I use the term “better than” quite a bit when I talk about nutrition. Our supermarkets are saturated with choices. Sometimes we make nutrition choices with money as the driving factor. We might recognize a “better than” option, but financially, it’s out of reach. Other times, I think we stand in front of a particular product. Perhaps there are shelves and shelves of options. We make our choices based on the most appealing label or by seeking out a brand we’ve grown to trust. American advertising has conditioned us NOT to read the list of ingredients. Oreos are just cookies. Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup is just soup. Cheez-its are just crackers. To cultivate a “Better Than” Pantry, we must look beyond the brand names; beyond the familiar advertising. To cultivate a “Better Than” Pantry, we must learn to read each list of ingredients.
MAKE CHANGES BY RUNNING LEAP OR BY BABY STEPS
In 2016, I decided to make drastic nutritional changes for the sake of my health. My motivation was strong. I was only 36. I had a toddler to care for all day long. My brain wasn’t working. I couldn’t think clearly. I wasn’t able to read or write. My body was so fatigued, I couldn’t even stand up long enough to cook dinner. I was motivated by a desperate desire for healing. So, after researching the nutritional changes that would have the biggest immediate impact on my health, my husband agreed to support my “running leap” approach.
I began my running leap by purging our kitchen cabinets of anything that had gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, seed oils, artificial food coloring, or “natural flavoring.” This was almost everything in our pantry. I bagged it all up and took it to our church food bank. But the empty cabinets meant that I had to start over. On a Saturday morning, I left my son with my husband so that I could shop two different grocery stores. I spent a solid two hours at each store, reading labels. I needed to come up with new pantry staples. They needed to meet my new nutritional standards, but also be cost effective. (We knew that with these changes, our grocery budget would need to increase, but we needed that increase to be realistic and sustainable.)
Some people don’t feel the urgent motivation that drove my running leap for change, and yet they recognize that implementing a few “better than” choices would be a good step towards better health. It’s okay to take baby steps. Instead of emptying your entire pantry, maybe make a goal to change one item a week. Or even one item a month. Make your goal sustainable and realistic. Begin to read labels.
SWAPS I MADE
I now purchase Primal Kitchen Organic Unsweetened Ketchup. This Amazon link is priced well. Otherwise, Walmart seems to have the best consistent price on this product.
I now purchase Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayonnaise. Costco has the best price on this product.
I now purchase Primal Kitchen Salad Dressings. Walmart has the best price.
I now purchase Ocean’s Halo No Soy Sauce. Walmart has the best price.
I now purchase Traditional Medicinals Teas. Walmart has the best price.
I now purchase Walmart’s Great Value brand Organic Unsweetened Applesauce. While Aldi’s unsweetened apple sauce is cheaper, it is not organic.
I now purchase Simply Nature Organic Marinara Sauce. This is Aldi’s house brand.
I now purchase Redmond’s Real Salt. This Amazon link is for a three pack. It’s the lowest price I’ve ever seen, per package.
I now purchase Organic Gluten Free Rolled or Steel Cut Oats. These are hard to source as the price fluctuates greatly. I’ve been known to buy a 25 pound bag on Amazon just to get the lowest price per ounce.
I now purchase Simply Nature Organic Creamy Peanut Butter. This is Aldi’s house brand.
MY PANTRY TOUR
The above samples are only a few examples of swaps I made in my kitchen. There are many more. Some I made right away, and others I have grown into over the years. The following photos are a visual tour of my current pantry.
SNACKS
Our snacks are running thin in this photo. The small middle basket on the bottom is normally full of organic, sugar free fruit bars and Lara Bars or RX Bars.
I try to keep some dried fruit and grass-fed jerky for snacks. Beneath that basket, I have gluten free flour, chickpea flour, chia seeds, flax seeds, arrowroot and other cooking essentials.
I keep gluten free boxed dessert mixes on hand…mostly Krusteaz brand. They’re not what I would call “healthy.” So while we rarely eat these at home, they make for a quick dessert when I need to take something to church or to a friend’s house.
GLUTEN FREE NOODLES, LENTILS, AND TACO SHELLS
These are assorted gluten free noddles…mostly from Aldi. I also have a ridiculous stash of organic lentils. (They were on sale.) I think I’ve had that box of taco shells for two years. We rarely eat them. I wish I could find a non-GMO, organic taco shell that I liked. I’m still on the hunt for that. Siete soft tortillas are a good option, but incredibly expensive.
CANNED GOODS
I find Walmart’s Great Value brand to be cheapest when it comes to organic tomatoes. They do still contain citric acid (which I try to avoid as it’s typically made from the black mold grown on GMO corn syrup). Unfortunately, I don’t have a brand of organic tomatoes that I can access locally that is made without citric acid.
I rarely (if ever) use the canned peas and corn, but we do use beans frequently.
MISCELLANEOUS
Another important swap that I made was to be sure that my Apple Cider Vinegar has “the mother” included. I used to buy Great Value brand, I think. It just doesn’t have the same health benefits.
I keep grass fed beef gelatin on hand for making gelatin desserts.
My top shelf (not pictured) has back stock of olive oil, avocado oil, juices (for making gelatin), canned fruit, maple syrup, raw honey, and canning equipment.
“BETTER THAN” PANTRY CHOICES
In the past, I’ve had friends ask me for photos of my pantry. Sometimes when you begin to make swaps, the choices are just overwhelming. I hope that my pantry helps you to visualize some of the “better than” choices available in supermarkets today. There are likely options that are even “better” than what I have in my pantry. Everyone has to balance their options against their budget and do the best with what they have.
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