Sustainable Winter Eats: 5 Must-Have Foods

Winter can be a drag for the sustainable eater. And every night is a challenge for the would-be sustainable eater who doesn't like to cook. A common complaint goes like this: "Unless I go to the market with a specific recipe in mind, I never know what to buy. And then I come home with a bunch of things that end up going to waste." (Americans waste as much as half of the food they buy.)

Here's a suggestion for handling both dilemmas: If you stock these five seasonable items in your kitchen all winter, you'll always have enough for a variety of meals, and for those occasions when you do want to follow a special recipe, you can just pick up the few extra ingredients that you need. Follow the links for some recipe suggestions.

Cabbage
Most definitely my favorite winter vegetable, cabbage is cheap, nutritious, and incredibly versatile. It is equally tasty whether braised, pickled, stuffed, or raw. Try switching it up between green and red, too.

Carrots
Carrots are cheap, nutritious, and last for a long time. I've already talked about carrots as a great base for soups and stews, such as this Carrot and Parsley Soup. They're also great roasted in the oven.

Onions
Just buy a big bag of onions and keep them in the cabinet for weeks — chances are you'll use them everyday. Onions can add subtle flavor and texture to almost any dish, or can step up to a leading role, such as in these Tempeh Reubens with Caramelized Onion (one of my favorite dishes).

Dried Grains
You don't have to worry about grains going bad, so keep a variety in the cabinet. Couscous, quinoa, polenta, millet, and bulgar can all be cooked in under 30 minutes - perfect for weeknight dinners. And cook a double batch while you're at it. With fruit and honey, any of those grains make a tasty breakfast.

Canned Tomatoes
I know, they're not the pinnacle of sustainable and seasonable eating, but canned tomatoes are a great staple in the winter. Use them in soups and sauces, and let them remind you of the glorious harvest just around the corner.

Keep eating (in) well!

Photo: recursion see recursion