Here are some food items that I like to keep in my kitchen at all times. With these essentials on hand, I am able to prepare healthy, natural, and tasty meals.
Pantry
- Olive oil (buy organic if possible and store away from light, preferably in a dark bottle)
- Coconut oil
- Apple cider vinegar
- Sea salt
- Pepper
- Various spices (faves: basil, oregano, cinnamon, dill, red chili flakes, cayenne, turmeric, vanilla extract)
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
- Canned tomato sauce (though homemade is ideal, this can be a time saver — always read labels and opt for one without added sugar)
- Dried beans (lentils, mung, black)
- Rice
- Canned tuna and sardines (though fresh is best, once again when you’re in a pinch, better to have these than no protein at all)
- Seeds and nuts (pumpkin, sunflower, walnuts, almonds, macadamia, pistachios)
- Garlic
- Butter (from grass-fed, pastured cows)
- Eggs (organic and/or pastured)
- Plain, unsweetened full-fat yogurt
- Dijon or grain mustard (for salad dressing)
- Lemons and limes (for salad dressings and marinades)
- Miso paste
- Tahini
- Cilantro and/or parsley
- Tea (a wide assortment — I drink A LOT of tea and many types: yerba mate, holy basil, green, chamomile, ginger, dandelion root, etc.)
- Coffee — though I do not argue that coffee is healthy (some would say otherwise), I prefer to make my coffee at home, knowing that it’s organic
Well, that’s a glimpse into my kitchen — hope you found that informative, interesting, or just plain amusing!
I’d be curious to see what’s in your kitchen as well — please feel free to share any food items that you consider staples — thanks!
If Kitchen Staples: Healthy Pantry and Fridge Essentials was helpful, please share this post with a friend so that they too may learn something from reading it.
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Mike is a holistic nutritionist that helps people feel more optimistic about their health and wellness through changes in diet and lifestyle shifts.
He has authored posts and articles featured on MarthaStewart.com, today.com, and iVillage.com.