Healthy Kitchen Staples
Healthy habits are made much easier when you have the essentials on hand. Here are a few of my favorite kitchen staples for a well-balanced diet. These few foods will help you make delicious healthy meals throughout the week and help you add a variety of flavor to whatever you are cooking.
Healthy Oils
It's always important to make sure you have high-quality, healthy cooking oil in the house. Extra virgin olive oil is a simple go-to for cooking at low temperatures and using as a base for salad dressings. Avocado oil and ghee are better for high temperature cooking. Always look for cooking oils high in monounsaturated fats, which can help reduce inflammation and cholesterol and improve heart function.
Spices and Salt
Salt is one of my favorite things to add to food (in moderation, of course), but quality matters when it comes to something you’ll be using to season food so frequently. Be sure to stock up on high-quality salt like Pink Himalayan salt, which has less sodium than traditional salt and contains minerals such as zinc, magnesium, iron, and calcium. I would also recommend having a variety of spices on hand, since many of them boast impressive nutritional benefits and can vastly improve the flavor of SO many recipes while improving the health factor. Some of my favorites are turmeric, paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, cinnamon, cumin and ground ginger.
Citrus (Lemons and Limes)
Another easy (and nourishing) natural flavor booster is citrus – I personally keep lemons and limes on hand at all times. One squeeze in water or tea can help keep you hydrated and stave off hunger throughout the day. You’ll catch me adding lemon and lime to salad dressings, chicken, fish, and tacos…not to mention the occasional margarita!
Nuts & Seeds
Lastly, I think it's always a good idea to keep flax or hemp seeds around the house. They're packed with protein and heart-healthy fats, and can be added on top of almost anything without disrupting the flavor. Try them in smoothies or on salads to start!
What are your go-to kitchen staples? Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments below!