KITCHEN FAVORITES
Curious how I stock my pantry, fill my fridge, and what equipment I use? Well, I'm spilling the beans in detail for you below. These are all my affiliate links to products you can buy through Amazon.
LET’S START WITH KITCHEN EQUIPMENT
I always say that the kitchen is the heart of the home, and having the right kitchen equipment can make cooking healthy so much easier! These are the tools that I use and love love love! If you see anything you’re curious about, just click the button below and it’ll take you to where you can shop it.
Vitamix Blender
I used to have a ninja blender - but truthfully I was disappointed. Then I upgraded and I’m so happy with the decision. I can’t imagine life without my blender. I use it every morning to make smoothies. It’s great for pureeing dips, sauces, and seed butters.
Ninja Foodi Deluxe
A slow cooker is the busy moms best friend. It’s the perfect tool for soups and stews. Basically, if you don’t have one, I highly recommend getting one - especially with a programmable timer like this Kitchenaid slow cooker.
Breville Food Processor
A food processor will help you puree soups, make granola bars, hummus, nut butters, and even shred vegetables. I use my food processor in a variety of ways every week
Rice Cooker / Steamer
To save time, I always use a rice cooker. This one an extra steam tray attachment to steam your vegetables. It’s perfect for meal prep and busy nights.
Le Creuset 5 Qt Dutch Oven
I actually have three different sized dutch ovens, a 4 qt, 5 qt, and 7 qt. I find the 5 qt to be the most used - it’s the one I make soups and one-pot dinners with. This amazing tool will let you cook on the stove and pop it into the oven without changing pots. A dutch oven will last your lifetime if you purchase a good quality one. I love the white one but it comes in a variety of colors too.
Staub Enameled Cast Iron Skillet
An enameled cast iron skillet is much easier to clean and doesn’t require seasoning like a regular cast iron skillet does. This gorgeous frying pan will last your lifetime. It can be used for stir frys, cooking meat on the stove, and can be added to the oven.
Staub Ceramic Casserole Dish
I love a pretty casserole dish because you’ll be using it to serve your delicious meals like lasagna, enchilada casserole, and marinated meats. This beautiful Staub dish one will last a lifetime and never go out of style.
Nordic Ware Baking Rack
I love my Nordic Ware baking rack! It is the best way to get things crispy in the oven. You can make crispy potato wedges, crispy chicken wings, kale chips, apple chips, bacon and more! It’s definitely a good pan to have in your kitchen.
Nordic Ware Big Baking Sheet
Thes large baking sheets are natural aluminum and made in the USA. Larger than your typical baking sheet, these are perfect for making extra cookies, large sheet pan dinners and so much more. I use mine all the time and really love them (I have two).
Steel Mandolin Slicer
This tool will help you make straight, crinkle cut and waffle cuts with your fruits and vegetables. You can use it to make skinny fries, shredded carrots, thinly sliced veggies for chips and salads, and so much more. I highly recommend just purchasing a good quality one initially as the plastic ones break so fast and are a waste of money.
Prep and Serve Mixing Bowls
Great for mixing, prepping, and storing as well as serving food at picnics and potlucks. This have silicone slip-free bottoms, which I love. They’re made in the USA.
Nordic Ware Bundt Cake Pan
I am a HUGE FAN of Nordic Ware bundt cake pans - they come in a variety of gorgeous designs. They make the most beautiful cakes that require little fuss on your end. Perfect for serving at birthdays, parties or just with coffee.
Silicone Cooking Utensils
I love using silicone utensils because they won’t scratch your pots. These ones are heat-resistant, non-stick and non-toxic with wood handles. This set also comes with measuring spoons and oven mitts.
Pizza Cutter
I use my pizza cutter for pizzas, pies and to slice my homemade granola bars. This one is stainless steel and made in the USA.
Silicone Baking Mats
These high-quality silicone baking mats are heat resistant, made of silicone and fiberglass mesh. You use them to bake cookies, or roll and knead dough on them. They’re nonstick so all baking will just slide right off. I keep mine rolled in the cupboard for easy storage.
Steel Mesh Strainers
I use these for so many things! I use them to sift my flour when I’m baking. To rinse my quinoa, buckwheat groats and rice before cooking. And to strain my bone broth. They’re so handy!
