Pantry essentials!
From left to right:
- Natural Maple Syrup: I don't even eat pancakes as much anymore (I think my body doesn't like that much sweetness first thing in the morning), but I use maple syrup consistently in baking. I've even reduced it and put it in homemade ice cream--it tasted like salted caramel :D
- Avocado Oil: discovered this when I tried the Keto diet, and I have loved it. It's about the same price and nutritional value as olive oil, but I think it has a little milder flavor than olive oil, and I've heard that it's "smoking point" is higher than olive oil, so it can be heated to a hotter temperature. In case that's important to you.
- Steel-Cut Oats: I grew up hating oatmeal, and it wasn't until I was probably 19 that I got into it. I later was introduced to steel-cut oats, and it's a totally different experience. I love adding a bit of maple syrup, pecans, and a splash of milk (or almond milk). Yummo. Rolled oats are called "rolled" because they have been smushed by a big steam-roller thingy that flattens them out. Steel-cut oats are less processed and more nutritious.
- Natural Peanut Butter: this definitely tastes different than regular peanut butter, and it was hard to get used to in the beginning. You know how pb makes your mouth dry? Natural pb does that to me x2. However, I'm now pretty used to it, and I love to add natural pb to smoothies, spread it on toast with banana slices, or dip apple slices in it.
- Smucker's Simply Fruit Spread: I truly can't tell the difference between this and regular jam. Nothing but love for this, since I often eat a PB&J as an afternoon snack.
- Bertolli Organic Marinara Sauce: Costco often rotates their brands and selections, and this was a lucky buy because a lot of sauces have sugar (note that sugar cuts the acidity of tomatoes, so it's commonly found in tomato products). This one has organic sugar as the 5th ingredient, so it's legal!
- Kodiak Cakes: I actually prefer whole wheat pancakes from scratch, but, when I'm in a hurry, these are an awesome option because they can be made with just water, just milk, or milk and eggs, giving you more protein with each option.
- Post Great Grains Raisins, Dates, & Pecans: This is the ONE brand and type of cereal I have found that has sugar as the 5th or less ingredient, because that many additions push the sugar down the list. The other varieties in this same line all have sugar in the top 4 ingredients, so they don't work for me. Bear in mind that my son once looked in my bowl and said, "Birdseed?" 😆 I like it, but I think it does take some time to get used to it if you're accustomed to Cocoa Puffs or Captain Crunch.
- Seeds of Change Quinoa & Brown Rice: I have not mastered the art of brown rice, and I find this to be a good alternative. It's great with salmon and broccoli. Takes 90 seconds in the microwave. Nothing could be easier.
- Kirkland Protein Bars: Again, if you're used to regular granola bars or candy bars, these taste like shit. Not gonna lie. But I love them now (remember I'm one year off of sugar). I offered my mom a piece of one, like two bites' worth....she took one bite and gave me back the rest 😂 They do have a ridiculous amount of protein and fiber though, so well worth it in my opinion.
- Bob's Red Mill Whole Wheat Pastry Flour: This is a major game-changer in my baking. Whole wheat flour is very heavy, hard to develop, and has a strong flavor. This stuff is ground incredibly fine, and I use it in rolls, cookies, bread (quick and yeast), and I can't wait to try it in cake.
- Coconut Sugar: This is kind of like a dry brown sugar, and it tastes pretty good, specifically cookies.
This is kind of a mess, so thanks in advance for not judging my disorganized fridge. My kids are the milk-drinkers, since I gave it up almost entirely over the summer....apparently it's not good for ladies with PCOS. But I use almond milk for cereal and smoothies, and it's pretty great. I never used to buy orange juice, but I use it very often now for smoothies, and it's nice to have another beverage since I don't drink anything else but water (huge blessing that I'm no longer drinking Diet Coke!).
I love Aspen Mills Honey Whole Wheat bread, which I have found at Costco and Sam's Club, since it has no sugar at all, and only like 6 ingredients. Again, if you're used to Wonder Bread, this is going to taste like eating a sponge, but I have been eating whole wheat or whole grain for years, and this is my favorite kind.
Which I love to dip in that cheddar broccoli soup (from Costco), make into an egg sandwich (with those brown organic eggs you can barely see there), or spread up with natural almond butter. Salsa is a new regular purchase for me as well since so many things like ketchup and other common flavor-adders are chock full of sugar.
Also, I have protein shakes in there, hiding behind the leftover Subway sandwiches and the almond butter :)
I keep lots of string cheese, lunch meat, bacon, and turkey sausage in my deli drawer. Shredded cheese, sour cream, and cream cheese are staples for most of my meals. I also swear by whole wheat tortillas that are uncooked! I love the regular flour tortillas when you get the uncooked ones, and these whole wheat ones are definitely better than the pre-cooked ones.
Baby bell peppers....yassssss! These are so easy to cut up and saute (or use raw) in so many dishes, and they are great for adding texture, color, and flavor. Eggs, salads, baked potatoes, mixed roasted vegetables....all great with baby bells. I frequently buy a rotisserie chicken from Costco, which I use in several meals, like chicken sandwiches, salads, chicken and rice, and chicken soup.
Mixed greens for salads, cilantro for anything Mexican (or Thai!), squash and zucchini, and mushrooms are regulars in my meals.
I just cleared out a bunch of odds and ends of fruit I bought 2 weeks ago (pineapple, strawberries), and now I just bought some more blueberries. Apples and grapes are favorites, too. I should add that I have a big bag of frozen strawberries in the freezer, and I'm using up my bananas much more consistently now that I am a nut for smoothies. They are so naturally sweet that they make smoothies very sweet and delicious.
Hopefully this was useful!
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