If it ain't broke, don't fix it, says conventional wisdom. But if it is broken, then by all means -- fix it.Many of us have broken pantries. Pantries full of chips, cookies, candies, oils, sugars, and well, let's just name it: junk. Our pantries are broken because they don't work in a world where health and wellness and prevention should be on everyone's menu. They are ineffective, insufficient, and downright bad for us.
My pantry has been in disrepair for a long time. Now, however, thanks to a build-your-pantry cheat sheet I brought home from Canyon Ranch, it's on the mend. Yours can be too. Just borrow from this abbreviated list next time you're in the grocery store and in no time, your pantry will be lookin' good. So will you.
Building your Pantry: A Mini List
Olive Oil (cold pressed, extra virgin)
Canola oil and Canola Oil spray (Spectrum expeller-pressed)
Regular and Low-fat Canola mayonnaise (Spectrum)
Low-fat soy mayonnaise (Nayonaise)
Oatmeal and seven-grain cereal (Arrowhead)
Whole-grain dry cereal and granola (Health Valley, Barbara's)
Whole-grain bread products (without additives and hydrogenated fat)
Whole wheat tortillas (Garden of Eatin', Tumaros Organic, Alvarado Street)
Baked blue corn chips or black bean chips (Garden of Eatin')
Pasta (Barilla Plus)
Canned pinto and garbanzo beans (Eden Foods)
Part-skim mozzarella cheese -- keep string cheese on hand too
Flax seed (if ground, store in refrigerator)
Almonds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts
Don't forget about your refrigerator -- stock it full of fresh fruits and veggies, natural or organic boneless/skinless chicken breasts, natural cuts of grass-fed beef, and fresh or frozen fish fillets.
Thanks to the Canyon Ranch nutrition team for this insight.
1. I whole-heartedly agree with your thoughts on broken pantries. In your mini-list you might consider including chia seeds instead of flax seeds.
Chia seeds have higher nutritional value and never go rancid so you don't have to refrigerate them...you can store them in your pantry along with all of these other excellent food items. If you've never heard of chia seeds, there's a valuable document at http://www.goodcausewellness.com/chiaseedrecipesgoodcausewellness.pdf that gives a whole nutritional breakdown, why they are good for you and even recipes.
I've been ordering mine from that website - www.goodcausewellness.com too. They were recommended by a couple of other websites and have been great getting my order out to me. I think once more people learn about chia seeds and their health benefits that people will happily add them to their diet (and their pantry!).
Posted at 8:52PM on May 15th 2007 by Rhody Cohon