8 oz Mason Jars
Probably the most versatile jar you’ll have in your house. You can use them to carry snacks in your bag, salads for lunch, use for canning, use as drinking glasses, store food in the pantry and more. I find the 8 oz jars to be the ones I use the most.
4 oz Mason Jars
I use the smaller mason jars for storing spices, seeds, and superfood powders. I also use them to store my homemade salad dressings.
Glass Food Containers
The perfect containers to store leftovers, use for meal prep, or keep your lunches! These stack so nicely in the fridge - I always have a set on hand.
Silicone Reusable Bags
Reusable bags are great for anything you’d need a bag for - kids snacks, freezer meals, storing veggies, and marinating meats. These are leak-proof, freezer-safe and BPA free.
Stainless Steel Smoothie Cups
I always have a set of stainless steel cups because they’re amazing for smoothies and hot drinks like coffee and homemade lattes. I usually make myself and my daughter a smoothie for our car ride to preschool every morning. This set is perfect for the whole family to use.
LunchBots Steel Lunch Box
For my daughter’s lunch, I love love love using the stainless steel lunch boxes from LunchBots. They’re the perfect size, easy to clean and they come in a variety of different compartment options. We’ve had ours for years!
Organic Produce Bags
If you’re ready to move towards a less waste lifestyle, then I recommend simple cotton bags to hold your product and bulk foods. They’re easy to pack, washable and they’ll biodegrade once you’re done with them.
Baggu Reusable Bags
My absolute favorite reusable shopping bags are from BAGGU. They have a wide variety of patterns and designs and fold nicely into your bag for whenever you need them. This happy face one is still my ultimate favorite - I always get compliments on it when I go out.
Parchment Paper Sheets
Precut parchment paper sheets that fit a half sheet pan. These make life so much easier! They’re unbleached and made from natural wood pulp. You can use them for anything you’re cooking on a baking sheet including cookies, vegetables and chicken.
Silicone Freezie Molds
Did you know you can make homemade freezies!? When I first found these I was so excited!! These rainbow silicone molds are so fun - they’re perfect for summertime treats.
Steel Popsicle Molds
This is the mold that I use this mold to make my popsicle recipes. It’s stainless steel and makes the most beautiful popsicle shapes. You just use regular wooden popsicle sticks for this one
Beeswax Food Wraps
These smell incredible and are the perfect way to wrap your produce and leftovers without using plastic wrap. Beeswax wraps last a long time and they’re washable.
Now Let's Go Grocery Shopping…
HEALTHY FOODS I HAVE IN MY KITCHEN
Curious about what a healthy pantry looks like? Well, you're about to find out. This list is detailed on purpose - I want to give everything to you here so you know exactly what ingredient to use and when. You certainly don't need to buy everything here all at once! Whenever you make something new, add a few healthy ingredients to your pantry and you'll give your kitchen a healthy makeover in no time!
Download My Healthy Food Cheatsheet
An easy 1-page guide that lists out all the foods in this list, plus more. Take it to your grocery store with you or store it in your cupboard for an easy reference.
WHOLE GRAINS
Let’s start with whole grains. These are a staple to almost every meal I cook for my family.
Quinoa
Quinoa is a versatile whole grain that can be used in a variety of dishes - even desserts! We eat quinoa every week.
Buckwheat Groats
Buckwheat groats are very nutritious and gluten-free. You can eat them the same way you would rice - as a side dish, in stir frys, and even as porridge. I also love using buckwheat flour in my baking.
Short Grain Brown Rice
Pretty self explanatory. We like to cycle between whole grain rice and organic white rice. My favorite is Lundberg’s brown short grain rice.
Wild Rice
Really nice to have once in a while. I love to add this wild rice mix to my salads. It’s also great in soups, as a side dish or in stir frys.
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
Instead of sugary cereals, try making oatmeal for breakfast. It can be topped with chopped fruits, nuts, seeds and plain yogurt. I like to make overnight oats to save time in the mornings. You can also use these oats in baking and to make meatballs.
