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It’s National Nutrition Month! How you choose to eat is a really personal choice. We all have favorite foods and the things we can’t stomach, but learning to eat what’s good for our bodies is a journey that we all go on individually. People always ask me about what I like to keep around the house, and so this month I wanted to share with you some kitchen staples that I think go a long way to keeping me and my family eating right. I’m also on a major budget. Those two things don’t always go hand in hand so I have to work really hard on my list of pantry and freezer staples! I tend to buy things in bulk whenever they’re on sale, that’s a great way to always have a good choice on hand. Here are a few of my staples:  

Refried Beans (preferably black)

Coconut Oil

Enchilada sauce

Light Chunk Tuna

Rice

Quinoa

Steel Cut Oatmeal

Garbanzo beans (I make Hummus every week!)

Sesame paste (Tahini—for the Hummus!)

Kidney Beans

Black Beans

Apple Sauce Squeezers

Peanut Butter

Almond Butter

Brownies (my huge vice!)

Agave (an all-natural sweetener)

Olive Oil

Tamari (a darker soy sauce)

Franks Red Hot (we “Buffalo” any and everything!)

Cholula Hot Sauce

Tarjin (from the Mexican store, it’s my favorite spice!)

Rye Crisp Crackers

Raisins

KIND Bars

Almonds

Cashews

Salsa

Gluten-free chips for dipping

In terms of the fresh stuff we make a lot of chili and Mexican food and eat a ton of fish and ground turkey. I make fresh and frozen fruit and vegetable shakes every day in my Vitamix. I’ve decided to go with only organic for anything that comes from an animal, which is a big expense so we’ve cut down a bit on eating meats. When I do buy it, it’s only organic ground turkey, chicken, pork, beef, eggs etc. Here are a few other things that are always on my list...

Almond Milk

Greek yogurt

Tomatoes

Frozen fruit (or fresh if in season)

Frozen kale & spinach (or fresh if in season)

Brussels sprouts

Avocados

Cheese - usually Sharp Cheddar

Apples

Tempeh

Tortillas

Cauliflower

Sugar snap peas

Salmon

Mahi Mahi

Shrimp

Artichokes

Lettuce

Blackberries

Blueberries

Strawberries

Bananas

Pizza dough and/or frozen pizzas.

I’m always looking for new ideas, easy meals and things the kiddos will eat! So please share any tips/recipes/pantry staples you love with me on my Facebook page! Shop and eat with Joy

Kerstin