Whether you are spring cleaning your kitchen or simply stocking up your pantry, there are a few basics that can help you keep your kitchen pantry organized and well stocked. Here are five helpful tips on how you can properly stock your pantry with nutritious food and clean ingredients.
#1 Create an Inventory List
Before you properly stock your pantry, take an inventory of what staples you already have. Keep this list up to date so you always know what food and ingredients you have and what items you need. This strategy will set you up for success so you can easily throw together a quick and balanced meal with simply adding only 1-2 fresh or
frozen ingredients. #2 Organize with Glass Storage Jars
Before you stock up on pantry staples, find some glass jars, like Mason jars, which are great for storing bulk items like beans, coconut, grains, grain-free granola, homemade trail mix, nuts and seeds. You can even use small baskets, bins and boxes to organize items like condiments, herbs, spices and various vegetables. Label the glass jars and other storage units with printed labels or stickers so you can stay organized then fill them up with your favorite pantry staples.
#3 Purchase Pantry Staples
Just like
everybody is different, every kitchen pantry is different and will contain various foods depending on your
diet. No matter what your favorite foods, some great pantry staples to always have on hand are:
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Condiments and spices including avocado oil-based dressings, avocado oil mayo, black pepper, cayenne, cinnamon, coconut aminos, Dijon mustard, ginger, gomasio, Himalayan sea salt, salt free herb blends and turmeric.
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Dried fruits like apricots, dates, goji berries, mulberries and plums.
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Fats including nuts and seeds like almonds, chia seeds, macadamia nuts, and pumpkin seeds. Other quality fats include coconut flour,
high quality oils like algae oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, ghee and olive oil, high quality salad dressings, nut and seed butters, olives, olive tapenade and shredded coconut.
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Shelf-stable liquids like coconut milk.
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Protein including canned fish. Think of options like anchovies, mackerel, sardines and wild caught salmon. Looking for
plant-based or
Vegan options? Stick to foods like chickpea pasta, dried adzuki beans, dried and boxed black beans, dried and boxed chickpeas, and dried red and brown lentils.
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Ready-to-go products like 70% dark chocolate,
almond flour baking mixes, boxed pizza crusts,
crackers, dried seaweed, flaxseed crackers, grain-free granola, grass-fed jerky, roasted chickpeas,
soft baked bars, sprouted seed crackers and veggie pita crackers.
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Starches such as gluten free oats, quinoa and wild rice and shelf-stable vegetables like sweet potatoes and winter squash, which usually stay fresh for up to two weeks.
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Vegetables including artichokes, boxed diced tomatoes, hearts of palm, jarred tomato paste, roasted red peppers and sugar-free tomato sauce.
#4 Practice Proper Placement
When organizing your kitchen pantry, place grab and go items and snacks in the front of your pantry so you can conveniently snag a snack. Fill reusable snack bags with grain free granola, nuts, roasted chickpeas and seeds. Don’t forget single serving packets of
bars, crackers, grass fed jerky and nut butter packets. Before heading out for the day, grab one or two options to prevent any energy slumps.
#5 Set Up a System
Besides glass jars, find some clear containers of various sizes for stacking and storing bags, cans and mason jars. These organizational pieces will keep your pantry looking clean, neat and tidy, so you can make positive food choices by keeping mindful options easily in sight.
Bonus: Pantry Meal Ideas
Need some pantry meal ideas? Try some of these simple and delicious suggestions:
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Combine black beans with sugar-free organic jarred salsa and roasted sweet potatoes then serve over a bed of fresh Romaine lettuce with avocado slices and a squeeze of fresh lime and a sprig of cilantro for a homemade burrito bowl.
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Enjoy a family pizza night by baking up a
crispy pizza crust and topping with a sugar-free tomato sauce, anchovies, artichokes, black olives, grass fed full-fat cheese and any leftover veggies or
food scraps.
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Grab a packet of low-mercury tuna and mix with chickpeas, dried basil or oregano, hearts of palm, olive oil, red onion and red wine vinegar. Toss all of these ingredients together and serve with slices of your favorite vegetable for an easy lunch or dinner bowl.
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Mix a can of wild caught salmon with apple cider vinegar, chopped apple, dried dill, sauerkraut and white onion. Place a dollop over a bed of fresh arugula with a splash of lemon and olive oil then serve with a side of
Sprouted Seed Crackers.
Properly stocking your pantry is simple, just remember to follow these five easy tips and you will have a properly packed pantry to enjoy at any time.
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@SimpleMills and show us your favorite Simple Mills pantry staples.