Hi, friends! Nora here. Let me tell ya, Whole30 or not, one of the most critical ways to eat healthy is to have a smartly stocked kitchen, from appliances to the pantry and the fridge. This might seem obvious, but let me explain.
I feel my best when I prepare and eat whole, nutritious foods that aren’t too fussy or complicated. I LOVE to cook and experiment in the kitchen, and while some of my meals are more fun and involved, a lot of them are throw together meals created with the things I have on hand. Which means the stuff I have on hand has to be pretty darn delicious and versatile!
Today I thought I’d share some of my tried and true staples for all three categories (appliances, pantry and fridge) that have helped me during Whole30 and beyond!
APPLIANCES
Dutch Oven || Le Creuset or not, a dutch oven is my best friend when it comes to cooking. It’s my default for cooking these days, even if I’m just using the stove. It’s easy to clean, braises the best meats and is the original slow cooker. Lodge makes a great (heavy) one, too!
InstantPot || Ours is currently on the fritz (hence the over usage of the Dutch Oven) but this gadget makes life so much easier. TBH I let mine sit in the cabinet for a year before I dared to try it, and once I finally used it I kicked myself for waiting! When we are both working, it literally saves us – some of our favorite meals can be made in minutes! I also love that the insert is stainless-steel (vs non-stick or aluminum) which cooks food more efficiently AND means there’s no risk of toxic chemical leaching or exposure.
Hand Held Spiralizer || Hello, lifesaver! I never use my large spiralizer anymore because I don’t need to (and frankly, I don’t have the room). I use one similar to this one right now – at least 3x a week – and just ordered this slightly more involved (and just as cheap) option.
Lekue Steamer || Another staple in our house, C used this when he was a bachelor ? It’s silicone and steams pretty much anything in a few minutes in the microwave. The BEST when you’re in a pinch!
Honorable Mention: Not really an applicance, but I swear by Stasher Bags for storage and travel. They are the best sustainable plastic bag option I’ve found so far, but can be pricey so keep an eye out for sales or buy them on Thrive!
PANTRY
Avocado Oil || Did you know that oils have a smoke point? If an oil is smoking in the pan, it typically means its breaking down, releasing chemicals that give a burnt or bitter flavor and free radicals that can harm the body. Yuck. Avocado has a much higher smoke point than olive oil (best used at low to medium heat) which makes it our go-to for most recipes!
Coconut Milk || I always have a few cans of full fat coconut milk on hand. I use it in tons of recipes – it’s also great in a pinch – sautee veggies and add coconut milk and curry powder for an easy meal! Thrive and 365 are my favorite brands.
Coconut Aminos || I haven’t had soy in years and don’t miss it thanks to these! Coconut Aminos are great in marinades, dressings and as a general soy replacement.
Ghee || For when you need that butter taste without the (negative) dairy side effects!
Canned Salmon + Sardines || Canned fish is an easy way to add protein to your day on salads or as a snack. Both Salmon and Sardines are lower in mercury than tuna and taste just as good! Always stick with sustainably caught options like WildPlanet, SafeCatch and Thrive Market.
Marinara Sauce || Another thing I always have on hand. Great in a pinch over zoodles or even as a dip! We love the Whole Foods 365 Fat Free option (it’s a steal) but Rao’s is great when we’re feelin’ spendy ?
Sriracha || I’m not big on condiments but this one really changed the game for me! Make sure you get the sugar free option. Your tastebuds will thank you regardless!
Sundried Tomatoes || I throw these on salads, in with zoodles and pesto or in turkey roll ups. I love that they don’t need to be refrigerated!
Beef Thins || A healthy offshoot of beef jerky! These are super flavorful but also super pricey. I save them for special occasions – a great movie theater snack!
Chomps || Another beef jerky option – these are fantastic! I keep them in my purse and desk for emergencies. The extra punch of protein keeps me full and the flavors are all really yummy – beef jalapeno is my favorite!
Nuttzo Packs || Nuttzo is the nut butter of your DREAMS! It has ALL of the best nuts and seeds blended into one protein-packed punch. These packs are great for travel or an on-the-go treat. I keep them in my bag to have with apples or veggies at the airport. Justin’s has a great nutbutter packets too!
Coconut Butter Packs || Another easy, on-the-go option with a touch of sweetness. These are great for adding to chia pudding or eating alone as a satiating snack.
Honorable Mention: Fun seasonings and spices (organic when possible)! Some of our favorites include Trader Joe’s Magic Mushroom + Everything But the Bagel, anything from Primal Palate and, of course, Old Bay.
FRIDGE
Oven Roasted Turkey Breast || For no sugar or additives snag this from Trader Joe’s or Applegate. I roll it up and have it plain as a snack, or add veggies and wrap it all in lettuce – delish!
Carrots, Celery + Baby Peppers || My favorite veggies that I bulk chop, store in glass cotainers and portion out in stasher bags. Always buy peppers organic – they are on the Dirty Dozen!
Zucchini || I ALWAYS have zucchini in the fridge – zoodles and caulirice are my favorite rice and pasta replacements! Best used with above Zoodler 😉
Apples || One of my favorite on-the-go snacks that requires no packaging and zero waste. Pro-tip: throw the core into nature or compost it – food takes way longer to decompose once it’s in a plastic garbage bag ?
Vegan Pesto || Another staple that lasts a long time in the fridge and makes an easy meal: vegan pesto! Use it on zoodles, in canned salmon, as a marinade or even a dip!
Eggs || Hard boiled, over easy, sunny side up, scrambled… I love ‘em all! I’m big on breakfast for dinner so eggs are a MUST always!
Honorable Mention: Sauces, Dressings and Condiments! This is a category where sugar sneaks in and can really trip us up! I’m not a condiment fan but have learned to love a few (and cook with most). I stick to brands like Tessemae’s and Primal Kitchen for yummy and clean options!
Obviously my list could go on, but this is a great place to start! I hope this gives you some ideas for items to keep on hand that will healthy-ify your kitchen and satisfy your tummy!
PS If you’re looking for a way to get healthy, organic and clean pantry staples, personal care and beauty products, home and pet goods, wine and frozen meat/fish at a DISCOUNT and delivered right to your door, you gotta check out Thrive Market! I’ve been using Thrive for over three years now and have saved thousands of dollars (literally, they calculate it for you) and even more time. Learn more and get 25% off your first order here or drop questions below!