I’ll come right out and admit it…I am a little bit of a food hoarder. Every week before I go grocery shopping, I scour my pantry to make sure I have at LEAST one of these go-to pantry staples.
By consistently having these items on hand, I know that I can always make healthy choices and create delicious meals.
This is the first post of a 2-part series, so I also plan to share my fridge and freezer staples separately in the near future. These pantry staples are vital when it comes to deciding “what’s for dinner?” or the next time you’re jonesing for a quick but healthy snack.
Since it gives me peace of mind always being able to grab any of these items at any time, and I am adamant that I am never without them, I figured it would be beneficial to share my staples here in case any of you could use some help when it comes to stocking your pantry! 
This list isn’t completely extensive, but I did my best to narrow my list down to my top 10. Also, fair warning, not everything on the list is “Paleo”, but having these non-paleo (but gluten-free) items on hand ensures that I always have something for my husband to eat when I opt for the lower carb/paleo version 🙂
Canned Chicken and/or Tuna
These canned protein options are vital anytime we don’t have leftovers for lunch. I try to make sure we have enough of last night’s dinner to take to work the next day, but when that fails, this is our go-to! I honestly don’t know what else we would do for a back-up if not this! All I have to do is mix in some mayonnaise, a few seasonings, and a delicious, nutritious, and easy lunch is ready to go! On the weekends, we sometimes even go all out with “tuna melts” on gluten-free bread 🙂 I get the sustainably caught tuna at Costco, and the chicken from Trader Joes, but I know they are easily accessible from just about any grocery store!
Jarred Salsa
This might seem a little overly simple or silly, but jarred salsa is a VITAL addition to our pantry! I actually usually have 3 jars on hand 🙂 We have found this Whole 30, organic favorite at Trader Joes, and rarely stray from what we love! This salsa is such an important asset for 2 main reasons: 1) Chips & Salsa are life and 2) Salsa CrockPot Chicken. The Salsa Chicken is on our dinner menu almost weekly…just add chicken breasts and/or thighs and a whole jar of salsa to the CrockPot and you have a delicious protein ready for dinner when you get home! Seriously, cant live without it!
Onions, Garlic, and Potatoes
I am sort of cheating by adding all of these items into one category, but since they are all in the same section at the grocery store, and I store them all in the same bowl at home, it makes sense. 🙂 Onions and garlic are such common ingredients in my cooking, that I almost get panicky if we run out. Just about every week, I grab a bunch of garlic and a bag of both yellow and red onions to always have on hand to add lots of delicious flavor to my meals! I also always tend to grab a bag of sweet potatoes and a bag of baby white potatoes, because I know they will come in handy as sides for dinner throughout the week. Potatoes of any kind are definitely a staple around here!
Nuts, Nut Butter, Lara Bars
I eat a banana with a scoop of almond butter just about every day of my life as a mid-morning snack, so having an extra jar (or 3) in the cupboard is necessary. I also end up using almond butter a lot in baked goods as well as in smoothies. And to be totally honest, it’s not uncommon at all to see me dip a square of dark chocolate in the jar to satisfy my sweet tooth. I used to be pretty obsessed with peanut butter, but I think I might have officially made the switch to prefer AB now. It’s a must! In addition, having whole nuts like cashews, almonds, and pistachios is helpful when it comes to needing a quick and filling snack or even making your own trail mix. I also use nuts in salads, sauces, and homemade granola. Lastly, having emergency “real food” snacks on hand like Lara Bars is so helpful. I try to make my own bars, but that isn’t always a reality, especially when traveling, so Lara Bars can be clutch! While my “tummy” doesn’t tolerate a lot of nut products all at once, they can be an AWESOME source of protein and fat in a hurry/when on the go.
Dried Fruit (& Fresh Fruit)
Dried fruit is another thing we eat in moderation, but makes such a big difference when it comes to grabbing a quick snack or adding a little something extra to a salad, trail mix, or a baked good. These dried mangoes from Made in Nature are SO good that I get that big bag every time I go to Costco. Having dried fruit in the pantry at all times comes in so handy for many reasons!
Jarred/Canned Tomatoes/Pasta Sauce
Jarred tomatoes and/or spaghetti sauce is definitely pretty mandatory for me! I don’t necessarily always go for this particular brand, but it’s what Costco had in a 3-pack the last time we went 🙂 As long as the ingredient list is clean, I am a happy camper! I like to have plain tomatoes as well as a pre-made sauce on hand and use depending on the recipe or how big of a hurry I am in come dinner time. I would venture to guess that most households feel the same way about how convenient and important tomato sauce is when it comes to quick and easy weeknight meals!
Rice Pasta & White Rice
Travis is totally cool with eating paleo for the most part, but he does say he needs a little more carbs with dinner than I typically do, so having these products on hand is super helpful to make sure we are both getting what we want/need! Typically, anytime I am having cauliflower rice, I’ll make him white rice, and when I am eating zoodles or spaghetti squash, I’ll make him a pot of brown rice pasta. I would like to say that these items are strictly for Travis, but I do sometimes still eat a little bit of rice/noodles with dinner when they are available. I know rice doesn’t agree with me super well (it makes me look and feel bloated when eaten in larger quantities) but sometimes I go for it anyway 🙂
Chicken Broth
Yes, making homemade broth is super easy and probably healthier/more nutritious, but I still always buy the 6-pack of this Organic Bone Broth from Costco when we go. I use it to cook rice (to make it more nutritious) and recipes often call for just a little bit of broth so this resealable carton is so convenient. Having this on hand makes me feel like I will be prepared to make any recipe, even if I haven’t planned ahead by making homemade broth!
Favorite Canned Goods (Beans, Olives, Artichokes, Pickles, etc.)
This is another kind of broad/general category, because I think the items will be a little different for each person depending on their preferences! For us, we always like to have a stash of things like jarred pickles, marinated artichokes, olives, pickled vegetables, cans of beans, etc. for snacking and for meals. These types of pantry staples can add flavor, protein, or even something green to an otherwise lacking weeknight dinner! You might have to find what your favorite add-ins are, and then make sure you are well stocked!
Plantain Chips
This one should come as no surprise to the people that know me…I bring plantain chips with me just about everywhere I go. Especially to Mexican restaurants (because I LOVE chips and salsa, but corn chips don’t typically love me) but really, they are a great snack anytime, anywhere! One of my favorite snacks (introduced to me by my nephew) is known as a “knuckle sandwich”-we put salami or pepperoni in between 2 plantain chips for a little salty, protein filled snack! The bottom line is that plantain chips are the perfect on-the-go snack and have become one of my favorite salty snacks, making them a mandatory pantry staple! 
I hope that keeping some of these items in mind helps save you the next time you are at a loss for dinner or have a major snack attack, but want to choose something healthy! I am sure everyone’s staples vary, so what are some of your go-to items that you feel like you NEED to have on hand at all times?
Let me know in the comments below!
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