Shelf-Stable Foods to Substitute For Fresh Produce
14 Healthy, Shelf-Stable Foods That Can Help You Get Your Share of Fruits and Veggies
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Think you can only get the benefits of fruits and vegetables by shopping in the produce aisle? Think again! Fruits and veggies are being added to foods like rice, oatmeal, and snacks in really interesting and yummy ways. As a registered dietitian, I do a little happy dance every time I find food choices that help people eat more produce. Only one in 10 American adults eat enough fruits or vegetables, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Yikes!
For times when fresh produce just isn't an option, try reaching for any of these innovative, shelf-stable products. They go beyond the old-school diced fruit cocktail to help you meet your fruit and veggie quota for the day. Plus, they're convenient and delicious!
1 Bob’s Red Mill Organic Pineapple Coconut Oatmeal Cup
Bob's Red Mill Organic Pineapple Coconut Oatmeal Cups ($32 for 12) are made with real pineapple to give them a tropical flavour without anything artificial. The addition of flax and chia seeds in this single-serve cup brings some much-needed fibre, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to your breakfast.
2 Pacific Foods Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup
Pacific Foods Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup ($14 for 12) is made with real red pepper and tomato, along with amazing herbs and spices. This shelf-stable soup is a perfect solution to help get your produce in when fresh isn't readily available, and it tastes just as good as homemade.
3 Joolies Organic Medjool Dates
Fresh and perfectly sweet, Joolies Organic California Dates ($20 for eight) are perfect for eating on their own or stuffed with some natural nut butter for a more substantial snack. Naturally packed with fibre, magnesium, and potassium, these hand-picked dates give you a boost of nutrition and are good for up to nine months.
4 Popcorners Flourish Harvest Kale Veggie Crisps
Made with brussels sprouts and kale powder, Popcorners Flourish Harvest Kale Veggie Crisps ($16 for 24) are a nourishing alternative to traditional potato chips. With two grams of fibre and four grams of protein per serving, these crisps are a healthy snack to keep in your pantry.
5 Supernola Chewy Clusters
Supernola Chewy Clusters ($35 for 12) are made with superfoods like goji berries and chia seeds. You won't find remnants of fruit pieces in these clusters; instead, you'll find visible chunks of raisins, bananas, and other yummy and nutritious goodies. Supernola Chewy Clusters are a perfect portion-controlled option if you need some fruit to add to your morning yoghurt parfait or midday snack and don't have access to fresh.
6 Purely Elizabeth Cauli Hot Cereal
Purely Elizabeth uses a sneaky ingredient in their hot cereal cups: freeze-dried cauliflower! The shelf life of Purely Elizabeth Cauli Hot Cereal ($4) is nine months, and it's a great addition to any breakfast to help start your day off with a boost of veggies. Freeze-dried strawberries are included as well, so you can feel good getting in your fruit and veggies first thing.
7 Rind Snacks
Traditionally, the rind or skin of fruit is removed before it is dried. But Rind Snacks ($21 for six) recognise that the peel is where the bulk of fibre and antioxidants are housed in many pieces of produce. From persimmons to pears, Rind offers a variety of dried fruits that are bursting with nutrition and will last much longer than fresh.
8 RightRice Variety Pack
Sneaking in your veggies has never been simpler thanks to RightRice Variety Packs ($26 for six). Made with ingredients like lentil, chickpea, pea, and vegetable powders, RightRice contains more protein and fibre than your traditional white rice. Bonus? Many come pre-seasoned to add a boost of flavour to your meal.
9 Fresh Bellies Strawberry Feels Forever Snacks
Kids need their fruit, too, and Fresh Bellies Strawberry Feels Forever Snacks ($24 for six) meet their needs in a kid-friendly way. These freeze dried fruit snacks are made with no added sugar. Try their other flavours, too, including snap peas and roasted red peppers.
10 Shrooms Crispy Mushroom Snacks
Shrooms Crispy Mushroom Snacks ($4) have an earthy and umami flavour; add them to salads instead of croutons, use as a garnish on soups, or just snack on them on their own.
11 Slammers Watermelon Kiwi Burst Superfood Smoothie
Think fruit pouches are just for kids? Think again! Slammers Watermelon Kiwi Burst Superfood Smoothie ($5) snacks are loaded with ingredients like kiwi and watermelon instead of being mostly applesauce. One pouch provides seven grams of protein thanks to the addition of whey protein.
12 That's It! Dark Chocolate Truffles
Made with certified fair trade chocolate and real fruit, That's It! Dark Chocolate Truffles ($38 for six) fit the bill when nothing else but chocolate will do. These snacks are made with two ingredients: fruit and organic dark chocolate . . . that's it!
13 Barilla Veggie Rotini
Barilla Veggie Rotini ($1) is made with purée obtained from real spinach and courgette. Each 3.5 oz portion of this pasta provides 20 percent of the daily recommended amount of vegetables. Super yummy and kid-friendly!
14 Peaceful Fruits Organic Fruit Strips
Move over, old-school fruit leather! Peaceful Fruits Organic Fruit Strips ($14 for 12) are made with real organic fruit as the only ingredients. No artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives.
