Canned foods aren’t always best for your diet, but it really all depends on the food. Buying your kids canned spaghetti is different than buying canned corn, for example.
Right now, when some foods are difficult to get ahold of because of the pandemic, it’s good to know which foods you can rely on. So, which canned foods are ideal for nutrition?
1. Canned pumpkin
Don’t just buy canned pumpkin during the holidays, buy it all season long, Cynthia Sass, an NYC and LA-based performance nutritionist suggests. Sass calls it a staple pantry item that has many health benefits.
“One half cup of pumpkin puree packs nearly 400 percent of the daily recommended target for vitamin A. This key nutrient and antioxidant supports immunity, lung, eye and skin health, and has been shown to protect against cognitive decline,” she tells NBCNews.
2. Beans
Beans aren’t just for chili. Tamara Duker Freuman, NYC-based dietitian, says they’re her go-to for a variety of nutritious meals.
“Canned black beans doctored up with some cumin and oregano are the basis of a Mexican-style bowl I serve with brown rice or quinoa, avocado and other toppings; canned cannellini beans are the star ingredient of a quick white chili I make with ground turkey, onions and garlic; and I mix canned chickpeas with a jar of Indian-style simmer sauce or pre-mixed spice blend for a quick South Asian curry, served with rice, plain yogurt and a cilantro garnish.”
3. Canned fish
Add a few cans of tuna or salmon to your pantry, suggests Jessica Levinson, RDN, a New York-based culinary nutrition expert.
“Tuna and salmon can be used to make sandwiches or to top a large green salad for lunch, added to pasta for dinner or transformed into fish cakes,” she says.
On your next trip the store, add these canned items to your list.
