Having a well-stocked kitchen makes meal planning easier. Use this basic foods checklist for some ideas to help stock your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer for simple meals. Personalize the list with foods you frequently use. In the Pantry Breakfast & Cereals Cereal (consider whole grain varieties) Oatmeal Granola Homemade or Low sugar varieties Pancake mix Canned, Jarred, & Pouched Foods Fruits and vegetables (choose options without added sugar or salt) Meat, poultry, & seafood (fish, chicken, or other meats) Beans (pinto, black, garbanzo, cannellini, red kidney, low sodium baked beans) Nut butter (Peanut, Almond, Sunflower, Pistachio, Walnut Cashew) Dried fruit Sauces (Tomato, Marinara, Jams and Chutneys Salsa Pesto (Capsicum, Basil, Salsa Verde) Broth or stock (chicken, beef or vegetable) Organic Low sodium stock cubes (Chicken, Beef, Vegetables) Grains, Pasta & Sides Bread (consider whole grain varieties) Tortillas or taco shells Pasta (consider whole grain varieties, chickpea pasta etc ) Rice (include some whole grain rice, such as brown rice, wild rice) Oats (old fashioned or rolled, quick, or steel cut) Other grains: Quinoa, Couscous, Spelt, Orzo, Bulgur wheat, Farro, Freekha, Amaranth, Millet, Buckwheat, Lentils Produce Onions (Red, White or Brown) Potatoes Pumpkins, Sweet Potatoes, Snacks Crackers (consider whole grain varieties) Popcorn Nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc.) Crisps ( consider whole grain varieties) Baking & Cooking Supplies Instant dry milk powder Flour (consider whole grain) Sugar (white granulated, brown) Seasonings & spices (salt, black pepper, garlic, minced onion) Oil for cooking (such as olive, avocado, coconut, canola, vegetable) Vinegar (Balsamic, Apple cider, White wine vinegar, Rice vinegar) Condiments & Salad Dressings Ketchup (Low sodium) Mustard (Wholegrain and Dijon) Mayonnaise (choose a lower fat or eggless option) Salad dressings In the Refrigerator Milk (fat-free or low-fat) Cheese (block, shredded, sliced, or string and consider lower fat options) Yogurt (Full fat, fat-free or low-fat and choose options with fewer or no added sugars) Eggs (Organic or Free range option) Fruits Vegetables Butter or margarine In the Freezer Fruit (Berries, Mango, Banana etc) Vegetables (Spinach, Mixed Vegetables etc) Meat & seafood (chicken breast, ground beef/turkey, pork loin chops, salmon, shrimp) Waffles (consider whole grain varieties) Breads and Bagels (consider whole grain varieties) References: https://food.unl.edu/article/basic-foods-checklist-how-stock-your-kitchen-simple-meals https://nourishedbynutrition.com/how-to-stock-a-healthy-pantry/
