The Perfect Refrigerator

What belongs in a Perfect Refrigerator? Is it just any yogurt, spinach or fat-free salad dressings? I have researched many articles to compile this list of items to stock your fridge with that are essential for your health, happiness—and pocketbook.

1. The Perfect Dairy Snack – Stonyfield Farms Organic OIKOS Plain Yogurt. Personally, I prefer Trader Joe’s Organic Greek Non-Fat Yogurt with Honey, but no one asked my opinion.

2. The Perfect Eggs – Eggland’s Best Eggs.

3. The Perfect Salsa – Desert Pepper Trading Co. Roasted Tomato Chipotle Corn Salsa. Salsa is always a healthy alternative and dieter’s dream instead of ketchup, sour cream or ranch.

4. The Perfect Milk- Organic Valley Low Fat Chocolate Milk. Meet your new postworkout beverage. Researchers found that not only does milk do a better job rehydrating the body than water or sports drinks but that chocolate milk repairs muscles 40 percent faster than plain milk.

5. The Perfect Fruit – Red Delicious Apple. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, enough said.

6. The Perfect Veggie – Broccoli Sprouts. These sprouts have 20 times more cancer-fighting sulforaphane than full broccoli.

7. The Perfect Bread – Food For Life 100% Whole Grain Ezekial Bread. This has a low impact on blood sugar and excellent source of protein.

8. The Perfect Fruit Spread – Eden’s Organic Apple Butter. Only 4g of sugar. Beat that Smuckers!

9. The Perfect Juice – Ruby Red Grapefruit. You can drink it or use for the base of balsamic salad dressing.

10. The Perfect Fish – Wild Salmon. If this is your first time hearing this, WAKE UP! Salmon in any way is great in so many ways.

11. The Perfect Pepper – Red Bell Pepper, is an excellent source for cancer fighting and immunity boosting.

12. The Perfect Green – Kale, excellent for Vit. A, C & K, in only 4 oz.

Thanks to Eat This Not That, June 20, 2009; Rodale Inc. 2010; Men’s Health March 2010.