Brown Rice Pasta
A great alternative to regular pasta. It’s made from brown rice and is gluten-free. Cooks up just like regular wheat pasta and can be served in a variety of recipes. We don’t eat wheat pasta in our house and only eat rice pasta.
Chickpea Pasta
I try to avoid pasta made from refined flours (white pasta and whole wheat pasta) and instead we eat pasta from grains and beans. This chickpea pasta is great.
Lentil Pasta
Made with lentil flour, this pasta is great for anyone with allergies. This pasta is high in protein and is a low glycemic index food.
HEALTHIER SNACKS
Who doesn’t love a good snack!? Well, the conventional stuff is loaded with preservatives, too much salt and unhealthy fats. Although we eat that stuff once in a while, we like to focus on these snacks majority of the time so we know we’re eating healthier.
Good Quality Tortilla Chips
A good quality tortilla chip made with simple ingredients is absolutely essential in our household. I love eat them with homemade guacamole, hummus and also make cheesy nachos. My daughter eats them plain as a snack.
RW Garcia Crackers
When you actually start looking, it’s really hard to find a cracker that’s gluten free, made with simple ingredients and nut free. So when I discovered the RW Garcia brand, I became a devoted fan. The sweet potato flavor is my daughter’s favorite and I pack these in her school snacks.
Roasted Seaweed
Seaweed is incredibly nutritious and great for a snack. They’re so easy to pack in kids lunches. My whole family loves these. I just wish they came with less packaging.
Mary’s Crackers
My daughter doesn’t like these because there are too many seeds, but I love them! These are perfect for dipping in hummus or guacamole. They’re also great served with cheese and salami.
Simply Protein Bars
My husband raves about these protein bars. In particular, he likes the double chocolate flavor. They’re high in fiber and protein, and a great grab-and-go snack
Made Good Bars
I like these because they’re nut-free and dairy-free, so they’re safe to pack in school lunches. I’ve also used these as treats at my daughter’s birthday parties.
Roasted Seaweed
Delicious, gluten-free and totally addictive! I love this brand because it’s free from all common allergens. These are made with lentil flour and are a yummy snack to try.
Real Fruit Bars
These fruit bars are high in fiber, have no preservatives and no added sugar. They’re a great fruit bar to add to lunches.
BAKING INGREDIENTS
Guys, I love to bake - it is so fun! But majority of recipes out there in cookbooks or on Pinterest are loaded with refined sugars and refined flours. Too much of this stuff can cause major sugar crashes, mood swings and weight gain. Not fun. But luckily there’s a much better way! You absolutely can bake with healthier ingredients and are better for your body. Here are the basics of what I keep in my pantry for my baking needs.
Mega Chocolate Chips
Hands down my favorite chocolate chips to bake with. These are made in a nut-free facility and are free of other top allergens. So they’re perfect to use for kids birthday parties, baking for school lunches, and if you have any allergies at home like I do
Real Maple Syrup
There are only three types of natural sugars that I keep at home for baking and sweetening foods. Maple syrup is the one I use most of the time and really love the flavor.
Coconut Sugar
This stuff is pure gold! I use coconut sugar in replacement of any recipe that calls for a granulated sugar - cakes, cupcakes, scones and cookies etc. It’s an unrefined sugar made from coconut palm nectar.
Medjool Dates
Medjool dates can be used as a natural sweetener. Use them to make energy balls, sweeten homemade nut and seed mylks, and other recipes. I always keep a bag of these on hand in my pantry.
Coconut Flakes
I keep coconut flakes and shredded coconut in my pantry to use as toppings on smoothie bowls, yogurt, oatmeal, and in baking. When purchasing, make sure you choose an unsweetened option.
Cacao Powder
Did you know there’s actually a difference between cacao powder and cocoa powder? Cacao powder is rich in antioxidants and is considered a superfood! You can use cacao powder to make all of your chocolate treats. I use it in a lot of my recipes.
Vanilla Extract
Real, pure vanilla extract smells divine. My daughter always asks to smell the bottle. I use this brand in all of my baking and I love it!
Vanilla Bean Powder
It’s truly divine and a little goes a long way with vanilla bean powder. I love to add it to my smoothies, oatmeal, and yogurt.
