Back to discoverHealth Food Cupboard Staples
You can keep a number of healthy, long-lasting staples in your food that are great ingredients to make nutrient-dense meals and snacks. In this article, we share five healthy staples that you should always have on hand at home!
Nutritional Nuts
Nuts are nutritional powerhouses, packed with healthy fats, filling protein, fibre and an array of vitamins and minerals. Nuts are very versatile as they can be used in many dishes. Whether you add a few nuts to your smoothies, salads, sprinkle them over stir-fries or have them on their own as a quick snack.
See our delicious Roasted Aubergine, Walnut and Lentil Ragu for a tasty dinner option or for a sweet breakfast treat our Banoffee Pecan Custard Toast.
Superfood Seeds
Another powerhouse nutrient are seeds. Seeds are a great healthy snack, you only need to have a small portion in you diet as they are very energy dense. Seeds can be used in many dishes, including porridge, yogurt, trail mix, salads or even as a toast topper.
Why not experiment using sunflower seeds in this tasty baked sweet stuffed pepper recipe.
Ugly but delicious figs
Dried figs are a powerhouse of nutrition. Figs are a naturally sweet fruit that claims large amounts of vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium and fibre. They’re also packed with powerful antioxidants.
Figs not only make a great snack on their own but pair well with a variety of cheeses and are perfect to add to a salad. See this delicious spiced hone glazed halloumi and fig salad to spice up your summer recipe collection.
Prunes
Like figs, prunes aren’t exactly the prettiest, most glamorous of dried fruits, but in the realm of nutrition, prunes pack a nutritional punch. Prunes are teeming with vitamins and minerals and are especially high in potassium. As well as being rich in antioxidants.
Prunes are a great snack to have but are also great to add in smoothies or to your morning porridge. This oat and chia prune porridge recipe is delicious!
Dates
Dates are sometimes referred to as nature’s candy, that is because this delectable fruit is incredibly sweet and rich in caramel and toffee flavours. Not only are they mouth-wateringly tasty but they contain several vitamins and minerals, in addition to fibre and antioxidants.
Dates’ soft and chewy texture makes them an exceptional addition to desserts and savoury dishes. They make a delicious snack that pairs well with a nut butter and are used in many recipes as a natural sweetener. Our Pecan Pie Baked Oats make one irresistible sweet and healthy breakfast.
Why Eat Nutritious Food?
Having healthy, nutritionally dense foods as the main part of your diet has many benefits, such as reducing your risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Further, it can help to boost your mood, improve your gut microbiome and allow you to gain more energy by maintaining a balanced diet.
If you’re looking for delicious and versatile health food cupboard staples, look no further than Whitworths. Take a look at all of our products, and where you can find them in-store and online.