Rachael Finch On How To Give Your Pantry A Healthy Overhaul

I love giving my pantry and fridge an overhaul every couple of months! It doesn’t take long for half-eaten packets of crap to pile up and I truly believe our pantry and fridges are honest representations of our commitment to leading a healthy life. I love going through everything I have and don’t have and adjusting accordingly so I feel back on track. The best way to do it is get a garbage bag and ditch all the junk you don’t need or want in your body. Write a list of the good stuff and get ready for an overhaul! Here are my best tips...

1. Out with the old, in with the new

It’s the best way for an overhaul. Check the dates on all your products and throw out anything that’s no longer good. It doesn’t take long for things to perish and harmful mold to grow. Eww! Whenever I’m stacking the fridge I like to pull items to the front of the shelf or at least make them visible, so I can always see what I have and be more inclined to use it.

2. Fresh is always best

Any time I want to add goodness into my diet I fill my fridge with fresh fruit and veg. When I open the fridge, I see it there and I’m more likely to make something with those ingredients rather than order something or reach for crap. On my program Body By Finch, the weekly meal plans become available the week before so you can plan what you need and not over-shop! Nothing compares to home cooking with fresh, seasonal produce.

Just made on a LIVE for you. A slight adaptation from my program, blueberry + banana pancakes using the @bellamysorganic fruit pouches for ease, convenience & extra goodness! I use their pouches a lot for travel or if I'm out & stuck for food options for Dom. Recipes to satisfy the whole fam, even the hubby 😜 www.bodybyfinch.com #bodybyfinch

3. Save your glass jars!

If you do have any leftovers from lunch or dinner, it’s a good idea to put them into glass jars for storage in the fridge. Plastic wraps & containers have the potential to excrete harmful chemicals into your food so I try to avoid these as much as possible. Once I finish a jar or sauerkraut or olives I wash and dry the jar and keep them for this purpose. You can label jars with a black marker if you need too.

4. Nut butters are my go-to

I have a stack of Melrose nut butters in my pantry that I am constantly topping up. All kinds – macadamia, ABC spread, almond, peanut butter… these have a great shelf life and are yummy additions to any smoothie, protein ball or healthy slice. I even have them as a snack on their own with carrot sticks! Definitely worth having some on hand.

They are little sponges. I love teaching Violet about why it's good to keep our body healthy and she loves helping me in the kitchen with recipes made from wholesome ingredients. Yes she may eat food with refined sugar from time to time but it's more important for me that she understands the reason WHY we eat the way we do majority of time. I explain what healthy food does to our body in a way she can relate.. I might say "it makes our bones, hair & skin strong so we feel happy and don't get grumpy during the day".. A lot of our meals on #bodybyfinch are kid friendly and on the table in under 30 minutes. FREE trial for anyone wondering if it's for them or not. Build your repertoire of amazing meals & get fit at the same time 🙅🏼‍♀️🥗 (hit the link on my page!) Ps. Sweat marks from today's circuit I just did from the program!

5. Freeze more

With kiddies I know all about those days you open the fridge and there’s not many options… Freezing meals or ingredients ahead of time is a great way to get you out of trouble in these moments & keep you eating healthy! I always have bananas, berries and mango frozen for smoothies, and peas, spinach or other greens frozen for quick soup creations. Add some broth or seasoning and your good to go!