Can you imagine if you had to purchase every spice and herb and tablespoon of ingredient in each and every recipe you make every time you make it? The task of shopping just to make one meal could feel a bit overwhelming, much less trying to plan a week’s worth of meals. A well-stocked pantry can be of great use to any home cook. With the right tools at your disposal, you can create most dishes with ease, which also means less trips to the grocery store! It also saves you money by allowing you to stock up when food items are on sale. Stocking the right ingredients helps you steer clear of prepackaged and processed foods, makes it easy to come up with last-minute meals, and keeps food on hand in case of an emergency. Eating healthier and more nutritiously can also be more delicious when you have the right items in your pantry. Having a good base to start from in your pantry makes this process less stressful and much less work.

A "pantry" can mean different things for different folks. As a chef, I always have considered a pantry to mean dry goods, spices, and herbs. Though you may store fresh fruits and vegetables in your pantry (such as hard squashes, onions, potatoes, avocados, apples, etc.), we will not be including them on this list. Feel free to purchase the store brands of these items, and add or exclude items that are more personal to your dietary, religious, and cultural specifications. The items on this list are meant to enhance flavorings in your nutritious lifestyle and assist your creativity in making on-the-fly meals at home. Check it out below:

Vinegars, Sauces, and Other Liquids

- Soy sauce- Sri Racha*- Sesame oil- Olive oil- Canola oil- Apple cider vinegar- White vinegar- Red wine vinegar- Balsamic vinegar- Ketchup- Dijon mustard- Vegetable stock- Chicken stock- Coconut milk- Honey- Worcestershire sauce- Salsa- Hot sauce

Herbs and Spices

- Kosher salt- Black pepper*- Garlic powder- Italian herb seasoning- Poultry seasoning- Sage, ground- Thyme, dried- Crushed red pepper flakes*- Cumin, ground- Ginger, ground- Curry powder- Nutmeg, ground- Chili powder*- Fennel seeds- Cayenne pepper, ground*- Bay leaves

Canned Goods

- Tomatoes, diced, fire roasted- Tomato paste- Black beans, no salt added- Cannellini beans, no salt added- Garbanzo beans (chickpeas), no salt added

Miscellaneous Items

- Apricots, dried- Cranberries, dried- Golden raisins- Garlic, chopped, in olive oil- Dried pasta, whole wheat- Brown rice- Quinoa or Farro- Lentils, dried- Couscous- All-purpose flour- Cornstarch- Granulated sugar- Breadcrumbs- Peanut Butter- Almonds, roasted, unsalted or tamari-style

*This item is spicy!

I hope this list helps everyone achieve ease in creating nutritious and delicious food at home! Happy Eating!