20 Healthy Ingredients To Stock Your Kitchen

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Every homemaker likes to have his/her kitchen well stocked. But the vital question to be asked is that are you stocking your kitchen with healthy ingredients or junk? When we go to a supermarket to do the monthly grocery shopping, we usually pick up whatever catches our fancy. That is why, it important to take a list of healthy kitchen ingredients that you intend to buy.

Healthy cooking begins with the right ingredients. So if you want to have low calorie foods at home, you need to streamline your list of healthy kitchen ingredients accordingly. Most of the eatables you see on the supermarket shelves are not required for healthy cooking. These ingredients have preservatives, food colour and are very high on calories.

Buying the right healthy kitchen ingredients will ensure that your meals comprise of low calorie food. The tenets of healthy cooking are determined by many factors. Apart from the calorie content, the food prepared freshly in your kitchen is always healthy. The healthy kitchen ingredients mentioned here include oils, herbs and also healthy spices.

When you have the right ingredients handy, it is always easy to cook healthy food. So stock up your kitchen with these healthy ingredients.

Olive Oil

Most Indians do not buy olive oil for cooking at all. But you must always keep a bottle of virgin olive oil with loads of good cholesterol in your kitchen. It might inspire you to have more of salads and soups that curries.

Brown Rice

We love to eat rice but we have to face the fact that it is extremely starchy and fattening. That is why, you must always keep Vitamin B complex rich brown rice in your kitchen; just in case you have sudden rice cravings, have brown rice.

Mustard Seeds

Mustard is a very healthy spice for your kitchen. Mustard seeds have almost nil calories but gives you loads of soothing selenium and healthy omega-3 fatty acids. It makes great seasoning for soups and dals.

Skimmed Milk

Milk is an ingredient that is under-utilized by us. You can use skimmed milk to make many healthy deserts. Or you can boil your oats with milk to make a protein and calcium rich porridge.

Ragi Or Millet

Ragi is one of the healthiest whole grains to have in your kitchen. This nutritious whole grain gives you dietary fibres and also reduces bad cholesterol levels.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a healthy spice that can also be used as a sugar replacement. This sweet spice has the capacity to control cholesterol levels and also to regulate your metabolic rate.

Eggs

Eggs are superfoods that gives you proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and lots of other nutrients. Always have eggs in the refrigerator because they are quick and easy to cook. You should have 2 eggs daily.

Thyme

Thyme is a spice that is used readily in Mediterranean cooking. Thyme can be used to season your salads and soups. This spice is anti-inflammatory, thus helps reduce aches and pains.

Chicken Broth

Chicken stock or broth is packed with healthy proteins and fats. You can either buy chicken broth or boil chicken pieces to get the home brewed stock for later use. You add it to soups, curries and steamed rice.

Ginseng

Ginseng is a Chinese medicinal herb that is very beneficial to the health. Ginseng root can be added to soups and beverages like tea to get antioxidants and also improve digestion.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat is the whole grain that helps control your sugar levels. That is why buckwheat flour can be easily used to make rotis, idlis etc for diabetics.

Oats

Oats are healthy morning foods that suck cholesterol out of your arteries. Keep this heart healthy ingredient at hand for making sumptuous breakfasts.

Honey

Honey is a healthy replacement for sugar. You can use honey in your salads and desserts. Honey fights cold infections and helps burn body fat.

Low Fat Yogurt

Yogurt is an ingredient that can be used in any kind of cooking. Calcium rich yogurt adds flavour to your curries. You can also use beaten yogurt instead of mayonnaise to foster the growth of probiotic bacteria in your stomach.

Garlic

Garlic is mainly known as a heart healthy spice. This pungent spice has lots of allicin that keeps the heart healthy and infections at bay. Garlic can be added raw to salads and soups.

Quinoa

Quinoa is a whole wheat that has the highest protein content in the world. If you really want to cut fattening carbs from your diet, then stock of quinoa instead of white rice.

Parmesan Cheese

Cheese is a protein rich dairy product that you shouldn't skip. Low fat cheese is the best ingredient to add some essential milk proteins to your diet. Use cheese sparingly in your sandwiches and pastas.

Apple Cidar Vinegar

Vinegar can be used as salad dressing and to add a sour tinge of taste to your foods. Vinegar helps to burn accumulated body fats and also lowers your blood sugar levels.

Flaxseed

Flaxseeds are the best vegan sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Use flaxseeds or the oil derived from it to dress your salads. You can also use roasted flaxseeds to garnish yogurt or porridge.

Soy Sauce

Soy sauce is usually used only to cook Chinese dishes. But you can use soy sauce as a smart and healthy replacement for salt. Instead of adding salt to your soups, drizzle some soy sauce.