Stocking Your Kitchen

I find that if I run out of foods that I like to eat and are healthy to snack on, I’ll get too hungry and wind up eating foods that may not be as good for me — like nibbling on chocolate (I practically never seem to run out of that!), or going through a lot of crackers or chips that were meant to be eaten occasionally and not as a replacement for a meal…and there it goes — weight gain.  I’d fill up on this and then maybe miss a meal where I could have had something more nutritious, delicious, and more satisfying (sounds corny, but it’s true).  I need to remind myself to eat a healthy snack in mid morning and mid afternoon; like an apple, carrot, yogurt or almonds.  If I do that, I am not so ravenous that I can’t take time to make a real meal.  A huge, huge part of accomplishing this is to keep your refrigerator and cupboards pretty well stocked and not let yourself totally run out of healthy things that you can grab for a quick snack.

I started by looking up lists of basic pantry, refrigerator and freezer supplies, wrote them down, and then thought, what??  I need to remember that I’m cooking for myself (and occasionally a guest) and I want to have foods in the house that I like.  If I went by someone else’s list I’d end up just collecting food instead of getting things that I would really eat.  It’s like having a closet crammed with clothes and nothing to wear!  My sister told me she loved canned bamboo shoots in salads.  I bought some, years went by, and I never opened that can.  In fact so many years went by that I finally threw it away.  I just never happened to feel like I wanted to open a whole can of bamboo shoots.  That was valuable real estate in my pantry.  If you start to accumulate foods that you’re not crazy about, then you’ll open the cupboard door, moan uhhh — nothing to eat, and grab a bag of chips.  It’s happened to me more often than I’d like to admit.  Only use refrigerator/freezer/pantry space for foods that you really like! There isn’t a one size fits all.  Don’t go by my list or anyone else’s for what you should keep in your kitchen. We have different levels of cooking skills, different tastes, and a different amount of time and energy that we want to spend on cooking.

I’m going to show you two lists for the pantry — the typical general staples (you may be stunned), and my personal list of staples.  It’s important for you to make your own list with foods that you love to eat.  It could be very short, or very long.  It’s for you!  I have also included staple lists for the refrigerator and freezer.

A lot of staples that are usually stored in the cupboard will keep longer in the refrigerator, and also a lot of refrigerated items can be kept in the freezer; like cheeses, breads, and of course meats.  That means you can buy these things when they are on sale and have your backup in the freezer.

When I need to go to the market, I can check my basics lists and see what I might be missing.  Also, by keeping my cupboards and pantry stocked, I can make some good meals, and not end up just having a can of asparagus for dinner.  I’ve done that!  Besides being a reference for you when you go to the market, making these lists will get you to thinking about what foods you really like and start to think about what you will make with them.

The following list could feed a large family!  It’s certainly not for one person.  As large as this list is, your favorites still may not be on it.

The following pages will include:

• General Pantry Staples — extensive list
• Pantry Staples — my sample modified staples list
• Herbs & Spices
• Refrigerator
• Freezer