9 Staples For Your Refrigerator and Freezer

Keep Your Refrigerator and Freezer Stocked With These Essentials.

When you are on The Kaufmann Diet, there is a high likelihood you will be doing significantly more cooking, spending more time in the kitchen and eating most your meals at home (or carrying them with you after preparing them at home). To that end, it is important to keep your kitchen stocked with essentials so you always have healthy, diet-friendly food available at your fingertips. Here are some things you should always keep on hand in your refrigerator and freezer. 

Refrigerator 

Grass-Fed Butter

While most dairy is eliminated on The Kaufmann Diet, butter is allowed. And, as far as cooking is concerned, there are few quicker ways to make food delicious than cooking them with real butter. Grass-fed butter, such as Kerrygold Irish butter, is rich in CLA, beta carotene and other nutrients.  

Eggs

Eggs are a staple on the Kaufmann Diet; they are loaded with protein and nutrients like lutein. Eggs are easy to cook, filling, affordable, and can be stored for long periods of time in the fridge. 

Fresh Herbs

Dried herbs are great for the pantry, but its tough to beat the taste of fresh herbs in your food. Storing fresh herbs, like thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano or parsley in the fridge is a good way to ensure you can always impart delicious flavor to your food, and glean the myriad of health benefits associated with these foods. 

Ready-To-Eat Fruits and Vegetables 

Encourage healthy snacking by keeping diced up vegetables and fruits stocked in the fridge. Ready to eat carrots, celery, zucchini, cucumbers or sliced green apples are an easy way to have snacks available for the times you need something to munch on between meals. 

Storage Containers

While obviously not food, these are critical tools for your refrigerator when you are on The Kaufmann Diet. Having good, preferably glass or metal containers is necessary for storing foods that you cook in bulk, leftovers, meal prepping, or keeping healthy snacks on hand. 

Freezer

Ground Meat

Packages of ground beef, chicken, turkey or pork are affordable and store for a long time in the freezer; keeping these things stocked ensures you will always have something available to cook in a pinch. 

Frozen Vegetables 

Frozen vegetables are perfectly acceptable on The Kaufmann Diet. Studies indicate that freezing food does not significantly affect the nutritional value; frozen veggies are often cheaper and are a convenient way to keep nutritionally dense foods on hand. 

Frozen Berries 

Like frozen vegetables, frozen berries are a great, affordable way to keep nutritious berries on hand without risking them going bad. These are easy to toss into smoothies and pack a dense anti-oxidant punch. 

Stock 

Stock (particularly homemade stock) or broth is a great ingredient to have on hand for soups and other recipes. Freezing it is a convenient way to store it without fear of it spoiling. Freeze it in ice trays and store it in plastic bags for when recipes call for stock.