The Healthy Foodie

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My Kitchen Essentials Part II – What’s In My Fridge?

It’s already been well over a year now since I went paleo, so I figured it was about time I updated this page to reflect the new content of my paleo fridge. Really, I was astonished at how much it has changed!

Dairy used to be the first and most popular food category in my fridge as it was also my main source of protein. It’s now gone practically non-existent. You won’t find any dairy product listed on here, as I now only consume them very occasionally and therefore consider them the exception.

As for meat, well, it barely even made an appearance on the previous version of this page… whereas it now holds prime spot! People change, I guess!

Without further ado, I give you what you’d be very much likely to find on any given day, were you to open my fridge…

My Paleo Fridge | thehealthyfoodie.com

FRESH VEGGIES

I eat tons of veggies every single day so I always keep a great variety on hand. Of course I try and shop according to what’s in season, but it can be kind of hard to find anything local around here in the dead of winter.

These are the veggies that you could most certainly find in my fridge at any given time, regardless of the season…

  • Avocados (I can NEVER be without those!)
  • Bell Peppers (Red, Orange and Yellow are my faves!)
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower (the wonder veggie, I often keep more than one)
  • Celery
  • Cucumbers (English and Lebanese)
  • Green Onions
  • Leafy greens
  • Lemons / Limes
  • Mushrooms
  • Parsley
  • Spinach (I go through one full pound every week)
  • Tomatoes / Cherry Tomatoes
  • Turnip
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Zucchinis

Squeaky Clean Coleslaw | www.thehealthyfoodie.com

Cabbage, turnips and carrots are being put to good use, here! 

FRESH FRUITS

Now fruits, I don’t consume so much of. Since I don’t see them as being a crucial part of my daily diet, I can afford to buy local and in season, for the most part.

I really wish I could have raspberries or strawberries or ground cherries in my fridge at any given time, but sadly, these are only available during the beautiful days of summer. And that is the only time of the year where you’ll catch me eating fruit in its natural state.

Off season, I’ll buy fruit when needed, mostly to use as sweeteners or ingredients as part of a recipe.

When in season

  • Blackberries
  • Blueberries
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cherries
  • Ground Cherries
  • Honeydew Melon
  • Litchi
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Plums
  • Strawberries
  • Watermelon

Year round / when needed

  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Coconuts
  • Grapefruit
  • Mango
  • Oranges
  • Pineapple

Broccoli Apple and Almond Salad | by Sonia! The Healthy Foodie

I sometimes like to add a little bit of fruit to salads. Apples were an especially glorious addition in this Broccoli Almond & Apple Salad. 

MEAT / FISH / PROTEIN

Most red meat, aka beef, pork and lamb I procure by the carcass from [not so] local farmers, so this I usually keep it in my chest freezer and take a couple of things out to thaw once or twice a week. If you look at the picture on top of this page, you’ll see this big stainless steel bowl. That’s the meat I took out to thaw.

Other than that, I always keep a fairly LARGE amount of eggs, i.e. 2 to 4 dozens. I wish there was a local farmer nearby that I could purchase fresh eggs from, but sadly, there is none so I have to settle for the “Free Run” eggs that are available at my local health store. To this day, it still bugs me that my eggs would be marked with a pink stamp. I’m almost considering raising my own hens! If it wasn’t for winter, I totally would…

Of course, I also consume fish, especially salmon, and seafood. My fish I tend to purchase fresh, the very day I want to eat it or the day before at the earliest. Seafood, i.e mostly shrimp and scallops, I usually by frozen and keep in the bottom freezer of my fridge.

I also do chicken from time to time, and I mostly buy the organic, farm raised from COSTCO or from my local health food store.

In short, this is pretty much what goes on in this household in terms of protein:

  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Lamb
  • Chicken
  • Eggs
  • Fish, mostly salmon
  • Raw shrimp
  • Cooked shrimp
  • Scallops

Cedar Plank Salmon | By Sonia! The Healthy Foodie

 I also happen to keep pre-soaked Cedar Planks in my freezer so I can whip up some of this amazing Cedar Plank Salmon at only a few minutes notice…

 

CONDIMENTS

You will never see me use ketchup or store-bought mayonnaise, prepared mustard or much “prepared anything”, for that matter. These are the few ingredients that I keep on hand to make my own sauces, dressings and vinaigrette, or to simply add flavor to a dish.

  • Paleo Mayo
  • Dijon Mustard (read your labels carefully when purchasing!)
  • Whole Grain Mustard
  • Olives (many, many different kinds and varieties) 
  • Capers
  • Salted Herbs (this is a really awesome product which, sadly, appears to only be available in Québec. You could very well make your own though, if you were so inclined. I can guarantee that you would not regret it!)
  • Fermented Garlic Flowers (Another product that only seems to be available here. I just love it. It doesn’t leave garlic on your breath at all! If you can’t get your hands on it, of course, you can always use garlic cloves instead)
  • Sriracha (I use Sky Valley by Organicville)
  • Frank’s Red Hot
  • Fish Sauce (I really wish I could get my hands on Red Boat)
  • Coconut Aminos
  • Sauerkraut (although I treat that mostly as a side dish!)
  • Pickles

SWEETENERS

Like I always say, you will never see me use refined sugar, except when making Kombucha, and still, I’m really not comfortable with the idea. I need to start working on finding an alternative.

Most of my sweeteners I keep in the pantry, but these two have to be kept in the fridge.

  • Fresh Ginger (Helps create an illusion of sweetness, as well as add a little bit of zing to dishes)
  • Date Paste (To add sweetness to my baked goods, date paste has become a big favorite of mine. I use it in pretty much all of my recipes now.)

Date Paste| by Sonia! The Healthy FoodieDate Paste. My ultimate mostest favoritest all natural sweetener! 

And there you have it; that pretty much sums it up! I really hope you enjoyed it and that it inspired you to stock up your fridge with delicious and healthy food.

‘Cuz remember… if you fill your fridge with nothing but healthy food, you will eat healthy food!