Most people advocate cleaning out in the Spring, but one of our favorite food contributors, Anni Daulter, recommends a Healthy Pantry Makeover in the winter.
“I find that I have more time indoors at home and want to get my kitchen re-stocked and re-set for the new year to come,” Anni explains.
If you are new to healthy eating and organics, take this time to start replacing some of your old spices and cooking oils with refreshed healthier versions than what you may currently have lurking in the depths of your darkened pantry. This pantry makeover is also helpful when preparing to make purees, because having these healthy items on hand makes the cooking process seamless and stress free.
If your kitchen is vegan, disregard any dairy or animal stocks from this list.
Pantry Staples List for healthy family cooking:
Legumes:
- Chickpeas / garbanzo
- pinto
- lentils
- Great Northern beans
- red kidney beans
Various cooking oils:
- coconut oil
- grape-seed
- sunflower
- olive oil
Seasoning:
- sea salt
- salts with minerals added in (colored salts)
- pepper
- Braggs amino acids
- whole garlic cloves
- yellow Onions
- low sodium soy sauce
- tamari
- thyme
- oregano
- 5 Spice
- cumin
- cloves
- turmeric
- homemade baking powder
- various flours
- homemade vanilla extract
- cocao
Sweeteners:
- coconut sugar
- pure cane sugar
- agave nectar
- local honey
Grains:
- quinoa
- millet
- whole grain oats
- brown rice
- fresh granola
Stocks:
- organic vegetable
- chicken
- beef
Dairy:
- raw or organic milk
- coconut milk
- fresh butter
- various types of cheeses
- plain greek yogurt
- 7 stars lemon yogurt
Healthy Easy Snacks for Kids:
- WASA crackers with honey butter
- apple slices with almond butter
- yogurt with a puree mixed in with granola
- broccoli with melted freshly grated cheese sauce
- whole grain chips and salsa
- kale popcorn or crispy kale chips
- veggie ice pops (check my book, Ice Pop Joy for more great ice pop ideas)
- cheese, freshly cut salami and whole grain crackers and sunflower honey
- various olives
A regular contributor to Green Child Magazine and author of Sacred Pregnancy and The Organic Family Cookbook, Anni Daulter is a Conscious Family Living lifestyle expert, professional cook, advocate of sustainable living and author of six books.
top image photo credit: elana’s pantry via photopin cc