Box of chicken breasts (frozen is cheaper here), turkey breasts, and extra lean burgers (I get uncooked proportioned stuff because I usually only cook for myself or my daughter.)
Lots of frozen fish fillets (salmon, haddock, pollock, halibut, etc).
Canned tuna and sardines. Canned beans (all varieties, plain). Also I get canned: stewed tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes. I like can corn, pineapples (in their own juice), and apple sauce (jar and/or travel size). I love apple/mango sauce for 50 calories a minicup!
In terms of grains, I get brown rice, qinoua, brown rice pastas, brown rice tortillas (i eat mostly gluten-free), Ezekial bread, steel cut oats, wholefoods waffles (I get them for my 3 year old daughter, but i sometimes have 1), and wholegrain cereal (Kashi GoLean Crunch).
I get plenty of plain yogurt in mini containers and flavored yogurt in strawberry for DD. I get only the organic ones that have the least amount of sugar and no artificial flavors/preservatives.
From the freezer section: berries, peas, sweet potatoe wedges, squash, diced spinach, okra (whole and diced),
Also I get peanutbuttter, almondbutter, dates, Braggs Liquid Aminos, Nutritional Yeast, Mrs. Dash seasonings, tofu, organic dark chocolate, agave nectar, miso, seaweed wraps, rice paper wraps, herbal teas, cup of soup (from the health food sectioin, low calorie, low sodium), lean frozen meals (low calorie, low sodium, low sugar!) .... I try to eat mostly whole foods and unprocessed foods though. I keep these on hand so I don't have an excuse to buy lunch or eat out.
I also regularly get pears, apples, bananas, melon, and berries. Sometimes I get things like pomegranates, avocados, clementines, etc. Veggie wise I always get: tomatoes, green onions, purple onions, sweet onions, fresh baby spinach, cilantro, red/yellow/orange peppers. Sometimes I get zuchini, babybok choy, collard greens, kale, snap peas, Chinese eggplants, .... it just depends on what veggies I am in the mood for.
I really get bored easily so I keep whole foods on hand so I can make a lot of different things.
I can't live without brown rice tortillas and ezekiel bread with almond butter. I love it!
My list usually consists of whatever's on sale that week!
But here are a few things I almost always have at home, that help me eat healthy:
Steel-cut oatmeal
Dried beans (I cook them in the crock pot and freeze)
Brown rice
Quinoa
TVP
Herbs and spices
Low-sodium bouillon or soup base (for when I run out of homemade stock)
Olive oil, canola oil, sesame oil
Lowfat or nonfat plain yogurt
Nonfat milk
Lowfat cheddar cheese
Parmesan cheese
Feta cheese
Eggs
Peanut butter
Honey, maple syrup, splenda
Tea
Tortillas
Low-cal wheat bread
Canned soup (for those really lazy nights!)
Bell peppers, onions, garlic, ginger, carrots, celery (the essentials for me)
Frozen broccoli, spinach, various mixes
Natural applesauce
I LOVE the Laughing Cow light cheese wedges. I also love the low-fat Baby Bel cheeses. I used to be a very anti-low fat cheese person until I tried those. That said, those two cheeses are the only low fat cheeses I will eat.
I also like cottage cheese with frozen strawberries (or fresh, when they're in season). I like hard-boiled omega 3 eggs, and string cheese too.
I have recently started eating more seafood, and I must say, if you have a Costco nearby their frozen scallops are THE BOMB! I use Alton Brown's method on the Food Network website. Just do a search for scallops and you will see his recipe in the list. Very simple and fast. I'm having them for dinner tonight actually.
olive oil
fresh spinach
fresh veggies in season
turkey
seafood
whole grains
nuts
laughing cow cheese
organic natural peanut butter
flat out bread
eggs
salsa
Creole seasoning
onions, celery, bell peppers, garlic
herbs (most are from my garden, but this time of year I use dryed from the garden or fresh from the store!)
spices...new ones that add a new dimension to what I already cook
dried beans and nuts
The essentials:
Rolled oats
bananas
berries or cherries
fresh tuna
rice milk - vanilla
beets and bagged salads
raw brazil nuts - 6 nuts a day
green tea
chamomile with vanilla tea
I scanned other people's lists and found a lot of my usual purchases are pretty much the same (veggies, meats, etc.) so I've narrowed my list to more specific products that have really helped me out.
Morning Star Black Bean Burgers (sometimes I also buy the tomato basil flavor, they taste just like pizza burgers!)
Nutritional Yeast (Bob's Red Mill brand specifically)
Laughing Cow Light Cheese Wedges (any flavor)
microwave popcorn snack size
Raw oats (non instant)
Raw nuts (usually almonds or pecans)
eggs
Ole Extreme Wellness High Fiber Tortilla Wraps (the only low carb wrap I've found that is palatable)
-frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts
-lean ground turkey
-turkey bacon
-whole wheat or blended pasta
-foil packets of flavored tuna
-Wasa rye crackers (see the above)
-Dannon Light 'n Fit vanilla yogurt (110 cals for a cup!)
-whole wheat pitas (great for making pizzas)
-reduced fat shredded cheddar and shredded mozzarella
-raw almonds
-lowfat cheese sticks
-Total Chocolaty Delight cereal
-skim milk
-Ken's Steak House Lite Caesar dressing
-brown rice
-Progresso Light soups (especially the barley vegetable!)
-microwave popcorn single serving bags (lowfat or not)
-Claussen dill pickle halves (great for salty crunchy cravings)
These are just some of the things...a lot more are already listed elsewhere. good luck!
