As my youngest daughter once observed, “There’s nothing to eat in the house, but we have all the ingredients to make just about anything.”
Poor kid.
She was right.
I’ve discovered it’s a whole lot easier to make healthy food when you have the right ingredients on hand. Then, when you come across a recipe, you have no excuse not to make it immediately! Plus, it’s less tempting to eat out. Therefore, I typically keep the following ingredients in the house at all times…
In my pantry:
canned goods-beans (garbanzo/chick peas, black, navy, cannellini, navy, adzuki), tomatoes (whole, diced, sauce, paste), pumpkin
grains-rice, amaranth, millet, quinoa, wheat berries,, old fashioned oatmeal
lentils-red, green, brown
noodles-soba, udon, spelt, whole wheat
raw nuts-almonds, cashews, peanuts, pine, walnuts
seeds-chia, flax, hemp, pepitas, sunflower, popcorn
nut butters-peanut, almond, cashew, sunbutter
canned “milk”-coconut milk, coconut cream
dried fruit-dates, raisins, cherries, cranberries, goji berries
flour-spelt flour, whole wheat flour, coconut flour, garbanzo flour
baking ingredients-cacao powder, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla extract, almond extract
sweeteners-date sugar, coconut sugar, rice syrup, agave
chips-carob, vegan chocolate (mini, regular and chunk), cacao nibs
spices-nutritional yeast, Bragg’s liquid aminos, garlic bulbs, ginger root, and TONS of dried spices
potatoes-sweet, red
onions-vidalia, red
vinegar-white, apple cider, balsamic
oils-olive, hempseed, grape seed, coconut
weird stuff-silken tofu, VEGA ONE, spirulina, maca, acai
coffee/tea/vegetable broth
In my fridge:
milk-soy, coconut, almond, cashew
leafy greens-kale, spinach
veggies-(I try to buy seasonal) broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, brussels sprouts, asparagus, celery, mushrooms
fruit-(I try to buy seasonal) lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, grapes, berries, cherries, apples
condiments- tamari, coconut aminos, vegan worcestershire, mustard, vegan mayo, ketchup
things I can’t figure out how to categorize-apple sauce, coconut water, tahini, maple syrup, extra firm tofu, Daiya “cheese” slices and shreds
In my freezer:
fruit-cherries, berries, mango, pineapple, BANANAS
veggies-kale, green beans, corn, edamame
bread/buns-sprouted grain like
pizza-Amy’s
cubes-coffee, nut milk
ice cream-soy (This just happens to be Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream delivered to me from a student whose parents just happen to own the local ice cream shoppe in town!)
On my counter:
bananas, avocados, tomatoes
Self disclosure:
wine, wine, and more wine
So what are you waiting for? Go! Head to the grocery store! Fill your pantry…your fridge…your freezer!
Next post: What the heck do I do with all the food in my pantry, fridge and freezer?
