Healthy Pantry Makeover By Raja Chahine
The first step in your health journey starts at home. A healthy, stocked pantry can solve a meal challenge in a flash. Health expert Rajaa Chahine will teach you how to makeover your pantry to suit your health goals and to make easy and nutritious meals. Here’s how to shift from processed to whole foods!
How to makeover my pantry?
A healthy pantry makeover doesn’t have to happen all at once. It’s a great opportunity to start slowly replacing some of your old flours, pasta, spices, and cooking oils with refreshed healthier versions. When it comes to buying these items, choose local and organic whenever you can. There are lots of strategies for a healthy pantry makeover, here are some starting points:
- Read the labels. if it sounds like a bonus question on a chemistry exam, toss it.
- Reward yourself but not with food.
- Leave triggers on the shelf at the grocery store. If you know you can’t resist something, don’t buy it. Out of sight, out of mind.
- Don’t try to do it all at once. That can be overwhelming and expensive. Start with a few items and work them in.
- The fewer the ingredients, the better the food, ie, ‘whole food.’
What to stock in my pantry?
Seasoning & Spices
Get rid of that table salt! You can season your food with a variety of spices such as:
- Black pepper
- Turmeric
- Cinnamon
- Oregano
- Sea salt
- Pink Himalayan salt
Wholegrains
Add fiber-rich whole grains packed with the antioxidant vitamin E to your daily routine. Some of Rajaa’s favorite whole grains are:
- Rolled oats
- Granola
- Wholewheat pasta
- Quinoa
Oils & Fats
Always make sure to have extra virgin olive oil! Also, stock up on:
- Avocado oil
- Animal pure ghee
- Coconut oil
- Apple cider vinegar
Flours
For baking, Rajaa loves using:
- Cocoa nibs/powder
- Wholewheat flour
- Coconut flour
- Almond flour
Seeds, Nuts, & Nut Butters
The beauty about nuts and seeds is that you can consume them raw, make butter out of them, or add them to your salad for some extra taste. Instead of salty fried snacks with empty calories and tons of fat, opt for raw or dry roasted nuts.
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Macadamia nuts
- Pecans
- Pistachios
- Walnuts
- Almond butter
- Peanut butter
Sweeteners
Healthy does not mean not consuming sugar, but it does mean picking better alternatives:
- Local, raw honey
- Medjool dates
- Pure maple syrup
- Natural vanilla extract
- Pure almond extract
- Coconut sugar
- Raisins
Grains, Rice, Legumes
- Lentils
- Chickpeas
- White blend rice
Finally, don’t forget to stock your pantry with as many fruits and vegetables as you can.
If you have any questions about this subject, please feel free to reach out!