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Home » Recipes » Kitchen Basics » Meal Prep » 10 Healthy Fridge Staples

Jan 3, 2020(updated January 13, 2023)

10 Healthy Fridge Staples

By Dani Spies

This post may contain affiliate links.

An important key to making healthy eating sustainable is to keep things simple! I always stock my fridge with a base of staple ingredients that my family and me really enjoy and then use these foods over and over again.   I’ll show you how I use these 10 healthy fridge staples to create delicious and nutritious meals and snacks throughout the week.

healthy food staples on counter

Watch what I buy and how I use them

Keeping simple staples on hand makes healthy eating so much easier for myself and my family.  I stick to some of our favorite ingredients and then reach for them all week long to make super simple, delicious, nutritious meals.  Watch to see some of my favorites.

Be sure to scroll down to see the list of my 10 go-to ingredients.  It’s amazing how many meals and snacks can be made when you have these ingredients on hand.

10 Healthy Staples I Have In My Fridge

  • Crudite (broccoli, carrots, celery, fennel, cauliflower and radishes)
  • Leafy Greens (kale and baby spinach)
  • Eggs (fresh and hard boiled)
  • Sprouted Breads + Tortillas
  • Nut Butters (almond, peanut, cashew, etc.)
  • Greek Yogurt
  • Hummus (store bought or homemade)
  • Berries (whatever looks good or is on sale)
  • Roasted Chicken (homemade or store bought)
  • Milk (almond, oat, and/or cows)

You will (almost) always find these foods in my fridge.  I would say 80% of the meals we each week include at least one of these ingredients.  There are just SO many ways to use them, especially if you are pairing them with pantry and freezer staples (which I will share soon!).

meals made from healthy staples

chicken avocado sammie
kale salad with eggs and berries

10 HEALTHY MEALS USING MY FRIDGE STAPLES

I have a lot of go-to meals and snacks that I make on a weekly basis.  Be sure to watch the video above for lots of my ideas!! But here is a list of some of the meals and snacks I make most often using my healthy fridge staples.

  • Kale salad (lemon + olive oil + garlic + salt = so easy and delish!)
  • Chicken salad (i also love making chicken salad with avocado or with grapes and pecans)
  • Egg salad (can also be made with avocado)
  • Green smoothies (this one is my personal favorite)
  • Yogurt with berries (also great with nuts and/or almond butter)
  • Banana + peanut butter bites (add a chocolate chip on top and pop in microwave for 15 seconds – TO DIE FOR!)
  • Easy quesadillas (so many ways to make them! broccoli and chicken is a household favorite)
  • Sprouted toast with nut butter and berries (or bananas)
  • Oatmeal topped with bananas and peanut butter
  • Kicked up can of soup (simply add leafy greens to your favorite can of soup)

It really can be just that easy and I say, ‘LET IT!’.  The easier you can make food choices the more sustainable healthy eating it becomes.  However, be sure not to sacrifice flavor!  It’s super important that you are finding and enjoying food combos that YOU enjoy.  Let my ideas serve as inspiration and then find ways to make it work for you.

healthy meals and snacks on plates

banana slices with nut butter and chocolate chip
toast with nut butter and berries

10 Fridge Staples + Meal Prep

I’m always tweaking my approach to meal prep.  This year I have really been enjoying using my 10 healthy fridge staples as a base and then adding 2-3 meals to the menu for the week.

I don’t always make them all in the same day (as a matter of fact, I usually don’t) but having this base makes it easier to streamline other meal ideas.

A few of our favorite family meals include:

  • Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry
  • Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Thighs
  • Detox Lentil Soup
  • Chicken and White Bean Chili
  • Minestrone Soup

So I will choose a couple of these meals to add to the weekly menu (I’m always changing it up) and boom! simple, delicious, nutritious meal times becomes 100% doable.

Who Remembers #Six2Start?

Last year I introduced an approach to meal prep that I called #six2start.  The idea was to choose 6 foods/ingredients to prep for the week to make healthy eating easier.  I built the menu like this: 2 veggies, 2 proteins, 1 healthy carb + a smart start or sweet treat!  While this approach is still super effective, I’ve moved away from it a bit simply because I find what I am doing now to be easier.

But for those of you who enjoyed the #six2start approach, be sure to go back and watch the series from last year.  All the tips and recipes are still super valuable, so allow yourself to be inspired.

#SIX2START MENUS

  • New Year’s Menu
  • Low Carb Menu
  • Whole 30 Menu
  • Vegan Menu

yogurt with fresh berries

I’d love to know if you try this (or any) recipe! Tag @clean_and_delicious on Instagram to let me know and be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy, delicious recipes straight to your inbox.  

Featured, Kitchen Basics, Meal Prep, Seasonal Picks

About Dani Spies

Dani Spies is the founder and host of Clean & Delicious; a weekly cooking show on YouTube and a healthy eating blog that celebrates real, whole foods! She takes a holistic approach to health and wellness and is loved for her approachable, down to earth style both in and out of the kitchen.

Learn MoreWork With Me

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  1. Christina says

    January 3, 2020 at 6:43 pm

    I forwarded your YouTube video to everyone in my family saying how helpful it was. I’ve also sent a link to this blog and attached links to myself so I’ll have it when grocery shopping. Yes, please do similar videos for pantry and freezer. Thank you!
    Chris in Nashville

    Reply
    • Dani says

      January 4, 2020 at 5:40 pm

      thank you so much Christina! Will share pantry and freezer for sure.

