The Not So Secret Secret to Eating Well

Here's a bit of a peek inside my kitchen. I think one of the most important things to eating well is to have a well-stocked pantry, refrigerator, and freezer so that you can whip up something nutritious and delicious with minimal fuss. It may all seem like a bit much, but these ingredients are ones that I find myself using again and again to create quick snacks and meals and those lazier, longer, slower-cooked dishes.

My diet at home is mostly plant-based, so this is reflected in my list. While I keep sources of protein like beans, legumes, nuts, eggs, cheese, yogurt, and tempeh, on hand at most times, I do also purchase local meats on occasion and store them in the freezer. There are also variety of items not on the list that I often purchase, such as other types of nuts and grains, but they are not my go-to's for recipes. 

The changing of seasons brings some certain "seasonal regulars" such as fresh tomatoes and zucchini during the summer and all sorts of squashes and root vegetables during the fall.

And another secret to actually using all of these healthy ingredients- especially the dry goods like the grains, nuts, and spices- is to display them in pretty jars and beautiful containers so you are actually inspired to use them. You are so much more likely to use those beluga lentils if they are easy to reach than if they are hiding in the very back of your pantry. Ball jars are fairly inexpensive, but I also reuse jars that other foods have come in. Cooking can become so much more fun when you make it easy.

What food items do you ALWAYS have in your kitchen?