If we run out of any of the following ingredients, I basically freak out and wonder how I'll function. Ha ha! And don't think I'm exaggerating here! What's on your list of die hard real food staples that you just can't imagine living without?
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- Milk
I mostly use milk for one meal of the day, but it's often touted as the most important one - breakfast! And I don't know how to function without my morning bowl of homemade granola cereal with fresh berries (and milk, of course).
- - Eggs
Eggs are the base for so many homemade baked goods and the perfect staple to come to the rescue when you don't know what to eat! It's hard to beat how quick and easy (and filling) scrambled eggs are any time of day. To kick things up a notch, be sure to puree them with some leafy greens first.
- - Butter
At any given time, you'll catch me with approximately 24 sticks of butter in my freezer. I could never make my granola or quickly fry up those eggs without it. Or cook a plethora of other easy dishes in my repertoire. :)
- - Whole-Wheat Flour
Ditching the processed stuff means cooking from scratch is the way to go, and it's hard to make muffins, tortillas, waffles, pancakes, or even cookies for a treat without flour!
- - Oats
My daughter's recent growth spurt has made me be extra sure I always have oats on hand. She'll eat a variety of snacks whenever she's hungry, but her favorite is overnight oats. And when I don't feel like helping her prepare something else, I love having these ready-to-go in the fridge.
- - Raw Nuts
Nuts are both a filling and portable snack, and let's not forget, they're quite important when it comes to making my beloved granola I keep talking about! Seriously though, you can add nuts to so many recipes or just throw them in the lunch box with a dried fruit mix when you don't know what else to pack. It happens to the best of us. :)
- - Honey and/or Pure Maple Syrup
Even though I'm a die hard real foodie (who ditched sugar a while back), I still can't stomach plain yogurt, coffee, or homemade treats without a little something sweet added. So I'm always happy to have these more natural sweeteners on hand (to be used in moderation, of course).
- - Dry Pasta
When you don't know what's for dinner, pasta can literally save the day. It's filling enough to make up for your lack of planning and also versatile enough that you can add just about anything to it, including veggies, meat, herbs, or store-bought organic tomato sauce.
How does my list compare to yours? Please share in the comments! :)
Chris says
BANANAS!! For the granola, to which I am now officially totally addicted - my go-to breakfast almost every day (a handful is also good for after dinner snack!)
Julia says
I would add fruit - any kind. What a perfect snack all in itself especially for someone like me who loves her sweets! :-)
Stephanie says
I would add almonds, dates and prunes (the 2 yo loves both for snacks), bananas, spinach, almond milk, coconut milk, cacao powder, chocolate chips, ground flax seed, seasonal fruit, onions, garlic, carrots, olive oil, coconut oil, vanilla extract, frozen veggies, and I need to keep my spice rack fully stocked at all times. I have a long list of staples I need to have.
Carolyn says
I agree with all of those. In fact, we had a major crisis this morning when I realized we didn't have enough milk! I would also add extra virgin olive oil and garlic.
Patricia says
Since I've started following you, I'm happy to report all those items are on my monthly grocery list!
Linda says
I would add rice.
ChihYu says
Hi Lisa,
I absolutely agree with you, especially eggs!
I love eggs and can't live without them. Eggs make everything tastier.
Thanks for sharing.
Best,
Chih-Yu
Liza says
We are dairy, egg and gluten free, as well as flax and soy. I have to have veges (frozen or canned), rice, gluten free flour blend, butter substitute, canned beans/tomatos, salsa and gluten free pasta. We have a freezer full of meat, and the boys also love tuna sald.
Bruce Bailey says
I would add beans and/or lentils.
Teri says
I also keep pearled barley on hand to make barley risotto or to add to brown rice in my rice cooker (makes it a little more interesting and lowers the glycemic index a bit). Another must is some type of frozen fruit for morning smoothies!
Brigid says
I love your list Lisa!
