The first step to cooking and eating healthy food is to stock your kitchen with a variety of nutritious goodies. Look for those with minimal ingredients, additives, and processing.
Here is a snapshot of what I keep in my pantry and what I use most often. Feel free to add your favorites and amend the list to suit your family’s dietary needs.
Condiments and spices:
Cinnamon
Turmeric
Cumin
Garlic powder
Black pepper in grinder
Cayenne pepper
Chilli flakes
Smoked paprika – sweet and hot – my favourite!
Salt: I like Himalayan or Celtic salt
Soy sauce
Bottled lemon juice: very handy! Look for 100% lemon juice, with nothing added
Nuts and seeds
Nut butters: tahini, almond, cashew, etc.
Nuts: almonds, cashew, pine, walnuts, etc.
Seeds: flax, sesame, pumpkin, sunflower, poppy, chia, hemp
Sweeteners:
Honey
Maple syrup
Stevia
Oils
Good quality olive oil
Rapeseed oil
Flaxseed oil
Toasted sesame oil
Pumpkin oil (my latest obsession!)
Vinegars
Apple cider vinegar
Balsamic vinegar
Red wine vinegar
Miscellaneous
Sea vegetables
Nutritional yeast
Olives
Fresh produce
Salad leaves
Root vegetables (I love sweet potatoes!)
Squash
Garlic
Onions
Fresh herbs
Eggs
Canned and jarred goods
Tomatoes
Beans
Coconut milk
Passata
Tomato pure
Dry goods
Lentils: red, black, green
Beans: different verities
Grains: brown rice, millet, quinoa, amaranth
Rice noodles
Pasta
Oats
Freezer:
Berries: raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries
Chopped, ripe bananas
Edemame beans
Broad beans
Green beans
Chopped onions (you can now buy them in the supermarket)
Peas
Carrots
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Spinach
Fresh chillies (chop the large ones before freezing, small ones can be frozen whole)
Fresh ginger (you can grate it from frozen, straight into your dish)
Meat and fish (if you eat them)
Use the above list for inspiration; feel free to add and adjust to suit your taste buds. We will talk about using the ingredients above to make cooking a breeze next time so stay tuned.
Tip: Keep a running list of products as you use them – you will have your shopping list ready
What is your go to ingredient? What do you keep in your pantry? I am curious, please share in the comments below. Are there any ingredient you are not sure about and like to learn more? Let me know and I will be happy to share and help you.
