We all desire a well-stocked pantry with all our favorite staples. However, only some things on the grocery shelf should land in your pantry. Some of the food products labeled as healthy are not. You might find labels like low carb, low fat, gluten-free, or even vegan on most products, but that doesn’t make them healthy.
Avoiding these six pantry staples can help you maintain a healthier lifestyle. When shopping, look for ingredients like unhealthy fats, additives, sodium, excess sugars, and preservatives. Consider healthier alternatives like whole grains, homemade soups, fresh herbs, and homemade snacks.
Here are six pantry staples you need to avoid.
Breakfast Cereal
Cereal is a popular breakfast option in most households. Although it’s a quick and convenient option, breakfast cereal isn’t healthy as it lacks filling nutrients like fiber and protein. Over time, you may begin to experience increased feelings of cravings and hunger. Some brands also add a lot of sugar to make the cereal appealing. Unfortunately, too much sugar can increase your risk of getting type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
Breakfast cereal also contains refined grains, which have a high glycemic index and can negatively impact insulin levels and lead to weight gain.
Consider replacing your breakfast cereal with healthier alternatives like oatmeal, which you can pair with milk, nuts, and fruits. You can also make granola at home and top it off with fruit and Greek yogurt for a more filling breakfast.
White Flour
White flour is a popular pantry staple, especially for people who love baking. Although white flour bakes the best crackers, bread, cookies, and more, it’s highly processed and doesn’t have any essential nutrients. The milling process removes the outer bran, which has the most dietary fiber, making white flour high in starch.
Refined white four can increase your risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease and type 2 diabetes as the high starch levels create a spike in blood sugar.
You can substitute white flour with whole wheat flour in baked goods. Other options like coconut flour, oat flour, almond flour, or buckwheat flour are gluten-free, fiber-rich options that will keep you full for longer.
Canned Soup
Grabbing a can of soup is convenient, as you don’t have to spend an hour or more making your own. Although a store-bought canned soup may contain healthy vegetables like celery, tomatoes, and lentils, it may not be the healthiest option.
Most canned soups contain saturated fats, which can raise blood cholesterol levels. Store-bought canned soup is also high in sodium, with most brands containing 800 or more milligrams of sodium. These ingredients can increase your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. Some cans also have BPA liners that can get into the food and increase your risk of certain cancers.
To make your homemade soup healthier, you can add fresh vegetables, whole grains, and broth in place of cream. You can also add herbs to flavor your soup instead of salt.
Pre-Packaged Snacks
Buying pre-packaged snacks from grocery stores will save you time as a parent, but they could end up being unhealthy. Most of these snacks are full of salt, sugar, and other additives that are unsafe for your children. Be cautious of snacks that claim to be made with real fruit, whole grains, or no artificial colors or additives.
You can create fiber-rich, nutritious snacks at home, such as chia pudding, veggie chips, oatmeal muffins, and veggie spring rolls.
Coffee Creamer
We all love a cup of coffee with our beloved coffee creamer. Unfortunately, most creamers are full of preservatives like BHT and BHA to help the bottle stay longer without going bad. Creamers also have thickeners like cellulose and carrageenan gum that give them their luscious and thick texture. That often causes gastrointestinal issues and inflammation.
Most creamers also contain sugar, with some brands having up to five grams per tablespoon, which is more than the daily recommended intake. Interestingly, sugar-free creamers are worse as they use artificial sweeteners, which can increase your risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
If you must use a creamer, try using daily or dairy-free options like almond or oat milk. Alternatively, you can make your coffee creamer by using milk, vanilla beans, and some sugar.
Instant Ramen Noodles
Instant ramen noodles are a quick fix for those days you don’t feel like cooking. A variety of instant noodles are low in fiber and protein. They also contain MSG, a lot of sodium, and flavorings. Consuming too much salt can increase your risk of stroke, heart disease, and stomach cancer. The preservatives and additives have been linked to high blood pressure, headache, weakness, and muscle tightness.
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Experts Warn People to Never Refrigerate These 15 Food Items
Refrigeration prevents spoilage and may extend the shelf life of common foods and other perishable items. While we may innocently store some foods in the refrigerator, you may be surprised that you shouldn’t store all of them, as this may affect their nutritional value, taste, and texture.
Although refrigeration can help preserve certain foods, some items shouldn’t be refrigerated to maintain flavor and freshness. Avoiding these foods can ensure your food stays nutritious, fresh, and flavorful.
Here are 15 food items experts warn people never to refrigerate for optimal flavor and freshness.
Experts Warn People to Never Refrigerate These 15 Food Items
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