Clalit Experts Advise on Healthy Winter Pantry Staples
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
Mariana Urbach, a Clalit nutrition manager, recommends stocking up on whole grains, legumes, frozen vegetables, and warming spices for the winter. She also suggests keeping staples like onions, garlic, coffee, tea, dark chocolate, dried fruits, porridge mixes, and olive oil on hand. These items can be used for hearty meals, warming drinks, and healthy snacks during the colder months when people tend to stay indoors.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Clalit nutrition manager Mariana Urbach advises stocking healthy pantry staples for winter.
- Whole grains, legumes, and frozen vegetables are recommended for nutritious meals.
- Warming spices, coffee, tea, and dark chocolate are suggested for comfort and health.
- Dried fruits and porridge mixes offer filling and nutritious options.
- Olive oil, onions, garlic, and bread are essential long-lasting ingredients.
As winter approaches and people spend more time indoors during rainy and stormy weather, Mariana Urbach, Manager of the Nutrition and Dietetics Unit at Clalit in the Dan-Petah Tikva district, has provided recommendations for healthy food items to stock at home. Whole grains such as brown rice, bulgur, pearl barley, pasta, couscous, quinoa, freekeh, and buckwheat are easy to store and offer essential vitamins and minerals, boosting mood and being simple to prepare. Legumes, including peas, lentils, beans, and chickpeas, are excellent complements to whole grains, together providing complete protein and a wealth of nutrients, and are ideal for hearty stews or winter soups. Urbach also suggests keeping frozen vegetables like green or yellow beans, corn, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, Brussels sprouts, artichoke hearts, spinach, or mixed vegetable blends, which retain most of their fresh nutrients and are readily available for side dishes, soups, casseroles, or warm salads. Fresh and frozen herbs like dill, parsley, and mint can easily enhance flavor. For pantry staples, she recommends warming winter spices such as cinnamon, turmeric, paprika, various peppers, bay leaves, and ginger, which not only add flavor but also warm the body. Garlic and onions are also essential, healthy, and long-lasting ingredients for most dishes. To round out the pantry, beverages like chocolate milk, coffee, and various teas are advised for warming drinks. For a healthy treat, a bar of quality dark chocolate is recommended for its mood-boosting and health benefits, though moderation is key. Dried fruits are another option, rich in fiber and minerals, but their high sugar content requires careful consumption. Porridge powders, such as oatmeal, cornmeal, and semolina, are filling and nutritious winter options. Finally, olive oil is highlighted for its essential healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, and keeping bread or rolls in the freezer is suggested for emergencies.