My Dream Plant Based Fridge: Stocking my new Refrigerator to inspire Healthy Habits
I am so excited to set up my brand new refrigerator, stock it with plant based foods and ingredients, and organize it in the dreamiest way possible.
This might not be how my fridge will look every day. This is my vision of a what a perfectly planned whole food plant based refrigerator would look like.
For now, though, let’s dream a little.
A Childhood Dream Come True
This refrigerator is genuinely a childhood dream come true.
I gifted this to myself, and I feel so excited, like when I was a kid playing with my doll kitchen. It’s so satisfying to create a space filled with beautiful fruits, vegetables, whole foods, and ingredients that support health and vitality.
Before stocking up, I’ve taken time to measure every shelf and compartment and gather containers and jars that fit perfectly into each space. I even made a few drawing to decide what ingredients deserve a space on each shelf.
It is incredibly satisfying to find containers that fit perfectly.
I think of the shelves in this dream fridge as prime real estate. Every ingredient that earns a place here has to be worthy. And it’s a tough audition.
To make the cut, it has to be an ingredient my family genuinely loves, something that gets used regularly, and something that is fresh and healthy.
Some foods are better stored at room temperature, so I took some time to think carefully about what truly benefits from refrigeration.
Onions, garlic, ginger, and apples all stay at room temperature in my kitchen. Tomatoes, bananas, pears, limes and avocados also stay on the counter while they ripen. Only once they reach that perfect stage of ripeness do they earn a spot in the fridge, where they can stay fresh for a little longer.
And there is something special about eating juicy pears that have been sliced and refrigerated at that perfect stage of ripeness. It’s absolutely delicious.
When refrigerator space is limited, it’s important to be intentional. Every ingredient on the shelf should be working for you, Foods that you eat regularly, that your family members like, food that inspire healthy habits, ingredients that are prepped and ready to eat to throughout the week, stored right to prolong shelf life.
Why I Use Transparent Containers
One of my goals with this dream fridge is to make healthy food visible and inviting. I mostly use transparent containers because I want to actually see the food.
When fruits and veggies are displayed on eye level, really colourful, and ready to eat, they become convenient and inviting. I think this will inspire me and my boys to eat more fresh.
Preparing Food for Success
Adding a little vinegar to the rinse water helps strawberries and grapes stay fresh for longer.
I also keep washed and spun lettuce ready to use so that making a salad takes just a few minutes.
Garlic is another ingredient I use constantly, so I like to peel it in advance. Stored in a container with a little airflow, it keeps surprisingly well and saves time every day.
Fresh squeezed lemon juice is another staple of mine. I use it in dressings, sauces, juices, teas, and in my lemon water that I drink every morning.
The Morning Juice Station
One of my favourite sections of the fridge is my juice preparation area.
I prepare containers filled with washed produce for my morning juices. That way, instead of spending time gathering ingredients and washing and trimming each morning, I simply grab a container and start juicing.
Homemade Plant Based Staples
A dream plant based fridge wouldn’t be complete without homemade essentials.
I use things like:
• Plant based butter
• Rawtella
• Nut butter
• Vegan mayonnaise
• Coconut yogurt
• Sauerkraut
Having family favourite staples is important to create healthy meals and snacks throughout the week. These staples can vary, but I like buying brands that have very clean ingredient lists and beautiful minimalist branding that fits into my beautiful fridge.
Functional Drinks With a Purpose
I love drinks that are not only delicious but also offer some kind of functional benefit.
My fridge is stocked with:
• Reishi tea
• Probiotic raspberry soda
• Turmeric latte
• Pink latte
• Matcha latte
These are my grab-and-go wellness drinks. They feel like a treat while also supporting the body through medicinal roots, herbs, probiotics, adaptogens, medicinal mushrooms, and other nourishing ingredients.
The Egg Tray Hack
Even though I don’t eat eggs, I make use of the egg tray to store my wellness shots.
These are small medicinal boosters made with ingredients like:
• Turmeric
• Ginger
• Rosella
• Galangal
• Goji berries
They’re easy to grab and make a wonderful daily ritual.
Organizing by Colour
I organize many of my fruits and vegetables by colour, starting with pinks and reds, moving into oranges and yellows, and then flowing into greens.
Not only does it look beautiful, but it also reminds me of the incredible diversity of nourishment found in plant foods.
Eating the rainbow becomes more inspiring when you can actually see the rainbow.
Special Sections for Special Foods
I keep all of my black foods together on one shelf.
This includes things like black cherries, black olives, balsamic reduction, and chocolate sauce.
It may sound a little unusual, but grouping same color foods together makes it easier to find things and creates a visually pleasing fridge.
I store my ripe citrus fruit together with my ripe avocados in a drawer in the fridge. Both citrus and avocado benefit from cool storage after ripening, and they thrive when stored together. The citrus will have an effect on the avocado that will extend it’s shelf life exponentially.
In my other drawer I keep chillies, kaffir lime leaves and herbs. I keep those in airtight containers in the bottom of the drawer, and on top I store any leftover produce I happen to have.
Vegan Cheese and Dressings
Vegan cheese is essential in my dream fridge.
I also love having a variety of dressings prepared in advance so I can throw together salads and bowls in a matter of minutes.
I also keep grated vegan cheese prepared and ready for my kids to make paninis, pizzas, and quick meals.
I have a bit of a thing for radishes. I try to remember to eat a t least 1 per day. I think of radishes as an incredible medicine rather than just a vegetable. They are amazing for supporting digestion and liver function. It’s good to eat them on a daily basis to experience their incredible power.
The Chocolate Compartment
To be completely honest, this little snack compartment is what really made me fall for this refrigerator.
It’s such a perfect place to store raw chocolates.
And it wouldn’t be possible for me to create a dream plant based fridge without a section dedicated to chocolate.
The Final Touch
The final shelf contains my daily supplements:
• Probiotic capsules
• Vitamin B12
• Omega-3 chewables
I store them visible so I don’t forget them.
Making Healthy Choices Easy
This fridge is about creating an environment that makes healthy choices more easy.
With healthy foods visible, colourful, and ready to eat, it becomes easy to gravitate towards eating more fresh foods throughout the day.
A well-stocked refrigerator can quietly shape our habits, making it easier to eat the rainbow, enjoy a variety of fresh plant based food, and upgrade our diet.
Watch The Full Episode Of Setting Up My Dream Plant Based Fridge On Youtube
