The Best Things to Have in the Fridge

Woah, I need to do posts more often...

Ok! Your fridge is a useful tool. Use it! Sure it keeps stuff cold, but in all honesty, it saves you time. I was looking in my fridge recently and noticed a few things that can make life easier for many people by cutting down on prep or providing a quick, healthy snack.

1. Chopped up Peppers/Onions/Mushrooms/etc. - This idea is super simple. Buy your favorite veggies and chop them up and put them in a container and put them in the fridge. Do a bunch at one time. Now you've got aweome omelets, awesome mac & cheeses, awesome rice dishes, and awesome salads. Think about it. The next time you make scrambled eggs, all you have to do is open the container and dump in a bit of your veggie cocktail with the eggs. Boom. Instant upgrade.
2. Hummus - I know, I know...you all already love this stuff and have it on hand. But wait. Did you even realize how much you can do with this stuff? It can literally be eaten with all kinds of chips/pretzels/crackers. You can also use it to spread on anything as well! Think about your favorite sandwich, subtract the mayo or dressing, and add in a layer of roasted red pepper hummus. Oh yeah, deliciousness.
3. Steel-Cut Oats - So these are just super tasty and good for you. As far as carbs to eat in the morning go, these are at the top. They'll give all you athletes long term, low glycemic energy to help you get through those long mornings or afternoons. But of course the oats come with a warning. It can take forever to make. Seriously, sometimes up to 20-25 min just to cook on the stovetop. Then it's incredibly too hot to eat. So you're looking at like a 40 min start to in-the-belly time. So it's simple. Cook some to the side next time you're making dinner, cap it, and heat it up the next morning microwave style. You'll thank me.
4. Whole Romaine Hearts - I make sure to have these stocked in my fridge at all times. I'll tell you why. First, they stay fresh for a loooong time. You don't have to worry about eating that bag-o-salad super fast before it gets smelly and gross. Second, it's easy to wash and cut for salads. All you have to do is grab a heart, and chop it lengthwise like you would a carrot or celery and then throw some perpendicular cuts in there to keep it bite sized. Third, the leaves are already perfect size to put on sandwiches. No more lettuce falling or needing alterations just to fit. Lieterally rip off a leaf and place on sandwich. And if you complain to me about needing to rip it one more time...Fourth, this stuff is good for you! These dark green leaves will provide you with more nutritional value than your basic iceburg lettuces. You're looking at calcium, vitamin D, and other boosters for your diet.
5. Cooked chicken breasts - Are you starting to see a pattern? Make bigger batches and save! Next time you're making chicken, go ahead and throw 2 or 3 extra breasts on there. Why chicken? It's not only a solid source of lean protein, but it can be added to many things: sandwiches, soups, salads, rice dishes, jambalaya, or eaten just plain! Pro tip: wrap and cover the chicken before reheating in the microwave to conserve some moisture and prevent drying out. This can be wax paper, a paper towel, or even just the container it was saved in.

These are my ideas! What are yours? I'd love to hear from you :)

Remember that tackling your diet is up to you and big changes take time! This is one good reason to read tips (on funky blogs like mine) from time to time to refresh your thinking!