With spring just around the corner, you know what that means: spring cleaning! But this time we’re talking about your pantry. Cleaning out your pantry and stocking it with high quality and nutrient dense food and snacks is one of the best ways to help you stay on track and reach your health goals this year. Let’s start with the essentials:
Nutrition Bars:
Being on the go means you need quick and easy snacks that will keep you full and satisfied. Most nutrition bars are full of sugar and artificial flavors and ingredients. The key to staying full is protein, so opt for these high protein, clean-ingredient nutrition bars.
- Beef Sticks: Chomps, Epic, or The New Primal
- Redd Bars
- Bulletproof Collagen Protein Bar
- YES Bars
- Health Warrior Chia Bars
Crackers / Chips:
Do you ever find yourself reaching for that bag of Lay’s when you’re hungry? But then feel even worse after eating them? That’s because most chips, crackers and popcorn are highly processed and made with inflammatory oils that wreak havoc on our gut health. Instead, choose these snacks made with healthy fats and fiber.
- Simple Mills
- Ella’s Flats
- Siete Tortilla Chips
- Lesser Evil Popcorn
- Mary’s Gone Crackers
Pasta:
Eating health and reaching your weight loss goals does not mean you have to cut out pasta, it just means being more mindful of the type of pasta you are eating. Gluten, found white and whole wheat pasta, is often associated with GI discomfort and bloating, headaches, brain fog, and fatigue. Choosing pastas made with almond flour, chickpea flour, or rice flour may be the better option so you can eat your pasta and still feel great! Check out these brands below:
- Capello’s
- Jovial
- Tolerant Foods
Fats / Oils:
Cooking oils and fats like nuts and nut butter are an essential in the pantry. However, the type of oils and fats we use either help or hinder our health goals. We want to avoid highly refined vegetable and seed oils, as well as nut butters made with heavily sprayed nuts and hydrogenated oils. Focus on using these healthy fats for cooking or eating.
- Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Organic Avocado Oil
- Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil
- Organic, raw and unsalted nuts
- Organic flax, pumpkin, and chia seeds
- Organic nut butters without any added oils, sugar or salt
Dark Chocolate:
When that sweet tooth hits, opt for dark chocolate. Unlike other sweets like cookies and candy, dark chocolate helps to stabilize blood sugar, has anti-inflammatory properties, and is a good source of magnesium. Aim for a higher percentage cacao (70%+), and lower sugar.
- MAST
- Theo
- Eating Evolved
- Raaka
A healthy pantry is conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Whether you’re grabbing a snack on the go, looking for dinner options for the family, or need something for that 4pm pick-me-up, your pantry should be filled with options that are going to further align you with your health goals, not derail your progress. So, to prepare for spring cleaning, use this as a guide to fill your pantry with all the right foods and go into summer feeling and looking your best.
