Get an inside scoop on Athens Nutrition’s favorite foods.
Have you ever wondered what your Athens Nutrition dietitians buy at the grocery store? Sure, we buy a lot of fruits and vegetables, but we save room for snacks, freezer foods, pantry staples and of course, dessert. We know some of these items may be hard to find right now, but we wanted to provide some inspiration for everyone cooking at home. Check out what the Athens Nutrition team likes to keep in their kitchens. Judy, Kristin, Gretchen, Amanda and Alexa hope you have fun trying some of their favorite foods.
Always in our pantry
Our pantries hold most of the food in our household, therefore it is important to keep them stocked with healthy items that also taste good. Most of the products we like are great both on their own or paired with other foods to make a satisfying snack or meal. In Judy’s pantry, you will find Moon Cheese, an all-natural cheese snack made from 100% cheddar cheese that requires no refrigeration. For breakfast, Judy reaches for Kodiak Cakes Flapjack and Waffle Mix to start her day off with a protein and fiber-packed meal that she tops with an assortment of fresh fruit and vanilla yogurt. Gretchen likes to keep brown rice cakes on-hand as a vehicle for toppings like avocado and nut butter, like Kirkland (Costco brand) Almond Butter. Kristin keeps mixed nuts in her pantry for their versatility. She adds them to oatmeal, muffins, and baked goods while being mindful of the serving size. She also has non-perishable protein sources like canned tuna and beans on her shelf for quick additions to salads and side dishes. Alexa always buys old-fashioned oats for a nourishing breakfast and admits that she could never live without a jar of peanut butter! Amanda likes to stock up on whole grains from the bulk bins or Bob’s Red Mill whole grains, including farro, quinoa, barley and bulgur. She adds these to canned or dried beans or lentils for the base of a customizable meal. She also likes to buy locally roasted coffee beans; these tend to be much fresher than the big brands but cheaper than going out for coffee.
Featured Pantry Products: Moon Cheese Cheddar Natural & Crunchy Cheese Snack, Kodiak Cakes Protein Packed Buttermilk Flapjack & Waffle Mix, Kirkland Almond Butter, Quaker Oats Heart Healthy Old-Fashioned Oats, Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grains
Our favorite bars
With the abundance of different bars out there, it can be hard to know which one is best for a nutritious on-the-go snack. We recommend looking for one that has a good amount of protein and no added sugars. Any of these featured bars would be a great choice. While Judy admits that she does not eat many bars, she recommends NuGo Slim bars to her clients. They are a good source of fiber and protein but low in added sugar. Gretchen’s favorite is ONE Protein Bar which comes in a variety of flavors like peanut butter cup and birthday cake. Kristin always looks for bars made with whole grains, nuts, seeds, and/or dried fruit. She likes the selection of bars from Nature Valley and KIND. Alexa also loves KIND bars as well as RX bars because of the simplicity of their ingredients.
Featured Bars: NuGo Slim Bar, KIND Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt Bars, ONE Protein Bar-Peanut Butter Cup, Larabar (various flavors), Nature Valley Crunch Bars, Almond Crunch, RXBAR (various flavors)
Our favorite seasonings
The easiest way to add flavor to a dish without reaching for salt or sugar is by using healthful seasonings and fresh herbs. Judy goes for anything truffle, like truffle powder and truffle oil. She likes to add flavor to her dishes with fresh herbs like basil, dill or rosemary. Also, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a sprinkle of lemon zest will brighten any dish. Gretchen, Kristin, and Alexa all grab the ‘Everything but the Bagel’ seasoning from Trader Joe’s which they enjoy sprinkled over avocado toast or eggs in the morning. Similar to Judy, Kristin likes to cook with fresh herbs like oregano and parsley. Alexa always has cinnamon in her spice cabinet to add just the right amount of sweetness to her oatmeal and lattes. Amanda likes to drizzle aged balsamic vinegar over roasted or grilled vegetables, salad or even fruit. She loves spices and will stock a variety of blends, including berbere, garam masala, jerk seasoning, dukkah, ras el hanout and za’atar, to liven up her meals.
Featured Seaonings: Black Truffle Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend both sold at Trader Joe’s.
Always in our fridge
The refrigerator is where you will find some of our favorite dairy products and snack pairings. Judy always stocks up on Siggi’s yogurt which is an Icelandic-style yogurt made with simple ingredients. It is a great protein source with very little added sugar. Gretchen likes to keep Honeycrisp apples in her fridge to ensure they stay fresh, crisp, and juicy. Kristin always keeps cottage cheese in her house as it offers a hefty dose of protein and calcium. Her favorite is Daisy cottage cheese since it only has a handful of ingredients, all of which you can understand. She also likes to snack on BelGioso Fresh Mozzarella Snacking Cheese along with a few whole-grain crackers or pretzels and apple slices. In Alexa’s fridge, she has hard-boiled eggs for an easy grab-and-go snack during busy weeks. You will also find Alexa snacking on hummus with raw veggies and pretzels, so she stocks her fridge with this dip. Amanda’s fridge is stocked with plain 0% or 2% Fage Greek yogurt and Soom brand tahini for sweet and savory recipes. Additionally, she likes to have a wide selection of condiments, including sriracha, pesto, curry paste, and mole paste to add variety to weekday meals without a lot of time or effort.
Featured Fridge Products: Siggi’s Nonfat Yogurt (various flavors), Daisy Cottage Cheese, Belgioso Fresh Mozzarella Snacking Cheese, Soom Sesame Premium Tahini, Fage Greek Yogurt (plain 0% or 2%)
Always in our freezer
The freezer is a great place to store whole grain bread and we are big fans of frozen vegetables and fruit. In Judy’s freezer, you will find a loaf of Ezekial bread, excellent toasted with almond butter and a dash of cinnamon. Frozen shrimp for a quick weeknight meal or a nutritious addition to salads and wraps and Costco organic frozen blueberries for smoothies and to add to her yogurt or oatmeal. Gretchen keeps Morningstar Farms Spicy Black Bean Veggie Burgers in her freezer as an easy, plant-based dinner option for her and her family during the week. Kristin always has a variety of proteins on hand such as chicken, ground turkey, and fish. She also stocks frozen vegetables, especially green beans and edamame. Frozen veggies are just as nutritious as fresh ones since they are frozen right after they are picked. As a tasty side, Alexa likes to buy frozen sweet potato fries to bake in the oven. Her favorite brand is Alexia’s because they have just a hint of sea salt and they turn out nice and crispy.
Featured Freezer Products: Costco Organic Frozen Blueberries, Morningstar Farms Spice Black Bean Veggie Burgers, Alexia Sweet Potato Fries, Food for Life Ezekial 4:9 Bread
Our favorite ways to satisfy our sweet tooth
Our team loves to end the day with something sweet because we believe all foods can be enjoyed in moderation! Judy likes to satisfy her sweet tooth with her ‘nice cream’ recipe or with Medjool dates stuffed with a square of dark chocolate. Gretchen reaches for cocoa dusted almonds when she is craving chocolate during the day and Kristin loves Italian biscotti. Alexa’s dessert of choice each night is a simple scoop of Breyer’s Natural Vanilla ice cream which is made with minimal ingredients like fresh cream, milk, sugar, and Rainforest Alliance Certified vanilla. It is her favorite way to end the day. Amanda usually ends her night with a cup of herbal tea, but some days only a bite of chocolate will satisfy (individually wrapped pieces are great for portion control).
Featured Sweet Products: Medjool Dates, Breyers Ice Cream Natural Vanilla, Nonni’s Biscotti (various flavors)
Judy 
Alexa 
Kristin 
Gretchen 
Amanda