Making nutritious meals quickly is even more of a challenge when you don’t have the right ingredients to hand, which is why there are some things you always need in your cupboard to stay on the health train.
As well as signing up to a meal prep delivery service, it is worth having these in your pantry.
Oats
Oats are the cornerstone of healthy eating. The whole grain can be used for porridge, overnight oats, homemade granola, muffins, bars, cookies and smoothies.
Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, they are the perfect way to start your day, while also containing slow-releasing energy so you don’t crash mid-morning.
Chia seeds
You might not have heard of chia seeds before, but after finding out they contain calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, niacin, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, proteins and antioxidants, you may start sprinkling these in your oats, porridge, cereal, soups and smoothies.
Greek yoghurt
Greek yoghurt is one of the best things to eat if you are trying to lose weight, as it is low in calories and packed with protein and healthy fats. In a 200g serving, it has just 146 calories, 3.8g of fat, 7.8g of carbs and 20g of protein, making it a nutritious, filling snack.
Nuts and nut butters
Some people are scared of nuts for their high fat content, but they area great protein source and can be used in a variety of recipes.
You could put almond, cashew or hazelnut butters on your toast, in curries, or in smoothies, for instance. These provide lots of fibre, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and healthy fats, as well as improve cholesterol levels.
Nuts on their own are also very nutritious, and can be enjoyed as snacks; in cereal, granola or porridge; on the top of sauces; to add crunch to stir fries; or baked in healthy flapjacks and muffins.