It’s no secret that a well-stocked kitchen pantry makes simple and nutritious meal planning easier. The hard part, though, is figuring out what exactly to keep on hand for everyday needs.
A Simple Pantry of Staples for Everyday, Nutritious Cooking
Dry pantry: canned tomatoes, canned beans, pasta, high fiber cereal, brown rice, canned fruit (in juice), dried fruit, peanut (or soy nut) butter, olive oil, vinegar, canned tuna and/or salmon.
Kitchen counter bowl: garlic, onion, tomato, lemon or lime, bananas, whole grain bread.
Refrigerator: eggs, butter, lowfat 1% or nonfat (skim) milk, carrots, apples or pears, vegetable and/or fruit juice, mustard, yogurt.
Freezer: frozen veggies, skinless chicken, extra lean ground beef, fish fillets.
Reduce Stress with a Well-Stocked Pantry
Driving home from work can be loaded with stress if you use this time to plan dinner. If you have a well-stocked pantry at home, though, driving home from work can be your time to ‘unwind’ instead. Keep a list of your family’s favorite pantry meals and rely on them to get you through busy week nights. To start your pantry meal with fresh garlic, learn to peel, mince and puree it.
Garlic and Onions are a must. They will take you a long way!