04 Sep Inside the Fridge Welcomes New Yorker and Nut Butter Lover Ronna Corlin

Ronna Corlin, CHHC, AADP is a board-certified holistic health coach and nutrition educator steeped in the lifestyle of eating for nutrient density. Her prescription for health is a science-based, integrative approach ‘crowding out’ the diet with more plant-based foods and cooking more. Her studies with masters in Integrative medicine, nutrition and mind-body healing, along with practical experience coaching leads her to conclude that one’s ability to thrive is intrinsically linked to what’s IN THE FRIDGE. Connect with Ronna on Twitter and at Ultimate You.

ITF: Where do you shop for food?

I shop at the Farmer’s market, Japanese/Chinese/Korean market, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Fairway, and neighborhood local green markets around NYC. I like to keep up with supermarkets that have really stepped up their game to include local, seasonal and even organic lines to be competitive in the marketplace.

ITF: What is the single most important thing on your mind when shopping for food?

Nutrient density is on the top of mind as I shop for food, because of the benefits that this style of eating delivers.  My ‘cheat days’ now consist of creating upgraded versions of old comfort foods so, I’m not cheating anymore.

ITF: How do you plan your weekly meals? Create a spreadsheet or fly by the seat of your pants?

No spreadsheet for me. I’ll batch cook one or two days per week. Healthy eating for me starts with some simple planning and cooking. It saves time and money too. Previously, my preparations in the kitchen were semi-homemade.  I resorted to cooking by opening packaged foods that came in boxes and wrappers. These days, I’m a bit more strategic. I’ll prepare simple grains I can use for breakfast, lunch or dinner or cook up new varieties of whole grain rice like sticky purple rice or sweet brown rice. Grains make a great base for additional whole food toppings – raw or cooked vegetables, beans, lentils, fruit, nuts and seeds. A big pot of soup is a weekly staple. One pot meals too, like the spicy black bean stew I made this week. 

ITF: What is the most coveted food in the fridge right now?

My cashew butter is the most coveted because it is so versatile. It’s great with breakfast porridge, on butter lettuce leaves, in sauces over greens, in made-from-scratch salad dressings, or sitting atop a slice of 100% sprouted bread. A perfectly-baked Japanese ‘Imo’ potato is a close second.

ITF: Do you believe in eating leftovers?

Yes. Cook once, eat twice! If you stock your fridge and freezer to be meal ready, leftovers are transformed into meals in no time. Make nutrient dense soups, stews and casseroles that roll into leftovers all week long. And a modest bowl of some of these plant-centered dishes at breakfast-time, alongside oatmeal or a smoothie is sure to put a tiger in your tank, energy-wise.

ITF: What convenience product can you not live without?

I love Harissa ketchup. It’s a fire-roasted pepper sauce from Saha Sauces, a local purveyor in CT.  It jazzes up dishes and provides the perfect blend of spices and robust flavor in simple fashion. It’s great for stews, sauces and as a glaze for protein. My favorite use at the moment is using it as a dip for sweet potato fries.

ITF: What cooking utensil/piece of equipment/appliance do you live for?

My Vitamix is my muse at the moment. Beyond smoothies, it makes soups, desserts, nut creams, sauces, burgers and incredible dairy-free ice cream from frozen fruit.  

ITF: What was the last meal you cooked from scratch?

Broccoli-ginger soup, homemade veggie burgers and chocolate chip cookies made from oats, bananas, nut butter and a quality dark chocolate bar – all made in the Vitamix.

ITF: What was the last meal you cooked from convenience products?

If I use convenience products, they get mixed in with fresh, whole foods, but every once in a while I’ll bake up Gardein meat-free chick’n tenders with a reputable jarred tomato sauce and melt dairy-free Daiya mozzarella-style shreds on top. 

ITF: Anything else?

Have fun filling your fridge abundantly with a variety of healthy options and keep it stocked with ‘recipe basics’ so, meals-in-minutes are at the ready.  Building an arsenal of easy, delicious, nutritious recipes that you can repeat, allows you to ease into a pace that you feel you can stick with.  

Thank you Ronna!

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