Mine would be similar - eggs and rolled oats are a must. I'd add bananas and probably swap milk for natural yoghurt.
Oh and id be lying if I left out cocoa/cacao powder
Marcia says
Okay, this list was hilarious because it was so close to mine! I'm out of eggs right now and almost freaking out.
I ran out of oats not too long ago, and they were so expensive that week. So I sucked it up and bought them. The following week they were on sale for $0.77 a pound or less (you know those HUGE tubs of old fashioned oats??) Yeah, I bought three big tubs.
My boys eat my homemade granola by the bucket. I followed the link to your recipe - I don't know why I never thought of using butter! I use olive oil. I also have a ton of butter in my freezer. I'll think I'm running out in the top freezer, go buy more, and then realize I have it in the back freezer.
I would sub brown rice for pasta though on my own personal list. Or beans.
Jennifer says
Have you ever tried your yummy granola recipe with yogurt? I make your granola recipe and, since my mom always had it this way, I always have my granola with yogurt - So delicious! Great staples to have on hand. We always have to have apples, bananas, and avocados...in addition to the items you mentioned.
Randi says
Great list!
That's exactly what's on mine, as well as apples! Love your blog! My husband and I have been on our real food journey since January :-D
Leslie says
Oops! I forgot ground flax seed to make "flax eggs" and avocadoes. My son also loves "leaves," so I try to keep spinach in the fridge all the time.
Jodie says
I don't eat pasta...can't find one that doesn't make me feel exhausted and heavy gutted.
Frozen fruit, greens (well spinach really), avocado, stevia/maple syrup/honey, peanut butter, almonds/raw seeds, almond milk (dairy milk intolerance), rice or quinoa,
Leslie says
Your list is pretty interesting. You would have a hard time at my house! LOL! My youngest son is allergic to eggs, wheat, peanuts and tree nuts. And he is lactose intolerant, but we can use baked dairy products and butter is fine for him.
Our staples are sunbutter (sunflower seed butter), my homemade gluten-free flour, Olive oil, gluten-free pasta, bananas, organic applesauce, and canned beans. We eat lots of tacos and pasta here. :). I also love to bake (which is a good thing when you are avoiding food allergens)
Beth says
I start to sweat if I run out or am low on Greek yogurt, avocados and hummus. I can't live without those things. Where would I be without avocados in my life?
Melissa says
Can you tell me more about how you substitute honey or maple syrup in baking? What's the ratio for honey to refined white sugar? I am wanting to experiment with converting some baking recipes to real food.
Marie says
I've done this a lot and have found that if the recipe calls for a cup of sugar, I split it in half and then use half maple syrup and half honey. So for the above cup of sugar, I would substitute 1/4 cup maple syrup and a 1/4 cup honey. Using two types of sweeteners helps to
temper their tastes. Also in baking goods I get a better result if I use a recipe that has oats in it, I let it sit for about ten minutes before I put it in the oven and the oats seem to absorb the extra liquid.:-)
Hope this helps.:-)
Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says
Hi there. This is a handy post to have in your back pocket: http://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-budget/baking-with-honey-sugar-for-baking/.
Denise says
Great list. I would also add bananas, cheese, apples, and Greek yogurt. And for the freezer I always have frozen blueberries and strawberries on hand as well as veggies like green beans and peas. And not a real food but I always have some Costco chocolate chips on hand as they are great for adding to baked goods and sometimes just for a little chocolate fix. ;)
Michele says
I get twitchy if I run out of onions or garlic. I seem to use them in everything. Celery and carrot are close seconds.
