May 29, 2023
min read

11 Pantry Essentials for a Healthy Kitchen (Worth Bragging About!)

Member Profile

Audio Links

In addition to some edible staples, I also threw in a sprouting lid, veggie spiralizer, and a nut milk bag.
In addition to some edible staples, I also threw in a sprouting lid, veggie spiralizer, and a nut milk bag.

A kitchen cupboard filled with the right staples is the key to keeping things “clean” when cooking and baking at home.

Going from zero to (healthy-)hero can be a bit intimidating - especially if you have no clue where to start. I’m not talking about just “Oh shoot I’m out of pasta” - I’m referring to getting your pantry ready to master nutritious creations of all kind! Knowing where to start, and exactly what you’ll need, is obviously the first (and hardest!) step.

A dear friend of mine expressed the desire to have one of these “dream pantries” - you know, the ones you see featured in overly attractive health and wellness blogs.

Given that my experience with Meal Garden - both as an employee and as a user myself - has provided me with quite a bit of knowledge in this space, I decided to whip-up a “pantry care package” for this lovely inquiring soul.

*In full disclosure: she promised me some of her breath-taking succulent plant arrangements - so this was an exchange I was more than willing to get behind!*

Here’s what I put together for her, and what I recommend when it comes to bulking up your kitchen cupboards for creating meal plans that boast green-leaf health ratings.

1) Go-to sweetener: Coconut sugar

  • I like the caramel and slightly nutty flavour it adds to dishes like fruit crisps. It's also less processed than refined sugar and has a lower GI.
  • It’s ideal for creating crumbles - when you still need the coarse texture of sugar and thus sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, stevia or agave just won’t cut it!

2) Go to flavour-enhancer: Nutritional yeast

3) Go-to smoothie-bowl topper: Cacao nibs

  • No smoothie bowl is complete without this powerful chocolatey addition!
  • Since raw cacao is not as sweet as chocolate, this ingredient is even more versatile - making it a staple you can even add to savoury meals.
  • Cacao beans are one of the best dietary sources of magnesium, are loaded with fibre, iron, antioxidants, and have been shown to improve your mood.

4) Go-to “binder”: Psyllium husk

5) Go-to thickener: Chia seeds

  • I like to “sprout” them, which releases the “enzyme inhibitors” that are used to protect the seed - this soaking (and thus sprouting) process makes them more digestible.
  • I add a tablespoon to coconut water for an on-the-go energy drink (literally the best post-yoga fuel ever!).
  • You can also coat your fish and chicken with chia seeds to add a nice crunchy texture (combine with gluten-free flour and herbs/seasonings of your choosing).
  • Rich in fiber, omega-3 fats, protein, vitamins and minerals - chia seeds have even more Omega-3 fatty acids than salmon.

6) Go-to flour: Spelt

7) Go-to grain: Barley

  • While most people tend to think of barley in savoury main dishes - or as a side to a fish/meat/vegetarian protein - I like to switch it up and do barley breakfast porridges. Pearl barley does take quite a bit of cooking time, so I tend to make a large batch and will prep ahead 4-5 breakfast bowls for the week ahead (just store in mason jars and pop in the fridge). This article explains how to cook it with the intention of having it as either a sweet or savoury breakfast. Or you can just pop some into the oven with milk and let it cook on a low-temperature all night like in the following recipe.

8) Go-to egg-replacer and baking-enhancer: Ground flax seed

  • Ever go to bake something...think you have all the ingredients...but then come to the sad realization that you’re out of eggs? Game over...until now! Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water and you’ve got an egg replacement that can also help turn baked goods recipes into their vegan counterpart.

9) Go-to fat: Ghee

10) Go-to dried fruit: Mulberries

11) Go-to tea: Chaga

  • Okay, this is more of a bonus “luxury” item I included just because I’m ‘Friend of the Year’. Perhaps not a pantry “staple” - but hey, who doesn’t love a good tea?
  • Steep these immune-boosting mushrooms in hot water for about 10 minutes, and the outcome is similar to green tea, but a little more “woodsy”.

So next time you’re at the grocery store, keep your pantry in mind...filling up on the right go-to stock items helps to keep cooking and baking at home all the more healthy!

Help your clients achieve their results faster

Consumers needs are changing, don't be left behind.
Join today.

Meal Garden logo
Follow along as we make it easier for you to incorporate digital nutrition into your business
By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
© 2023 Meal Garden. All rights reserved.