You need some pantry basics to go with your fresh produce. It saves time, if you don’t need to do a shop run on the way home at the end of the day. Here are some items I always try to keep on hand.
⭐️ Dry goods
These are the standby items which have a longer shelf life. Store them out of direct sunlight & in closed containers.
✅ Flour ✅ Rolled oats ✅ Pasta ✅ Rice ✅ Lentils & legumes ✅ Baking powder & baking soda
✅ Raw honey
Photo by Nadia Pimenova on Unsplash
⭐️ Herbs & spices
I tend to stick to things that fit with the foods I like. Me, I like baking & Italian flavours. It may even change depending on the season, winter I do a lot of soups but more hearty salads in summer. Even as I am experimenting with Metabolic Balance meals, I am finding my go to herbs & spices are changing. At the moment I have rosemary, thyme, a bay tree in the garden & access to fresh ginger – so I don’t have these in the cupboard.
✅ Ground cinnamon ✅ Nutmeg ✅ Oregano ✅ Ground turmeric ✅ Curry powder ✅ Fennel seeds ✅ Sea salt
✅ Cracked black pepper
You may use more Mexican styled spices (THINK cayenne pepper, ground cumin or ground coriander) or even do a lot of Asian cooking (THINK curry leaves, star anise, five spice, cardamom or sesame seeds). Bottom line – play to your strengths & remember – keep your herbs & spices fresh for the best flavour.
⭐️ Oils & Sauces
These can be handy to have but again play to your strengths on the type of foods you cook frequently.
✅ Oils (extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil & some sesame oil) ✅ Vinegar (apple cider vinegar & balsamic)
If you do a lot of Asian style cooking you could add in soy & fish sauce.
⭐️ Don’t forget the fridge stuff
These items generally don’t have a long shelf life, so they probably be regular purchases if they are foods you eat.
✅ Milk ✅ Eggs ✅ Greek yoghurt ✅ Cheese ✅ Nut butter
There are things that you always will be using & replacing – those are your staples. Sometimes you will purchase other things as needed but sticking to your staples where possible to save time & money.
#Life101 #Inspo #HappyHealthyLife #EatWell #LiveWell #MetabolicBalance #ConsciouslyNutritious
Photo by Nadia Pimenova on Unsplash