5 Things You Should Always Have in your Pantry
With your busy, on-the-go lifestyle, it's helpful to have a pantry full of last-minute dinner options. Having a versatile selection of dry goods at your fingertips is way cheaper than nightly takeout and ultimately, a lot healthier for your family. Here are five versatile and easy-to-fix favorites that are must-haves for a well-stocked pantry.
5: Canned Tuna
Canned tuna is an absolute pantry essential because it's a super versatile food. If you're in the need of a quick lunch to pack for work, all you need is a little mayo and some bread, and you're set with a tuna sandwich. Add celery, diced onion, walnuts or chopped apple to spice up your tuna salad. You can also use tuna as a dinner protein if a run to the meat market isn't happening. You can turn a can of albacore into a tuna casserole, breaded and pan-fried tuna cakes, or if you're in the mood for a little '70s style, tuna ala king. Look for dolphin-safe tuna packed in water for a lighter, eco-friendly meal.
4: Pasta and Tomato Sauce
Coming home after a long day at work may not inspire you to cook a well-balanced meal with all the food groups. For times like this, there are two words you need to know: pasta and tomato sauce. It may not be chock full of veggies, but it's a good solid meal that isn't deep-fried or picked up from a drive-through window. Stay stocked by tossing a box of dry pasta and a jar of sauce into your cart on your weekly grocery trip. There are some delicious organic sauces on the market so you can feel a little better about your carb-fest. And even if you run out of sauce, you can always toss some pasta with olive oil, fresh garlic and Italian spices for a tasty meal.
3: Soups
Soups are warm and nourishing in the winter months, and best of all, they're easy to fix. Open can, pour into pan, recycle can and serve. Canned soups are notorious for their sodium content, so seek out low-sodium versions of your favorites. Keep a selection of chowders, bisques, vegetable or good old-fashioned chicken noodle on hand to satisfy any last-minute cravings.
They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so when time is too tight to prepare a healthy feast, you'll be glad you have a stock of dry cereal on hand in your pantry. Avoid the sweet stuff full of added sugar in favor of high-fiber for a healthy alternative, and pour the box into an air-tight plastic container to keep it from going stale. Fresh milk is preferable, but powdered milk has a longer shelf life and is good to have around for a quick fix.
There's a misconception that canned vegetables aren't as good for you as fresh. While this is true in some cases, there are a few veggies that have been found to be just as nutritious in a can as they are fresh from the garden. Stock up on dry rice and a few canned vegetable basics, like green beans or peas. Then, you're only a quick stop in the meat department away from having a decent meal. Freeze some chicken breasts to make sure you always have on hand the makings of a home-cooked meal.