Oat Flour
Oat flour is an easy replacement for refined flours. I usually make mine at home (here’s my tutorial on how to do it) but you can also buy oat flour if you want to save time.
Chickpea Flour
Chickpea flour has a unique flavor and is so nutritious! It’s high in protein and fiber. You can use it to make pancakes, banana bread, muffins and more.
Buckwheat Flour
I really like buckwheat flour. It’s also really nutritious for you. I’ve used it to make cakes, cupcakes and pancakes.
Vanilla Bean Powder
Quinoa flour is really versatile and high in protein! Just like all of these other flours, you can use it to make cakes, cupcakes and more.
All Purpose Flour
I use all-purpose flour in birthday cakes, cupcakes, cookies. I use it a lot in recipes for the blog, but not as often at home as both my husband and myself eat mostly gluten-free.
Whole Wheat Flour
This white whole wheat flour is great to use in muffins, cakes and pancakes. It has a lighter color than traditional whole wheat flour so it’s easier to sneak into baking in replacement of traditional white flour. I use it a lot in recipes for the blog, but not as often at home as both my husband and myself eat mostly gluten-free.
Gluten-Free Flour Blend
Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free all-purpose flour mix has been formulated to create baked goods with terrific taste and texture—no additional specialty ingredients or custom recipes required. This mix can be used in a 1:1 ratio to traditional flour.
Coconut Flour
This flour makes a great base for gluten-free crusts for cheesecake and homemade stuffing. My dad and my husband are both gluten-free so I use it often. Coconut flour absorbs a lot of moisture and typically tastes better when mixed with other flours.
Arrowroot Powder
This powder is perfect for gluten-free cooking, it is a great substitute for cornstarch and flour and is often used as a thickening agent in sauces, gravies, soups and puddings.
Rainbow Icing Set
I’ve made colored icing from scratch and if I’m making more than one color, it’s just too much work. I prefer to use store-bought colored icing when I’m decorating cookies, cupcakes and cakes for birthdays. It just make life easier. Wilton is my favorite brand for icing - their colors are beautiful.
Organic Vanilla Frosting
I like to keep a container of organic frosting in my pantry for when I’m in a hurry and just don’t feel like making icing from scratch. Vanilla can easily be colored if needed.
Rainbow Sprinkles (No Artificial Dyes)
We use a lot of sprinkles in our house - my daughter likes to make her own creations whenever I’m making a recipe. These sprinkles are gluten-free, and sugar-free no artificial dyes. I prefer to limit her amount of sugar and this is one way I can do that.
SEEDS + SEED BUTTERS
Having lots of seeds in my pantry is absolutely essential. I use them in almost every meal I make. I pop them into smoothies, sprinkle them on salads, oatmeal, yogurt, on pancakes and more. I don’t share any nuts in this guide because I have a severe nut allergy, and this allergy is so common in children these days so it’s not allowed in most schools. So seeds and seed butters are an amazing alternative! I highly recommend purchasing the Gerbs brand if you have a nut allergy in your family as well.
Chia Seeds
Super high in protein. You can add them to smoothies and make chia pudding. These can also be used as an egg substitute.
Hemp Seeds
Super high in protein - these are the perfect thing to add to smoothies. I also love them in my homemade granola bars and energy balls. We go through these really fast in my house.
Ground Flaxseed
Always buy ground flaxseed versus whole flaxseed to get the most nutrition because your body can’t digest the outer shell properly. Ground flaxseed is a great addition to breakfast muffins, granola bars, and sprinkled on oatmeal.
Cacao Nibs
You can use cacao nibs to create an extra crunch in healthy granola bars, add to smoothies or even sprinkle nibs on salads for a savory treat. Warning: These do not taste like chocolate. If you’re looking to incorporate more healthy foods, these are a great option - I love them!
Download My Healthy Food Cheatsheet
An easy 1-page guide that lists out all the foods in this list, plus more. Take it to your grocery store with you or store it in your cupboard for an easy reference.
Raw Pumpkin Seeds
Excellent source of antioxidants, Magnesium, Zinc, and Copper. Great for sprinkling on salads, oatmeal, yogurt, or adding to muffins and granola bars.
