Pantry Staples
Ok, you guys have asked about this one a lot, so here it is! My must have pantry staples. Keeping your pantry stocked with a few essentials is a major time saver when it comes to getting healthy meals on the table. If you keep these items on hand, you’ll always have options to pull from to throw a quick meal together and will save yourself the frustration (and waste of time) of multiple trips to the grocery store for just a couple of items.
Click below to watch the video with a little tour of my pantry or keep reading to my go-tos!
I keep a lot these items on hand because I like to have options depending on what I’m feeling that night. Plus dry and canned goods have such a long shelf that I don’t really have to worry about them going bad, but you definitely don’t need all of them. I’d suggest starting with 1-3 items from each category and then you can always build as you go.
What do you make sure to always have stocked? Let me know in the comments below!
I’ve put together this checklist for you to keep on hand to make it super easy to stock and organize your pantry. I’ve included notes in there on which I consider essentials and which you can add over time or use to switch things up.
Nuts & Seeds
These are great for adding fiber, protein, healthy fats, and texture! I need to have a little crunch in my meals and these are the perfect way to get that.
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Hazelnuts
- Pine Nuts
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Sunflower Seeds
- Sesame Seeds
- Flax Seeds
- Chia Seeds
- Heamp Hearts
- Peanut butter
- Almond Butter
Nut & Seed Butters
- Peanut Butter
- Almond Butter
- Cashew Butter
- Pumpkin Seed Butter
- Sun Butter
- Tahini
Whole Grains
If you’re bored of the standard rice and quinoa, there are so many different options to play with! Try toasting your grains in a pan before cooking them or replacing the cooking water with stock, broth or coconut milk for extra flavor!
- Barley
- CousCous
- Kamut
- Millet
- Oats
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Spelt
- Wheatberries
Spices
You know I love my spices! More flavor, extra nutritional benefits and little to no extra prep time required!
- Black Pepper
- Chili Flakes
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Italian Spice Blend
- Onion Powder
- Paprika
- Salt
- Turmeric
Stocks/Broths
These are great to add depth to soups and stews. I also like to cook my grains in a stock to add more flavor (this can be a great way to convert dedicated white rice lovers over to brown rice or quinoa!)
- Beef Stock
- Chicken Stock
- Vegetable Stock
Canned Goods
These foods are such a quick and easy way to complete a meal. Use beans, chickpeas or lentils for a quick protein source, corn to spice up a salad or rice dish and tomato based products for pastas, soups or stews.
- Beans
- Coconut Milk
- Corn
- Chickpeas
- Lentils
- Tomatoes
- Tomato Paste
- Tomato Sauce
Dried Goods
Dried legumes do take extra time and work to prepare so I suggest making them in batches if you go this route. Use them throughout the week of freeze extras so that they’re ready to go when you need them in the future!
- Beans
- Chickpeas
- Lentils
- Dried Fruit
So there you have it, a peek into a dietitians pantry! This really does take a lot of stress out of cooking and meal planning so I hope it comes in handy for you! Don’t forget to grab your downloadable checklist below. I would love to see your pantry! Show me your pics on Instagram and tag me @lindsaypleskot. If you’d like to me take a look and make any recos just let me know and I’ll be on it!
Happy Organizing 😉
Xo Linds
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