Often, daily busyness leads to eating whatever is available, which sometimes isn’t good for health. The consequence of consuming unhealthy food can lead to significant weight gain and inevitably affect health.

One drawback of having a hectic schedule is not having time to go to the grocery store to buy various ingredients. But don’t worry; actually, stocking up on healthy food is not that complicated.

Components of Storing Healthy Food for Busy People

There are three components to consider when storing healthy food. These are: 1) pay attention to its shelf life so it can be stored for a long time, 2) quick preparation time, and 3) long-lasting so you can stay focused on work.

Adhering to these three components, you won’t have difficulty finding the right ingredients to maintain a healthy diet even if you’re extremely busy.

Healthy Food Ingredients for Busy Days

To make it easier for you, here are some healthy food ingredients that can be stored at home to be consumed later.

1. Eggs

Eggs are versatile, lean protein sources, so keeping eggs in the fridge is beneficial for busy people and your wallet because they’re not too expensive. If stored properly, they can last for up to 1 month and can be prepared on their own or added to other dishes.

2. Frozen Pesto

Pesto can enhance dishes with flavor. You can make pesto yourself or buy it ready-made at the store and store it in the freezer. Pesto can be used as a topping for pizza, pasta, or even sandwiches.

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3. Potatoes

Potatoes are healthy food ingredients that have a shelf life of 2-3 months. So for those of you who don’t have much time to go shopping, having potatoes at home will be very helpful. Potatoes can be turned into gnocchi, fries, baked potatoes, or mashed potatoes.

Potatoes are easy to prepare and simply seasoned with salt and pepper is delicious. They can even be cooked in advance and stored in the fridge for use within 1-2 days.

4. Boxed Soup

You can make soup and store it in BPA-free boxes or cans at home and freeze it. When you want to eat it, just heat it up, which will be more convenient. However, make sure the soup you make has low sodium and no harmful additives.

Try making soup with healthy ingredients like vegetables. So even on busy days, you can enjoy this soup with a piece of bread.

5. Milk

Have packaged milk on the shelf at home, and for a healthier alternative, you can replace cow’s milk with almond milk. Almond milk can be served with added granola, coffee, or as a smoothie mix. This milk can even be an alternative to meet nutritional needs, especially if you don’t have much time to eat.

6. Salsa

Having a bottle of salsa can be very useful, especially when you don’t have vegetables to serve with dishes. Salsa can be mixed with ground beef, minced meat, or chicken dishes.

7. Bread

You can choose to store whole wheat bread, which is healthier and can be prepared simply with avocado or eggs, making it a healthy and tasty meal. The preparation process is easy and suitable for combination with anything. So don’t miss out on this food ingredient.

8. Cheese

Cheese contains vitamin D, calcium, and protein. However, cheese also has a high-fat content, so make sure to consume it in small portions. You can choose low-moisture cheeses like parmesan, gruyere, and cheddar. You can shred these cheeses and store them in the freezer. So when needed to make cheesy pasta, eggs, or tuna melt, they can be used immediately.

9. Frozen Berries

For those of you who spend more time outside than at home, storing fresh fruit may seem wasteful. Another option is to store frozen fruit as they can be consumed whenever you want. One of the benefits of frozen berries is their high antioxidant content. One easy way to serve frozen berries is by making smoothies or mixing them with yogurt or oatmeal.

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10. Pasta Sauce

Pasta sauce is an alternative that can be added to dinner when coming home late from work. Cooked tomatoes are the richest source of lycopene, which protects against cancer. But for a healthier option, don’t just mix sauce and pasta, but also add other ingredients like canned tuna, shrimp, grilled chicken, and others.

11. Canned Tuna

Canned tuna is not only cheap but also rich in DHA and omega-3. Both of these contents can turn off genes in abdominal fat. Add canned tuna to pasta or sandwiches.

12. Frozen Vegetable Mix

Stir-fried vegetables are actually very easy to prepare but take a long time to prepare the vegetables. Therefore, a frozen vegetable mix can be a solution for quick cooking while still healthy. Later, you can cook them as a mix with rice, pasta, or meat.

13. Nuts

Canned nuts are a source of protein and fiber that can help keep your stomach full longer. They can be served as snacks or added protein to them or to salads.

14. Spaghetti

Keeping spaghetti at home can be a lifesaver when you’re too tired to cook after a long day. For a healthier option, you can replace spaghetti with bean-based ingredients. Beans are considered to have high fiber content that can help lower bad cholesterol and make you feel fuller, and they are richer in nutrients compared to conventional spaghetti on the market.

15. Chia Seeds

Another good source of omega-3 for the body besides salmon is chia seeds. One example of how to prepare them is by making overnight oats with a mix of chia seeds. Mix milk, oats, and chia seeds in a bowl, then stir and let sit in the fridge and serve in the morning.

So those are some alternatives for healthy cooking ingredients Nickswilmette.com recommended that can be chosen, especially for those of you who don’t have much time to cook due to impending busyness. Up to this point, you understand that even with a busy schedule, it doesn’t hinder you from consuming healthy food as long as you know what ingredients can be stored for a long time.