Hey friends! I am sharing something super exciting today! One of the things people are always amazed by is that I cook dinner every night – which is just normal to me. I avoid eating fast food at all costs. Kev and I go out to dinner and I of course, do some work for restaurants from time to time but we eat at home 85% of the time. I think where people get stuck is when they’re grocery shopping, the store can be very overwhelming but making food at home is waaaay cleaner and you can control a variety of factors including sodium, fat and flavor.
There are quite a few things I continuously buy when I go grocery shopping on a weekly basis to throw into multiple meals from breakfast to dinner. I’m someone that needs a lot of flavor because SECRET ALERT: I’m not the biggest fan of vegetables. I liveeee for sauces, dips and seasoning. I usually buy 2-3 different sauces and dips while grocery shopping.
I’ve created a list below of things we keep in our fridge/pantry to throw into meals!
10 GROCERY STAPLES TO ALWAYS KEEP ON HAND & WHAT TO DO WITH THEM
1. SAUCES & SPREADS:
- Coconut Aminos (this is like a soy sauce replacement. It’s slightly sweeter, which I like even better) you can use this in stir fry, roasted vegetables, or mixed with oil and spices for a dressing. My favorite use yet is in the Mango Fried Rice & Sticky Eggplant.
- Salsa – I mostly use salsa for snacking with Siete Lime chips, HOWEVER I also throw it on scrambled eggs a lot.
- Hummus – My favorite is Hope Foods. All of the flavors are good but buffalo bleu and Thai coconut curry are my favorite. I put a dollop in some of my bowls for dipping or extra flavor.
- Beans – Better Bean is my favorite ‘prepared’ brand, specifically the Cuban Black Beans. I put these on top of salads, or grain bowls for added protein.
- Coconut Milk Full Fat – I always have this on hand, mostly because it’s the base to my Red Thai Coconut Curry Noodles or Soup which I make very very often.
- Red Thai Curry Paste – We all know I am a huge fan of Asian food – okay I’m obsessed. I use this in the dish I mentioned above & in peanut sauce. I love Thai Kitchen.
- Rice Vinegar – This is one I buy two of at a time because that’s how much I use it. I use this for pickling onions & cucumbers or just for simple dressings with some olive oil
2. SPICES:
- Sea Salt
- Everything But The Bagel Seasoning put this on eggs, vegetables for roasting, or kale chips (my fav way to use it).
- Onion Salt – I just started buying this from Trader Joes and I’m obsessed. It has chives, green onion and even a little garlic in it!
3.PICKLED CUCUMBERS & ONIONS:
I always have these in my fridge in mason jars. I use the rice vinegar, water and sugar (recipe here) to make a ‘quick pickle’.The onions can go on anything from burgers to salads but I specifically like the cucumbers simply with some slaw or a top an Asian grain bowl (like this one).
4.MUSHROOMS:
We all know about my love affair with the fungus. They have amazing health benefits! Shiitakes are my favorite and I buy a ton at a time but portabellas or baby portabellas are pretty typical for you to get in the store. NOW, if you are a crispy person – cut these babies up into slices or quarters, drizzle with olive or sunflower oil and sea salt and throw them in the oven at 400 for 15 – 20 minutes. This is what I usually do and then I can throw them on salads or pasta.
5.GREENS:
I often make greens the base of whatever I’m eating. I like the cruciferous crunch mix from Trader Joes, Organic Girl 50/50 Mix, or Romaine.
6.NUTS/SEEDS
I keep jars in my fridge full of all of these things. I typically grocery shop at Lucky’s Market or Whole Foods because they have these items in bulk which is cheaper.
- Cashews: These have to be my most used. I make milk with them almost weekly (recipe here or on my story highlights on Instagram). They’re also great to throw into bowls or smoothies for added protein.
- Peanuts: I mostly use peanuts to top my Asian dishes, it’s one of my favorite flavors ever.
- Chia Seeds: Perfect for making chia pudding (recipe here), throwing into smoothies, on top of oatmeal, into salad dressings or baked goods! They are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, rich in antioxidants, and they provide fiber, iron, and calcium. Omega-3 fatty acids help raise HDL cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol that protects against heart attack and stroke.
- Hemp Seeds: I use these in pretty much the same way I use chia seeds and sometimes I even use both of them together. Hemp Seeds actually have quite a bit of protein and it’s more digestible than meat, whole eggs, and cheese. They are also rich in Omega 3 & 6 and Vitamin E. 2 TBS have 9.2 grams of protein!
7.LEMONS/LIMES:
If you’re keeping anything in that fridge of yours – let it be lemons and limes. They add instant freshness and flavor to ANYTHING.
8.AVOCADO OIL OIL/GHEE:
I say & use avocado oil because I don’t always love the taste of olive oil and this one is tasteless. I use it to cook with but I also like eating it in dressings & sauces. Ghee if you’re not familiar is clarified butter made from cow milk, however the milk solids are removed in the process, so it is dairy free! I use this for sautéing vegetables, spreading on toast or making bulletproof coffee.
9.BROCCOLI, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, PEPPERS, ONIONS & GARLIC:
These are the vegetables I typically go for when grocery shopping. Having roasted vegetables on hand is a GAME CHANGER. If you’re prepared with nothing but healthy foods in your fridge…that’s what you’ll eat guys! My go-to is sunflower oil & sea salt roasted at 400 for 15-20 minutes. Then they don’t have a specific flavor and I can throw them into anything.
10.JAPANESE SWEET POTATO OR REGULAR SWEET POTATO
You can easily make chips, fries and even baked potatoes with these. The Japanese or Oriental are my favorite – they still taste like a sweet potato but a different sweetness. You can use these as a side, roasted or in chip form. One of my favorites after a tough workout is baking the potato whole then eating it with berries & nut butter, or for my savory lovers, some eggs and peppers.
If you are grocery shopping and buying anything ‘processed’ such as sauces and dips PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read those ingredients you guys. The brands I mentioned above have clean ingredients but just be mindful of anything else!
