First things first, fresh fruits and vegetables need to be the staple of your diet.
Ok, now that that’s been said, let’s move to the pantry.

I lean on my pantry quite a bit and thought I would share the staples that are always on hand.
Here we go:

1. Canned Fish – I always have cans of Wild Sockeye Salmon, Tuna and Mackerel. These are all great for dishes like salmon cakes, baby spinach topped with chunks of tuna and good ole mackerel sautéed with onions, garlic, thyme, tomatoes, scallions and coconut milk (yum!).
2. Canned Beans – These are a quick and inexpensive source of protein. Rinse them off and add them to salads, rice, soups or mash into avocado for extra nutrients.
3. Taco Shells – My son once asked if we could have tacos every night. It’s a great way to stuff a ton of vegetables under some cheese. This is a kid and crowd pleaser!
4. Coconut Milk – I use this a lot. Pour a bit in your rice, smoothies, add into pureed carrots for a healthy fat. Freeze any extra in an ice cube tray and store in a zip top bag.
5. Marinara Sauce – Yes, it’s very simple to make your own. But I keep this on hand for homemade pizza, a quick pot of spaghetti or to top oven “fried” eggplant.
6. Bragg’s – Keep anything made by Bragg’s handy! They are so good they are going to get their very own post!
7. Roasted Peppers – I don’t have the patience to roast my own so I always have a jar on hand. Add slices to tomatoes with balsamic vinegar, pureed with chicken broth for a sauce added to ziti, or added to egg salad.
8. Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil – because I use it for everything. EVOO is my oil of choice.
9. Rice – I do not shy away from carbs, especially the good ones. Rice is great for breakfast, lunch and dinner – plain or punched up with veggies or protein.
10. Dried seasonings, garlic, ginger etc. – You will never say healthy food is boring with the right herbs.
11. Pasta – It’s cheap, easy and a great base for anything you can imagine. Cooked al dente is the only way to go.
12. Dried beans – Soak a bag overnight (this one cost me under $2), boil, add whatever you want and feed a family of 6! Need I say more?
13. Apple Sauce – Yup, good ole apple sauce. If you check out my waffle recipe you’ll notice I use apple sauce instead of oil. Try it in muffin and cake recipes too.

All of the above are pretty budget friendly and the recipe possibilities are endless. Notice, everything is pretty much one ingredient and that’s what you want to focus on. Make sure you don’t stock your cabinets with products that have 20 ingredients because then it would be considered processed foods. That’s the stuff we are staying far away from! Keep it simple and whole.