Ever wonder what staple items I keep stocked in my fridge that fit with a clean eating lifestyle? Here are my top 10 clean eating refrigerator staples!

1. Eggs & Liquid Egg Whites. Eggs are great for a quick breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack! They are high in protein, and egg whites are low in calories. I like to use whole eggs for recipes that call for single eggs, and to make hard boiled eggs for snacks, or to put in an Egg Salad for a quick and easy lunch. I like to use liquid egg whites for Personal Pan Egg White Pizzas, and in baked goods that call for egg whites.

2. Cooked Chicken Breast. If I don’t have time to meal prep anything else for the week, I always make sure to at least have some pre-cooked chicken on hand. Whether I broil it, grill it, sauté it, or cook it in my crockpot, it is a great protein source to add to a recipe or meal. If it is cooked and ready ahead of time, it makes it easy to throw into a recipe, cutting meal prep time in half during a busy week day. I also like to put cooked chicken breasts on salads, or wrap up in a Wrap Sandwich for quick a quick and easy lunch option.

3. Cottage Cheese. If you haven’t already noticed, cottage cheese is a staple in my Protein Shakes! (If you haven’t already tried it… I beg you to try it at least once, even if you hate cottage cheese! You can’t taste it at all! It just makes the shakes nice and thick and creamy, all while adding lean protein to keep you satisfied! But, if you still can’t handle the thought of it, or your stomach doesn't agree with dairy, you can replace it with avocado, frozen banana, or Plain Greek yogurt.) Cottage cheese is a great replacement for ricotta cheese in many of my recipes(it is lower in fat and calories and higher in protein), and it also makes a great snack if you top it with cinnamon, fruit, or even blend it up to make a No Bake Protein Cheesecake Mousse.

4. Greek Yogurt. Plain Greek yogurt is a another ingredient you may notice frequently used on Dashing Dish, (however, if you are sensitive to dairy, I try to always provide alternate options). It makes a wonderful base for cream sauces in many of my recipes, as well as a replacement for full fat condiments such as mayo. Some of my favorite ways to use Greek yogurt is in my Protein Overnight Oatmeal, in my Frozen Cookie Dough, or in one of my Single Serve One Minute Cake. Aside from being great in recipes, it is also great to have on hand to make a quick high protein breakfast or snack! I like to sweeten it with stevia and cocoa powder and peanut flour, or with berries!

5. Clean Eating Coffee Creamer. I make my Clean Eating Coffee Creamer at least once every other week! It is a great replacement for the sugary (or sugar free) flavored kind that is sold in stores, and it makes your coffee taste amazing without all the sugar and chemicals! This lasts in the fridge for 7-10 days, so depending on how quickly you go through creamer, you could even double the recipe and make a bigger batch to last you!

6. Parmesan Cheese. When it comes to cheese, I try to use it sparingly, with exception to Parmesan cheese! I love to use parmesan cheese in my recipes and on my meals, because a little goes a long way! It is packed with flavor, and has less calories than most cheese. It is also my favorite thing to put on Roasted Vegetables to make the flavor out of this world delicious!

7. Zucchini. Zucchini is one of my favorite things to have in my fridge, because it is incredibly versatile! I like to cut it into slices for my Zucchini Chips, shred it and put it in my baked goods, and use it in my spiralizer to make zucchini noodles.

8. Unsweetened Almond Milk. I like to keep almond milk on hand to use in many of my recipes. It can be used in place of regular milk in any meal or recipe, and it provides a lower calorie, lower sugar option, that is often easier on the digestive system than cow’s milk.

9. Cauliflower. Cauliflower is one my favorite vegetables! I like to keep both fresh and frozen cauliflower on hand, because it thaws wonderfully (it isn’t too watery like some vegetables when thawed), and there are so many uses for it. You can easily make it into Creamy Alfredo Sauce or it can be used as a low carb alternative to rice, potatoes, or pasta in recipes. It also happens to be one of my favorite side dishes when roasted up with parmesan cheese, (if this sounds appealing, you have to try my Parmesan Cauliflower Poppers.) I also love cauliflower because it is low in calories and high in fiber and vitamins, (like most vegetables), so it keeps you satisfied!

10. Hummus – Hummus is something I almost always have on hand in my fridge. I use it in place of salad dressing, on a wrap sandwich, and of course for dipping vegetables in! I also use it to replace mayo and sauces in many recipes, such as Hummus Chicken Salad. The only thing about hummus that you will want to be careful of is the calorie content in a serving. Different brands can vary widely on calories, so be sure to pay close attention. I recommend any hummus that has 50 calories or less per serving, which is two tablespoons.