Cleaning Tips For Healthy Living

Spring has sprung, which means it’s time to re-energize and get organized, starting with the kitchen. Follow these top tips from registered dietitian, Sue Mah, for easy ways to organize your family’s kitchen now and all year-round.

Toss it:

• Throw out any food or leftovers in your fridge or pantry that are well past the best before date.

• Look for canned items that may have rust, bulges or big dents. The food may be spoiled, so it’s safer to discard.

Get organized:

• Rotate the foods in your pantry, so the items at the front of your cupboard have the earliest best before date. First in/first out is a helpful policy to avoid food waste.

• Label everything. If you do a lot of batch cooking, label each item with the date and name of the meal before you store it. Create an inventory list of these items so you can keep track of all the great food you’ve made.

Prep your pantry:

Prepare your pantry with healthy baskets so you’re always ready when mealtime strikes:

• Pasta, rice, oatmeal, quinoa and barley. Think of grains as the ‘little black dress’ of your pantry – you can never have too many.

• Low-sodium canned fish, stewed tomatoes, spices and oils.

• Canned lentils and beans for a soup, stew, salad and even baked goods.

• Nuts, seeds, and peanut butter for fast and convenient sources of protein.

Revive your fridge:

Keep a variety of healthy choices on hand for grab-and-go snacks and beverage options:

• Fill your crisper with colourful fruits and vegetables.

• Pre-cut veggies and cheese, and keep them in containers at eye level so they’re easy to see.

• Pack your fridge with refreshing beverages like Florida Orange Juice, a nutrient-rich beverage with potassium, folate and vitamin C for a healthy diet.

• Stock up on frozen corn, peas, spinach and frozen berries when the fresh varieties are out of season.

• Pre-make meals and drinks like a smoothie with frozen berries, Greek yogurt and Florida Orange Juice.

When feeding a busy family, spring is the perfect time for a kitchen cleanout. A well-stocked pantry and fridge are your toolboxes for healthy eating from breakfast to dessert.

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