      Reply
  2. Beth Pedersen says

    January 3, 2020 at 7:12 pm

    Please make a video showing your pantry and freezer staples. We would LOVE that!!!!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      January 4, 2020 at 5:39 pm

      Fantastic! I will do that for sure.

      Reply
  3. Angela says

    January 4, 2020 at 7:15 am

    Absolutely LOVE this. Definitely do one for pantry and freezer. THANK YOU

    Reply
    • Dani says

      January 4, 2020 at 5:39 pm

      Okay! will share soon 🙂

      Reply
  4. Carol says

    January 4, 2020 at 8:24 pm

    Please make more videos like this. Thank you!

    Reply
  5. Kathy Doke says

    January 4, 2020 at 11:05 pm

    Great advice and ideas!❤️

    Reply
  6. Malgorzata says

    January 10, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    I’ve just come across your YouTube channel and your blog and will stay. It’s very helpful even if I live hundreds miles away . Thank you

    Reply
  7. Audrey Marques says

    January 17, 2020 at 3:33 pm

    Fantastic information. Please continue series with freezer and pantry videos.

    Reply
    • Dani says

      March 12, 2020 at 10:39 am

      Hi Audrey! It’s so great to hear that you enjoyed this! If you’d like to tune in to videos similar to my Fridge Staples, I have these two available right now that I think you might like: “10 Healthy Freezer Foods | my go-to staples” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wv9HyiJhCw) and “10 Healthy Pantry Staples from Trader Joes” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKXc7PoXFEQ)

      Reply
  8. Lori Banner says

    January 17, 2020 at 3:52 pm

    Love this! Thank you. Would love to see more of these videos.

    Reply
    • Dani says

      January 23, 2020 at 1:47 pm

      Thanks Lori! I plan to share more soon.

      Reply
  9. Marci says

    January 17, 2020 at 7:51 pm

    I just love watching your videos. I find you make it seem so simple and achievable. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      January 23, 2020 at 1:46 pm

      Thank you Marci!

      Reply
  10. Denise says

    January 18, 2020 at 4:14 am

    Please add me to your list of those interested in a video of pantry and freezer. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      March 12, 2020 at 10:38 am

      Hi Denise! So glad you enjoyed this! If you’d like to tune in to videos similar to my Fridge Staples, I have these two available right now that I think you might like: “10 Healthy Freezer Foods | my go-to staples” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wv9HyiJhCw) and “10 Healthy Pantry Staples from Trader Joes” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKXc7PoXFEQ)

      Reply
  11. Angela M. says

    January 18, 2020 at 4:45 am

    I always enjoy your videos. And I would really love to see your freezer and pantry staples!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      March 12, 2020 at 10:38 am

      Hi Angela! Thank you so much! If you’d like to tune in to similar videos as my Fridge Staples, I have these two available right now that I think you might like: “10 Healthy Freezer Foods | my go-to staples” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wv9HyiJhCw) and “10 Healthy Pantry Staples from Trader Joes” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKXc7PoXFEQ)

      Reply
  12. Melissa Wood says

    January 18, 2020 at 2:58 pm

    I love videos like these. Freezer and pantry staples would be great. As a new post bariatric surgery patient I truly appreciate all of your help to eat healthier and clean.

    Reply
  13. Brenda says

    January 19, 2020 at 10:27 am

    I have been following you for a while now. Love your ideas and organization and willingness to share! Live to see pantry ideas and organization tips you may have. Freezer too!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      March 11, 2020 at 10:43 am

      Thanks so much, Brenda! Great to hear from you!

      Reply
  14. Karen Marrotte says

    January 19, 2020 at 10:23 pm

    Thanks for this video. Would love to see one with pantry items.
    Thanks for all your videos. Love to use your baking ones for meetings, etc.
    Happy New Year!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      January 23, 2020 at 1:45 pm

      Thanks Karen! Glad it was helpful . I plan to share freezer and pantry soon 🙂

      Reply
  15. sue says

    January 26, 2020 at 7:49 pm

    yes please make more video like this ):

    Reply
    • Dani says

      March 12, 2020 at 10:40 am

      Sue, I’m so glad you enjoyed this! If you’d like to tune in to videos similar to my Fridge Staples, I have these two available right now that I think you might like: “10 Healthy Freezer Foods | my go-to staples” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wv9HyiJhCw) and “10 Healthy Pantry Staples from Trader Joes” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKXc7PoXFEQ) Thanks for the support!

      Reply
  16. Jill Hughes says

    June 6, 2021 at 1:24 pm

    Thank you- these staple videos help to simplify what can become overwhelming to some. Much appreciated! 🙂

    Reply
  17. Elizabeth Reid says

    January 4, 2022 at 6:25 pm

    Love this video and would love more of this style video!! Thank you

    Reply
    • Dani says

      January 6, 2022 at 12:48 pm

      Thanks for the feedback, Elizabeth. So glad you enjoyed this one.

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Dani.

I’m a Health, Wellness & Weight Loss Coach, Mom of two, and the Founder of Clean & Delicious®. I’ll show you how to make healthy eating CRAZY-easy and insanely DELICIOUS!

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