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Eating healthy meals is important for me and my family and I have a few tips that we use to accomplish this… canned foods are one of them and I’m excited to share them with you! I have been compensated for this post by Cans Get You Cooking for my participation in this campaign as part of the Mom It Forward Blogger Network.
I took my daughters on a tour of the canned food aisle earlier this week at Albertson’s to share some of my favorite cooking tips with them.
Now that two of them are getting older and into their teens, I feel like my parenting job has turned more into a “get them ready for adulthood” than it ever has before. I thought it would be fun to share some of those tips with you all too!
We have a large pantry filled with cans because they seal in nutrition, freshness and flavor, naturally.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are harvested at their peak of ripeness and canned within hours, making the can one of the best ways to lock in nutrients and get food from its source to your family table. Like the home canning process, canning seals in food’s natural goodness and nutrition so it’s there for you any time. I can’t tell you how many times cans have saved dinner. When I don’t know what to cook, or I haven’t been to the store in too many days I love that we are still able to eat healthy fruits in veggies from cans.
#1 Tip I shared… canned soup is awesome on a cold day and makes a complete meal that is ready in 3 minutes. Come time for college or new babies they will thank me for this tip. Progresso is one of our favorite canned soups. The lentil one is always stocked in our pantry.
Canned foods can be a hallmark of a healthy diet.
Canned produce is on par nutritionally with fresh and frozen varieties, and in some cases even better. Studies conducted by researchers at Michigan State University, UC Davis and Oregon State University all concluded that canned foods have similar (or better) nutritional profiles as their fresh or frozen counterparts. People who frequently eat canned foods may have healthier diets than people who don’t.
#2 Tip I shared- Don’t forget to add a veggie to dinner. A can of green beans is and easy and tasty veggie side.
Canned foods make homemade easy!
Canned foods mean less prep and year-round availability, making healthy, homemade meals a reality, more often. A well-stocked pantry – your “Cantry ” – helps you get through the week with creative meals you can feel good about serving your family and friends.
#3 Tip I shared- using cans to make our homemade family recipes is the way to go. I use Bush’s canned beans for our chili and it is one of our favorite recipes!
Cans help waste less food, saving us time and money, and reducing our impact on the environment.
Americans throw away approximately 15 percent to 20 percent of the fresh fruits and vegetables they purchase every year. Canned food portion sizes are just right for both individuals and families, and most recipes are designed around these sizes. Metal cans are endlessly recyclable and, in fact, are the most recycled containers in America today, keeping metal out of landfills and saving significant energy.
We also use S&W tomatoes in our chili because the quality is top notch and my recipe calls for exactly 2 can worth!
Del Monte makes our favorite canned peas for our homemade casseroles.
Remember those sides of veggies I always recommend with dinner? They are almost always from our “go-to brand” Green Giant if they are corn or green beans.
#4 Tip I shared- You must make homemade hummus regularly. We love hummus and we make it often with Goya chick peas! The girls are learning to make this right now!
#5 Tip I shared- Muir Glen canned tomatoes are awesome in homemade spaghetti sauce! Always have at least 6 cans in your pantry to use when the inspiration hits you to make a fabulous Italian meal!
I think this infograph really shows how awesome canned food is.
Cans Make the Meal with Kelsey Nixon Special
Cans Get You Cooking sponsored a 30-minute special that aired on Cooking Channel during the month of February, National Canned Food Month. This special featured Kelsey Nixon taking viewers down the canned food aisle, sharing fun canned food facts, and creating four delicious recipes inspired by her Cantry. To view the four segments of the episode, visit www.YouTube.com/CansGetYouCooking
Check out the Cans Get You Cooking website and also the Cans Get You Cooking Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube pages for more information and inspiration!
I generally buy fresh, but in a pinch food from cans can really save time.
I definitely prefer fresh but there are many things I do buy canned like tomatoes, corn, and artichokes.
Yep – I’ve been using canned foods to make homemade soup quickly – and love chili and beans – and, well I share you thinking here! lol
Great post! I love to keep a good stash of canned foods in my pantry for anything that comes up!
We keep a lot of canned goods in our pantry. They keep so well and are easy to incorporate into meals.
I should do more cans! I usually don’t. Fresh or frozen is usually what I use but cans would surely cut down time and be just as yummy!
We use a lot of canned items every day. I especially use canned ingredients for chili.
I try to stick with fresh as much as I can but I do have a pantry with canned goods for quick meals and back ups.
I definitely prefer cans! There is a very good reason for this-I am single and live alone–If I buy fresh–it ends up in the garbage. It may look more expensive but I generally buy the small cans-perfect for one meal for me! NO WASTE. Carrots, string beans and sliced beets in cans can always be found in my pantry along with assorted soups etc.
I always keep cans in the cupboard while I do prefer fresh it is such a convenient way to keep food.
I can go a step further, I have a canning machine and make my own. I don’t have to deal with preservatives or additives that way. Canning is great and they stay good on a shelf for up to two years. I have beans, meat, jams, fruit, etc all canned, ready to go!
We use a lot of canned food. It is always nice to have on hand too.
I like to have a stockpile of canned goods on hand. I like fresh and frozen veggies/fruit but I do like to use canned tomatoes, canned stock, canned beans, and canned milk (coconut, goat, evaporated and sweetened condensed) often! I am a prepper so canned goods are a must!
I always make sure to have canned foods in my home. They make cooking easier, and they last a lot longer!
We have a garden so we grow and freeze as much as possible, but there are still things we love in cans!
I’m not gonna lie, my kids prefer canned veggies over the frozen veggies. We have a whole pantry full of canned veggies, a lot cheaper too.
I use canned tomatoes in the winter when fresh ones aren’t very good. Canned chicken broth is a staple in our pantry, too.
These are all great tips. I love to eat soup especially when it gets cold out. I always keep a few canned foods in the pantry for a backup.
I always buy canned corn or tomatoes for salsas. It can be so easy ! I love the price too.
There are wonderful ways we can use canned foods; plus they are air tight and last longer. I like canned beans and use it quite a bit.
Love canned foods…they’re so convenient and love that they last a long time in the pantry!
I keep my pantry stocked with canned foods – especially vegetables, beans, and tomatoes. We generally have 1 with our dinner. It makes it easier to eat some healthy options. You gotta watch the sodium though!
Although I prefer to use dry beans and make my own soups, I don’t always have time for that. I try not to eat a lot of processed foods, so when buying canned soup I find the ones that are lower in sodium. I do like a good Progresso soup though.
Canned foods are definitely more convenient for this Working Mom during the week. They allow me to prepare quick meals for my family.
I always like to have a couple soups and veggies on hand. They really can be the best go tos when there’s a fast meal to be made.
I know how it is to maximize can goods. When worst comes to worst during storms it’s useful.
Canned foods are great! I use them all the time, especially all of the Campbells “Cream of” cans for my casseroles or crockpot meals.
We used to use canned beans for our chili, until we looked at how much sodium they’re packed in. Now we make ours fresh.
I like using canned tomatoes when fresh is not in season. Canned soups are great for quick casseroles too!
I prefer a lot of the canned vegetables than frozen and cook with canned goods all the time.
I have a pantry full of canned goods. I go through a lot of them this time of year making foods like soup.