Have you checked your pantry recently? The keystone to healthy and holistic living is diet. And in order to maintain a healthy diet, you need to fill your stores with real food. But what is real food? This article will answer that question for you and provide tips for stocking your real food pantry.
What is Real Food
The definition of real food is essentially food that’s as close to its natural state as possible. It includes foods that are not highly processed and contain five or fewer ingredients.
This includes grocery staples like bread, grains, eggs, milk, and fresh produce. While this makes up most of the list of real foods, we can still break them down into other groups.
Having these foodstuffs in your pantry will not only make for a nutritious meal, but it will also stave off bad eating habits, especially when it comes to binging processed food.
Great Things for Real Foods Meals
Tea
This real food beverage is a great thing to have on hand for your pantry.
One of the most ubiquitous household staples, tea can be enjoyed cold or hot, and you can sweeten it naturally with honey or juice to give it any flavor that compliments your meals with perfection.
Tea also has loads of antioxidants and can be used as a comparable replacement for coffee in the morning.
There’s less caffeine in tea, so it won’t smack you in the face and give you a harsh drop once the caffeine high is gone. Most of all, it can be kept at your desk and sipped all day without leaving you jittery and spent.
Coconut and Olive Oils
Some foods require a little extra help to cook properly, so coconut and olive oil are great for a wide range of food types.
These oils, or healthy fats, are extracted from plants. They have some important benefits to your cardiovascular system like reducing inflammation in the body.
If you want to save on these oils, the best thing you can do is buy a larger container so you can pay a lower price per fluid ounce.
Sprouted and Regular Flours, Whole Oats, Quinoa, Pop Corn, Rice
The foundation of any health food pantry list is grains.
You can use it to make your own baked good and gravy, but you always have the alternative of trying sprouted flour. It’s easier to digest and can be used to make those extra special meals.
Having some good quality oats can make an excellent breakfast, as well as quite a few simple and healthy ethnic dishes. Quinoa is always a welcome member of the family, and popcorn (natural varieties) makes an excellent snack. Rice can be used in small amounts, and pairs well with veggies.
Dried Herbs/Spices
Lastly, you’ll need some herbs and spices. Spices can be bought and stored in airtight containers to preserve their robust flavors.
Meanwhile, herbs can also be grown in small spaces. After harvesting, it probably wouldn’t take long to hang them and dry them the old ways before storage. That way you have all you need to whip up some super satisfying meals.
Takeaway
The next time someone asks you what is real food, you’ll know just what to tell them. Being more attentive to how to stock a food pantry and the different effects of food on our body can help you stay fit and healthy both physically and mentally.