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Pantry Fuels Healthful Eating

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 7, 2009

Improving your nutrition has the power to make you feel energized, help look your best and lower your risks for diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity.

Make food a top priority by incorporating locally grown seasonal produce and adding colorful foods that will provide extra vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants, say the authors of "The Flexitarian Diet" (McGraw-Hill, $24.95) and "The New American Plate Cookbook" (University of California Press, $25.95).

Regular trips through the grocery aisle also yield healthful options. Here are 10 pantry samples to get you started:

1. Canned light tuna. Lower in mercury.

2. Low-fat popcorn. A whole grain, too. Many brands have 100-calorie or mini-bags for portion control.

3. Low-sodium soups such as Amy's, Health Valley or Progresso brands.

4. High-fiber bars such as Gnu, Kashi, All Bran, Lara or Fiber One.

5. Canned beans. White, kidney, black, red, garbanzo are good. Rinse the beans to cut sodium.

6. Olives or capers. A component of a heart-healthy Mediterranean diet.

7. Low-sodium broths. Use for flavor in mashed potatoes and rice before adding butter or salt.

8. Jars of roasted red peppers. Cooked peppers are a good source of beta carotene.

9. Green tea. Anti-cancer properties.

10. Salsa. Look for brands without high-fructose corn syrup.

Cox Newspapers

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