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Making smart choices at the market and filling my pantry with healthy items has been the key to my weight loss plan. It encourages me to cook at home and to avoid the temptations of dining out. It also allows me to control my calorie intake as well as the quality and wholesomeness of the food that I consume. When I am hungry, I don’t always make the best food choices but if I’ve already made good ones ahead of time and stocked my pantry with healthy items, I’ve won half the battle!
I like to keep a few healthy staples in my pantry, versatile ingredients that allow me to create a quick and wholesome meal. Some of my go-to items are canned beans—black, garbanzo, and cannellini beans being my favorites. I like to use them as a side dish as well as in salads, soups, and stews. Canned beans also star in delicious hummus and dips—which make a great snack accompanied by vegetable crudités. Some of my other pantry must-haves are: quinoa, oats, spices, nuts and dry fruits, and coconut oil.
– Quinoa: This pseudo-cereal lends a great deal of nutrition providing protein, amino acids, fiber, and more. It is also a gluten free food, and must be why the Incas in ancient Peru called it “the mother grain.” I love to substitute rice for quinoa and get creative with it to make risotto, salads, and soups.
– Oats: It is my go-to healthy and quick breakfast option. This heart healthy cereal helps us lower cholesterol and provides a type of fiber that enhances our immune system. Sounds great to me! I love it with shaved almonds and dry cranberries.
– Spices: They add amazing flavors to your food and have disease-fighting properties. I like to keep a large variety of spices in my pantry from cinnamon to ground cumin, from smoked paprika to cardamom. Even if heat isn’t your thing, you can always find a spice to suit your taste.
– Nuts and dry fruits: Baked goods are often carb-bombs filled with bad fats. Trust me, I know they’re delicious; but I try to avoid them. I like to keep walnuts and golden raisins in my pantry and use them in apple and pear crumbles. They help add healthy fats and a nice share of fiber to any dessert.
– Coconut oil: This healthy oil is delicious and works great at high temperatures so I love to use it for stir fry’s and sautés. They say that good fats help our bodies get rid of the bad ones. Get it organic and unfiltered, you’ll thank me later!
This post was written by Alejandra Schrader, a Los Angeles based chef, healthy-cooking advocate, and public speaker.