Lenora says
Mine are; bananas, nuts, steel cut oats, dark greens, whole wheat crackers, raspberries, kefir and pure maple syrup.
glee says
My staples are whatever is growing in my garden. Because I am not a baby chicken or calf milk and eggs are not on the menu. Real Food for us would be whole food grown in the dirt or water. Herbs to compliment the real food. Real simple
Katy says
Eggs, olive oil, oats, brown rice, organic canned tomatoes, vegetable broth, milk, red lentils, coconut milk, maple syrup and Cedar Grove colby jack cheese (named Elia cheese for my oldest daughter). That was more than 8, but these are some of my staples, and honestly I can name more.. Also, I've tried substituting homemade nut milk for regular milk in my coffee...just not the same for me.
Claudette says
Sweet potatoes! I bake a bunch on Sunday night to have through the week. They are definitely my "go to" food for work lunches and dinner when I get home late from work....and don't forget the butter!
LeAnn @ Real Fit, Real Food Mom says
I definitely agree with ALL of these staples! I would also add bananas (I cannot go a day without them!!), almond butter, apples, and cheese (of course!). If I have all of your list and these four, I'm good to go. ;)
Amy says
Coffee, honey, oranges, eggs, carrots, hummus, almonds (milk), frozen strawberries, dark chocolate, chicken!
Judy says
For us it's tortillas, chicken and cheese. My son is picky but one of his favorite go-to meals is a chicken taco. We also always have to have milk, half and half and coffee as well as stuff for salads and fresh fruit.
Emily says
Our one weird staple is bananas. We really can't ever have enough. We like them as snacks dipped in SunButter (nut allergic daughter), in smoothies, or as that yummy banana "ice cream." Once, as a joke, I wrote 50 bananas on our shopping list as a way to tell my husband to just grab lots. He didn't buy 50, but only because 37 was all they had. Good thing they freeze well!
Kitty says
For me, olive oil and balsamic vinegar are required. I eat a lot of salads and also use a balsamic vinaigrette on some vegetables. Umm...what else...mixed greens for those salads.
Kristin says
I agree on the olive oil. I would also add coconut oil, cheese and plain yogurt.
Megan says
EGGS!! We buy about 4-5 dozen at the farmers' market every other week-for two people! We definitely eat them at least once every day and they are so easy to turn into a meal if I don't have anything else. Almost everything tastes better with a fried egg on top! I also agree with flour, maple syrup, and (almond) milk, so I can whip up pancakes or waffles without having to plan ahead!
Laura says
exactly the same, add peanut butter, honey, and bananas. (Although the bananas are mostly for the 1 year old, who may be part monkey. :) )
Zoe says
Eggs, milk, half-n-half, cheese, yogurt, butter, dried pasta, onions, garlic, and bread or tortillas.
With the above you can make a decent meal on the fly.
I think you can tell we're big on dairy in my house.
Amy says
Same here, except you've got to add coffee!
Megan says
At least one person in my house is allergic to each and every item on your list! Our staples include rye flour, olive oil, almond or rice milk depending on who's home from college (need both if everyone's home), apples, potatoes, whole grain spelt and quinoa.
Karen says
Rice, yogurt, sour cream, baby carrots, chicken broth, raisins. Plus everything on your list :)
The Prestigious School says
^^^definitely coffee! For us, I would add yogurt. I use it in place of mayo because I dislike mayo, and for baking, and of course in smoothies. Plus a bowl of yogurt with sliced almonds and berries is a favorite after school treat at my house.
kim says
Oh, and how could I forget coffee?! Running out of coffee would be a crisis around here, and I wouldn't go to bed without running out to get some.
kim says
Yep. Pretty much all the same staples. Running out of any of these would probably send me to the store within the day. I would add bananas too. While I don't make a special trip to the store for just bananas, I do miss my morning banana if I'm out.
Mary says
Ohhh some of those I agree with! hahaha. I need my almond milk, eggs, oats, raw nuts, and fruit. I dont really care what kind of fruit, as long as I have some! Otherwise, my sugar cravings make me grab for chocolate and baked goods haha. I also don't do much (or any) of the cooking in my household, so I bet my boyfriend's list would look similar to this, but add olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil... all the good stuff :)