Your pantry contains lots of things, but are they things that help you prepare a healthy meal more easily?
I was in the checkout line at the grocery store last week and a woman said she hates cooking and struggles with ideas. She said she gets home from work or doing errands and she has to worry about dinner.
I think we can all relate....
You will have a head start with this dilemma if you have a well stocked pantry. When I think of a pantry, I also include my refrigerator and freezer as well as my dry goods area.
So what’s in a well stocked pantry? That depends on what you like to eat.
Let’s take a look at some ideas!
Dry and canned goods:
Beans, lentils, and split peas
Beans- canned refried, black, pinto and garbanzo
Boxed vegetable, chicken, or beef broth
Better than Broth ( it comes in a jar and it is wonderful) They have a chili paste flavor and it adds zip to chili sauces, taco soups and sauces. (I have the chicken, beef, vegetable and chili flavor in my refrigerator)
Bottles water
Canned milk
Canned soups
Cold cereal
Diced tomatoes
Dried coffee (for desserts)
Enchilada sauce
Fire roasted diced chilis
Maple syrup
Nuts and seeds
Nut butters
Oatmeal
Olives (pitted black, green and kalamata)
Pasta in packages
Pasta sauce
Potatoes
Rice
Teas (whatever you like)
Tomato sauce
Tomato paste
Tuna canned or pouches
Oils:
Extra virgin olive oil
Coconut oil
Avocado oil
Non stick cooking spray
Vinegars: white, balsamic, apple cider and rice
Refrigerator:
Milk
Eggs
Cheese Cheddar, Parmesan, Bleu, Feta,
Pickles sweet and dill
Condiments: yellow and dijon mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, BBQ sauce
Salad dressings: your preference
Yogurt greek (flavored and plain)
Sour cream
Cottage cheese
Panko bread crumbs
Spices and baking items:
Flour
Sugar (granulated, powered, brown)
Salt
Baking soda
Baking powder
Corn starch
Chocolate chips (milk and semi-sweet)
Molasses
Real vanilla
Butter flavored Crisco (for pie crust)
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Chili powder
Celery salt
Cinnamon
Cloves
Curry
Cumin
Dill
Nutmeg
Parsley (dried)
Sea salt, regular salt and seasoning salt
Pepper (black, peppercorns, lemon pepper)
Taco seasoning
Thyme (wonderful in chicken soup and pork dishes)
Spike (red label) This is great in quiches and egg dishes
Yeast
Freezer Essentials:
Frozen berries
Frozen bananas
Frozen corn
Frozen peas
Frozen mixed vegetables
Frozen meat
Frozen healthy meals for an emergency
Rice
Frozen waffles
Spices can be expensive, so shop around:, here are some tips:
Trader Joes has a small selection of spices but has great prices.
Costco has a good deal on large containers of spices, buy them and split them with a friend.
Grocery stores often have buy one and get one free deals. Keep your spice list in your phone and add to your collection when you see this sale.
Buy in bulk, this a great way to stock up more economically.
Next time I will show a recipe from my pantry…
Ciao,
Jamie
Two websites I used to create these lists were:
This website wants to help you live the life you want. The blogger Taya gives tips on how to save trips to the grocery store with a well stocked pantry and how to save money by eating out less. She also had a large area of how to do things for free, I had fun cruising through the areas of interest to me.
This website shares fun with food. It is full of pictures, themes, and creative ideas. Leah the blogger has posts from her pantry that include lots of items baking. It is a happy site with lots of fun in the kitchen for everyone.
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