tsp Curry Leaves

• 2tsp Oregano

• 1tsp Ground Ginger

• 1tsp Tamarind Paste

• 2tsp Soy Sauce

• 4tbsp Frozen Spinach (organic if possible)

• Chopped Coriander to serve

Method:

In a saucepan, add 1tbsp coconut oil, the chopped butternut squash & the sliced onion and cook on medium heat until the onions are soft (about 5 mins).

Add the sliced garlic clove, the fenugreek, fennel, cumin, curry leaves, oregano & ginger and cook for a further 5 mins until fragrant.

Add the rest of the ingredients and allow it to bubble away for 10-15mins until the butternut squash is just soft through and the spinach is fully incorporated.

This can be served to stuff a cooked portobello mushroom (video on my Instagram!), with cooked rice or naan bread.

If frozen, defrost thoroughly before reheating on a low heat in a pan (lid on) for 20-25mins, stirring occasionally.

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Packed with protein, calcium, fibre and an impressive array of other vitamins, this is a fantastic go-to for a vegetarian mid-week meal. It is all things from indulgent, rich and flavoursome to nutrient dense and gut soothing, not to mention budget-friendly.