Raw Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are such a great nutritious snack. You can sprinkle them on almost anything you eat, and I also add them to my smoothies.
Sunbutter
A totally nut-free, dairy-free, sugar-free seed butter made from sunflower seeds. Super high in protein and a great snack for kids. I’m allergic to nuts, so this is the alternative we carry in our house. It’s great for my daughter to bring to school.
Mixed Seed Butter
This 5 seed combo is jam packed with chia, flax, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and hemp seeds. It’s also totally nut free.
BEANS
So so good for you! High in protein and good for the earth and sustainability. Eat them as much as you can - these four are my favorites.
Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)
Can be used to make homemade hummus, crispy chickpeas, in soups, salads and stir frys.
Lentil Beans
Typically more gentle on the digestive system. My daughter likes thes as-is sprinkled with a little bit of salt. I add them to her lunches. Also taste great in soups, casseroles and salads.
Black Beans
Use for taco casseroles, soups and dips.
Cannellini Beans (White Kidney Beans)
Great for soups and salads. You can also make a bean dip using cannellini beans.
SAUCES, OILS AND FLAVORINGS
Many store bought dressings and sauces are loaded with refined sugars, preservatives and other things we really don’t need. You can flavor your meals much more simply and I truly believe it tastes so much better. To make my sauces and dips - these are the ingredients that I use.
Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV has a variety of uses - from food, to cleaning, to even your skin and hair. My husband uses it for upset stomach. I like to mix it with water and drink it like a shot to help aid in weight loss. And I use a lot of it to make my homemade salad dressings.
Coconut Aminos
A soy-free sauce that you can use as an alternative to soy or tamari. It’s jam packed with 17 amino acids, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin B. You can use it to season your grains, flavor beans and in marinades for your meats.A great all-purpose sauce that can be used in replacement of soy sauce, worcestershire and tamari.
Tamari Sauce
The difference between tamari and regular soy sauce is that it’s fermented. So you’re getting beneficial gut bacteria along with great flavor. This tastes great on rice, quinoa, and buckwheat groats. I also use it as a sauce with chicken and pork.
Worcestershire Sauce
I use this in my slow cooker stews, in sauces and marinades. This version is gluten-free!
Organic Dijon Mustard
This is a staple in most of my salad dressings, sauces and marinades.
Whole Grain Dijon Mustard
A.
Sugar-Free Barbecue Sauce
Perfect for grilling and baking. There’s no preservatives, no sugar and it’s gluten-free.
Sugar-Free Ketchup
No sugar, no preservatives and gluten-free! This one is our favorite.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a staple in my house for anything that I cook. It is a source of healthy fats and does not go rancid when heated like other cooking oils do. This brand has a neutral flavor making it better to cook with - not every brand does, so it’s important to check. Otherwise your dish can taste like coconut.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
I use extra virgin oil to drizzle on my salads, beans and grains. Olive oil has a medium smoke point and can be used to sautee, or drizzled over pasta dishes and in salad dressings.
Avocado Oil
This is my favorite. It’s a neutral-flavored oil that’s perfect for sauteing, grilling, roasting and baking. I use it in sweet and savory dishes. It can also be used to drizzle over pasta dishes or used in fresh salad dressings.
Avocado Oil Spray
Gosh I love this spray! I use it all the time when I’m cooking and baking in the oven to prevent the food from sticking to the pan.
FERMENTED FOODS
More and more studies are showing how important our gut bacteria is to our overall health. For that reason, we should be consuming fermented foods each and every day. Here are some of my favorites.
Fermented Pickles
Fermented pickles are different than regular pickles! Make sure you see the word fermented on the package.
Fermented Miso
Tastes sooo good as a flavoring in soups and stews.
Fermented Sauerkraut
It’s important that the package is labelled as “fermented” as not all sauerkraut is. I like to take a spoonful on the side of my plate at every single meal.
Kombucha
A seriously yummy drink that’s bubbly, and can be a pop replacement (drink in small quantities). Kids love it. I’m a big fan of ginger kombucha.
Download My Healthy Food Cheatsheet
An easy 1-page guide that lists out all the foods in this list, plus more. Take it to your grocery store with you or store it in your cupboard for an easy reference.