It’s National Nutrition Month! How you choose to eat is a really personal choice. We all have favorite foods and the things we can’t stomach, but learning to eat what’s good for our bodies is a journey that we all go on individually. People always ask me about what I like to keep around the house, and so this month I wanted to share with you some kitchen staples that I think go a long way to keeping me and my family eating right. I’m also on a major budget. Those two things don’t always go hand in hand so I have to work really hard on my list of pantry and freezer staples! I tend to buy things in bulk whenever they’re on sale, that’s a great way to always have a good choice on hand. Here are a few of my staples:
Refried Beans (preferably black)
Coconut Oil
Enchilada sauce
Light Chunk Tuna
Rice
Quinoa
Steel Cut Oatmeal
Garbanzo beans (I make Hummus every week!)
Sesame paste (Tahini—for the Hummus!)
Kidney Beans
Black Beans
Apple Sauce Squeezers
Peanut Butter
Almond Butter
Brownies (my huge vice!)
Agave (an all-natural sweetener)
Olive Oil
Tamari (a darker soy sauce)
Franks Red Hot (we “Buffalo” any and everything!)
Cholula Hot Sauce
Tarjin (from the Mexican store, it’s my favorite spice!)
Rye Crisp Crackers
Raisins
KIND Bars
Almonds
Cashews
Salsa
Gluten-free chips for dipping
In terms of the fresh stuff we make a lot of chili and Mexican food and eat a ton of fish and ground turkey. I make fresh and frozen fruit and vegetable shakes every day in my Vitamix. I’ve decided to go with only organic for anything that comes from an animal, which is a big expense so we’ve cut down a bit on eating meats. When I do buy it, it’s only organic ground turkey, chicken, pork, beef, eggs etc. Here are a few other things that are always on my list...
Almond Milk
Greek yogurt
Tomatoes
Frozen fruit (or fresh if in season)
Frozen kale & spinach (or fresh if in season)
Brussels sprouts
Avocados
Cheese - usually Sharp Cheddar
Apples
Tempeh
Tortillas
Cauliflower
Sugar snap peas
Salmon
Mahi Mahi
Shrimp
Artichokes
Lettuce
Blackberries
Blueberries
Strawberries
Bananas
Pizza dough and/or frozen pizzas.
I’m always looking for new ideas, easy meals and things the kiddos will eat! So please share any tips/recipes/pantry staples you love with me on my Facebook page! Shop and eat with Joy :)
Kerstin