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Redefining Pantry Staples
The Benefits of a Well-stocked Kitchen Part Two
By Donna Smith
So you've decided your pantry needs a makeover. What are some basic staples all parents should have in their pantries? Nava Atlas, author of The Vegetarian Family Cookbook (Broadway, 2004) and The Vegetarian 5-Ingredient Gourmet (Broadway, 2001), says all parents (and indeed, all health-conscious people) should stock their pantries with the following basic categories of foods:
- Canned beans of all sorts
- Grains, including barley, brown rice and the fast-cooking couscous and quinoa
- Healthy oils, especially olive oil
- Pastas and noodles of several shapes and varieties
- Tomato products (diced, crushed, sauce)
- Prepared condiments these are a real life saver for making easy meals including barbecue sauce, pasta and pizza sauce, salad dressings, salsas, Thai sauces, stir-fry sauce and soy sauce
- Pantry vegetables like onions, garlic, potatoes and sweet potatoes
- Nut butters
- Nuts (almonds, cashews, etc.)
- Dried fruits
- Organic juices
- Asceptic containers of silken tofu
- Baking staples such as whole-grain flours, baking soda, baking powder
- Canned and jarred "gourmet" items like artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, coconut milk, green chilies things that augment fresh foods and make meals exciting
Bethany Ritchey from Newport, Ore., likes to keep extra spaghetti noodles available because of their versatility. "One of my favorites that is easy is salmon with olive oil and cilantro all mixed in with boiled noodles," she says.She just adds a little salt and pepper to taste and serves. "It's delicious!"Ritchey says.
And don't forget that children love snacks and lots of them! Atlas, who has two vegan teenage sons who eat three square meals a day and still like to graze from the pantry, recommends these basics not only for small children, but older ones as well:
