In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea. This was he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah. … John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey (Matt. 3:3–4).
We may not share John the Baptist’s taste in dress or snack food, but he had the right idea! Snacking has and will always be with us. Most every culture has its own idea of what to eat between meals. It may be another meal! Eating several small meals a day is common in many countries.
We Americans have a tendency to bring out a tasty, but no-so-healthy, treat if the preacher comes to call or the in-laws come by for a visit or the next-door neighbors drop by the coffee. And, of course, nothing says “doughnuts” like Sunday School!
However, that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. We can be prepared to serve healthy snacks to our family and friends if we keep healthy foods in our cupboards! This is especially true for our own families and a must for our children and grandchildren.
Keep pantry, refrigerator, and freezer stocked with good things, and keep some colorful, inviting, healthy foods in plain sight on the counter.
In the Pantry
- Canned beans and peas
- Whole grain breads, crackers, cereals
- Wheat bran
- Pasta
- Tomato and vegetable pasta sauces vegetable juices
- Rice
- Canned sardines, tuna and salmon
- Canned fruit in juice or light syrup, applesauce
- Dried fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Canned nuts and seeds, roasted peanuts in the shell
- Non-refined naturally pressed, extra- virgin olive, avocado, walnut and flax oils
- Sweet potatoes, onions and garlic
- Honey
- Raw sugar and other pantry items you would deem indispensable.
In the Freezer
- Extra whole grain bread
- Whole grain pancake and muffin mix
- Wheat germ
- Frozen vegetables and fruits (berries especially)
- Meat, poultry and fish
- Nuts in packages
- Organic ice cream and frozen yogurt
In the Refrigerator
- Eggs
- Butter
- Natural nut butters
- Organic dairy products (milk, cream, yogurt, kefir, buttermilk)
- Tofu
- Sliced deli meats (turkey, ham)
- 100% fruit juice
- Fresh vegetables (carrots, red and green peppers, broccoli, celery, mushrooms, zucchini)
- Leafy vegetables (red-and green-leaf lettuce, romaine, and spinach)
On the Counter
- Bananas
- Apples
- Oranges
- Tangerines
- Tomatoes
- Whatever looks yummy at the market in season!
As a helpful resource, I have lots of articles on healthy ingredients and recipes that you can implement into your daily life.
If you’d like to dig deeper into my journey of discovering God’s plan for health and wellness, check out my book, Made For Paradise: God’s Original Plan for Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Rest.
