We know eating 4 cups of fruits and vegetables a day helps us stay healthy. During home quarantine, what vegetables to buy that will last while making fewer grocery trips? The good news is – there are plenty of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables on the shelves!
With these few tips in mind, you can still have plenty of fruits and vegetables in the house, even during your stay-at-home time.
What Vegetables to Buy
If you do not go to the store for 14 days, how can you easily have a variety of vegetables on hand to prepare dinner with, and fruits to snack on?
In fact, I want you to become a human radar for vegetable foods when you go to the store. In and out, that’s it.
Stalky Vegetables Last Longer
Stalky vegetables are vegetables that have stronger stalks than leaves. They can stay fresh in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Examples are broccoli, Brussels sprouts, celery, carrots, green or red peppers. They are great cut-up for stir-fry, or sautéed as a side-dish at dinners. Oranges and apples can stay fresh for up to 2 weeks in the crisper drawer.
I was so happy to bring home seasonal asparagus, strawberries and blueberries. They don’t last as long as their stalky siblings but still stay fresh in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Craving a salad? Sure. Leafy greens such as lettuce, cabbages can keep in the fridge for 1 week. So do fresh tomatoes and cauliflowers.
Have a Meal Plan
The secret is to have a meal plan, so there is a purpose for each vegetable. They will not wilt in sadness in the back in the crisper drawer. Consume the leafy greens for salads first. Enjoy the blueberries on top of your breakfast oatmeal. Eat strawberries as snacks. The stalky vegetables can be used within 2 weeks in stir-frys.
Think Shelf-Stable
You will be surprised by the many types of vegetables that do not need to be refrigerated and can be stored in a pantry or a cool place. Potatoes, onions, and sweet potatoes are content and happy to be stored in the pantry for up to 2 months. Sweet potatoes are wonderfully rich in potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and fiber. Pop one sweet potato in the oven for 40 minutes and you have a deliciously nutritious lunch. No cleaning.
Other winter squash varieties such as butternut, Hubbard, and acorns can stay in the pantry for up to 1-3 months. They are delightfully delicious roasted as a side dish, or pureed into creamy soups as an entrée.
Save Money with Frozen Vegetables
Frozen vegetables are my best partners in making nutritious dinners seem effortless. Frozen spinach, peas, corns are very convenient in a vegetable chicken soup, a stew, or pot pies.
I always have a couple of cans of frozen orange juices in the freezer. Add 3 cups of water to a can of orange juice, and you have a refreshing pitcher of orange juice for the family, without going to the store.
Canned vegetables such as canned tomatoes, or canned beans are wonderfully versatile. Add a can of beans to many soups for a quick addition of protein. Canned tomatoes are perfect for soups and stews.
Your options for vegetables are still limitless in spite of the occasional empty shelves we see at the grocery stores. All it takes is recognizing that the vegetables come in so many forms, and ready to help you make nutritious dinners for your family. Do you always have some go-to vegetables on hand? Let me know. Leave me a comment below!
