10 Foods I Always Keep in My Kitchen

Being a foodie – especially a vegan one – means that I always have my kitchen stocked with the essentials to whip up a meal whenever hunger strikes.

Over the past couple years of living a “healthy” lifestyle, I have found that there are certain food items I am constantly replacing as soon as they run out. These staple items always make it onto my grocery list because I know I can use them in a variety of recipes that are both healthy and satisfying. So, in the list below, I present to you the 10 foods that I always keep in the kitchen:

Bananas

Do I even need to explain this one? Bananas are easily my most essential food item because they work in so many different recipes. Not only does almost every staple breakfast of mine contain bananas (oatmeal, banana nice-cream, pb + bananas on toast, etc.), they’re also great as a snack in-between meals and to be used in desserts.

Brown Rice

I believe that brown rice is a staple for anyone’s pantry. It can be used as the base to a variety of meals or as a side dish to bulk up your dinner. I typically like to cook up a large batch of brown rice at the beginning of the week, then store it in the fridge to be used whenever. It’s also much more nutritious than white or “quick” rice, so if you’re currently eating those, try to make the switch to brown rice.

Peanut Butter

I don’t think I can go a day without eating some form of peanut butter. I’m seriously obsessed. I personally like to have both natural peanut butter and PB2 (peanut-powder) in my pantry at once for different purposes. PB2 is used for snacks and smoothies as a lower-calorie alternative to traditional peanut butter, while the real stuff is used more as a “drizzle on top” to fully experience it’s goodness.

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Almond Milk

Who doesn’t always have a carton of milk in the fridge? I’ve found that my favorite plant-based milk is unsweetened vanilla almond milk, because it’s slightly sweet yet still light. I use it in smoothies, cereal, baking, and even just to drink!

Beans

Okay, I know. Beans aren’t the most exciting thing to keep in your pantry, but they sure do come in handy. Whenever I feel that I need a bit more protein in my day, I know I can rely on a can of black beans to do the trick. Also, one of my favorite recipes to make is a three-bean chili that’s high in protein and low-fat, so I always keep the ingredients stock-piled.

Popcorn

I am a snackaholic. I admit it. But, I’m not a “grab a handful of something and be good” type of snacker. I’m a “casually snack on something until you realized you’ve eaten the whole bag” gal. I’ve found popcorn to be the perfect answer to my problem because it satisfies my need to munch, while staying relatively low-calorie. A cup of it is typically about 35 calories, so accidentally eating half the bag in one sitting isn’t going to throw off your daily calories by much.

Sriracha

Sriracha is the king of all condiments. If you like spice, you know that sriracha is the key to bringing any meal to the next level. A meal such as brown rice and beans may seem bland, but drizzle some sriracha on top, and you’ve got yourself a winner.

Broccoli

Broccoli is hands-down my favorite vegetable, and I make sure to always have some on hand whether it’s fresh or frozen. It is extremely easy and quick to cook (just a few minutes in the microwave!), and can be used to add some green to any meal. My favorite ways to eat it are: mixed in with pasta, with rice and black beans, chopped up raw in salads, and more!

Mixed Frozen Fruit

I believe that buying frozen fruit and veggies is one of the smartest things you can do for your kitchen. They are typically cheaper and can last longer than their fresh counterparts, preventing you from wasting your money on discarding food that goes bad. I prefer a mixture of frozen berries (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, etc.) to use in smoothies, acaí bowls, oatmeal, to snack on, and more.

Quick Oats

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so it’s important for me to have something nutritious on-hand for those days where I’m running late. Quick oats are the perfect solution because – as the name suggests – they are quick to make, will keep you full until lunch, and are very versatile. I personally like to add some of the frozen fruit mixture to my oats, microwave it for about 3 minutes, and be left with a warm, hearty bowl of berry oatmeal.

Now that you’ve gotten an insider-view to what’s in my kitchen, let me know if any of my staple food items are yours too! If not, what food is something that you cannot live without? I appreciate you taking the time to visit my blog and read this post

Lots of love x