9 Things Every Mom Needs in Her Kitchen
Whole-Wheat Pasta
Ditch the white stuff and go whole-wheat — it’s packed with vitamins, minerals and tons of fiber. You can load up on some carbs without feeling too guilty. Cook a whole box of whole-wheat pasta at the beginning of the week and store it in your fridge. When you’re ready to eat, just add pasta sauce and some veggies.
Greek or Low-Fat Yogurt
Get your calcium without eating too many calories. Yogurt is perfect for breakfast or a snack. Put some granola and fruit on it to make a parfait.
Cut Raw Veggies and Fruits
Chop up a bunch of fruits and vegetables so you can have them on hand to snack on throughout the day. To save some time, you can buy precut carrots, celery and fruit at the grocery store. You can even use the cut veggies for cooking too — cut back on prep time!
Frozen Veggies
Some weeks you won’t have time to get to the store to get the fresh stuff. Frozen vegetables (packed with the same nutritional bang) with steamer bags make perfect sides.
Potatoes: Sweet and Regular
Baked potatoes can be a side or the main dish. You can bake a big batch ahead of time and put them in the fridge, or microwave them one at a time. Top a sweet potato with cottage cheese and cinnamon, or top the white potato with veggies and salsa or even vegetable soup.
Energy Bars
They really do give you energy! Stock up on Luna bars — they’re a great post-workout or afternoon snack.
Whole-Grain Cereal
Cheerios and Special K are always good to have on hand. Who doesn’t love munching on a bowl of cereal for breakfast or for a snack (and, let’s be honest, sometimes dinner)? They’re way better than the sugary stuff. If you have a sweet tooth, add some fresh fruits.
Almonds
Almonds help the body produce milk — so they can help with breastfeeding. Mix some raisins into a bag of almonds and you’ve got a healthy trail mix snack.
Frozen Veggie or Turkey Burgers
Keep these in your fridge and you won’t be tempted to hit up McDonald’s or Burger King. Eat them with a whole-wheat bun or pita, or you can have them “naked” with just a slice of cheese and a salad.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
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