Prepping your Pantry for Spring

Let’s talk about what’s lurking behind your closed doors, your pantry doors. No need to be ashamed, I’ll go first.

I buy specialty foods while traveling. Because I can’t ever replace these treats, I hoard them and often they go unused. This all makes sense in my mind.

Dust off your cookbooks! It’s time to clean up your plate and your pantry. Let’s ditch some of those prepared, just-add-water or microwave meals from your pantry and freezer and start cooking real foods!

Dirty pantry secrets brings me to a few quick spring cleaning tips. In addition to my tips, Rachel Gambone, of ReOrganizing with Rachel (and fellow BCL blogger!), visited the 2 Weird Hungry Girls Podcast and shared Mese en Place Your Pantry.

Out with the Old 

Maybe you want to define wellness goals or reduce clutter, the method is still the same. Reduce. Make room for what you want more of on your plate.

1. 1. Have three boxes for keep, donations or expired items; begin to sort.

1. 1. Cut out processed foods. If it’s a meal in a box, get rid of it. These items are generally high in sodium and are highly processed foods.

1. 1. Cut out junk food. Healthier food choices can’t happen with junk food lurking in the pantry.

1. 1. Check your freezer… Here is a handy FDA sheet to get you started.

1. 1. Tidy your spice rack. Sniff test just to be sure and don’t be afraid to toss items. Be mindful when splurging on new herbs and spices.

• • Whole spices and dried herbs will keep for 1-2 years

• • Seeds will keep for 2-3 years

• • Ground spices and herbs will keep for 1 year

In with the New

1. 1. Make your own, from scratch, baked goods! Ditch boxed, just-add-oil and egg faux food. Know what is in your food and play with recipes. Try whole grain white wheat or spelt flour instead of all-purpose, enriched white flour.

1. 1. Consider replacing white pasta with whole wheat/grain pasta or gluten-free pasta.

1. 1. Keep healthier snacks on hand. Dried fruit, nuts, granola and Twix Bars (I wanted to see if you were still reading). Make your own cookies and snack bars!

1. 1. Replace the “insta-meals” with whole grains, rice varieties and beans.

• • Dried rice and beans come in many varieties and are cheaper than a box of instant, flavored rice blends.

• • Add flavor to rice or beans by preparing in broth or with the addition of dried herbs.

• • Whole grains, beans and rice are perfect to have on hand for salads, soups, dips and side dishes.

• • Think baby beluga or French lentils, black rice, quinoa, freekeh and farro.