Perish Responsibly

Any of you East Coasters must have heard by now about the impending doom we face with the upcoming storm, so I'm sure you're all ready to stock up on the non-perishables. If you're anything like me, and my friend who sent me this questions, you're probably wondering what the healthiest options are to stock up on in terms of non-perishable goods. I figured the best way to approach this was to give a crazy list of everything out there, and let you decide what to stock up on, instead of reviewing a few favorites (better safe than sorry, right?!

So, here goes, Tiny Tummy's list of fridge-free food faves: (P.S. this is assuming you have a gas stove that you can light if the power goes out)

For Meals:

• Cans/Packets of Tuna packed in WATER (not oil**)-- they actually make chicken, shrimp, crabmeat, etc. in cans also... but I generally stick with tuna
• Light and Low Sodium canned soups (preferably ones with some protein and fiber, and minimal sugar- think lentil, chicken and veggie, etc.)
• (If you don't have a can opener, go for soup in the cups or boxes!)
• High fiber, low sugar cereals such as Hi Lo
• Canned veggies- (look for no salt added)- often, canned veggies have a lot of preservatives (aka SALT CENTRAL), but in times of desperation, you do what ya gotta do
• Oatmeal: some oatmeals can be prepared on the stove top!
• Pasta: High fiber, whole grain pasta with a can of tomatoes or tomato sauce can be a go-to din din
• High Fiber Tortillas/Breads: A lot of breads/high fiber tortillas don't require refrigeration: Spread a Laughing Cow Wedge or a smear of all-natural PB on it, and you're good to go!
• Grains: We all know Tiny Tummy loves Freekeh and Spelt, but keeping some brown rice, quinoa, etc. on hand doesn't hurt either!
• Beans/Lentils: Again, dried beans and lentils can be prepared on the stove top, and make a great healthy, filling meal!-- you can also find these guys in the can!
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For Snacks:

• Nuts/Seeds (lots of protein, just don't over-do it)
• High protein, high-fiber energy bars (we all know Tiny Tummy loves Quest Bars!)
• Kay's Protein chips (if you can get your hands on them)
• Soy chips
• Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges (yep, they are shelf-stable!)
• Shelf stable apple sauce (no sugar added) or pudding (sugar-free cups)
• Whole Grain crackers (I keep GG bran crisps, but Wasa flatbreads are great too)
• Jerky- while Tiny Tummy isn't the biggest jerky fan, it's got a lot of protein-- just opt for the lower sodium version!
• Good ole' fruit is great, as most can last for a few days out of the fridge- check out what's in season, but apples and bananas are fairly consistent fall backs
• At the same time, some veggies can last for a few days out of the fridge, so steaming up a giant pot of cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, etc. is an option

And most importantly, make sure you've stocked up on bottled water!!!

Think I missed something? Comment and let me know!

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