CHANGING OVER YOUR PANTRY: GET RID OF THE CRAP!

I want to come into your home right now, throw out everything, and replace it with all the items listed below.  I have performed several "pantry makeovers" and, every time, I leave with a sense of accomplishment.  You know that you have thought about cleaning out your own pantry and starting all over again.  But, something stops you, maybe it's the guilt of throwing food away or maybe it is just simple laziness.  Whatever may be holding you back, it's time to throw that in the garbage along with all the crap sitting on those shelves.  Just open up those cabinets, get the garbage bags out, and start dumping.  Don't tell yourself you will wait until everything gets eaten and then you just won't replace the items.  We all know that is the lie we tell ourselves but then nothing ever changes.  Carpe diem, seize the day, begin your path toward health and wellness today!  Goodbye overly processed, health damaging foods and hello to a healthier you.  Below you will find a list of some wonderful items to get you started and to keep in your pantry.  Items that may be less familiar to you are followed by a brief description.  Watch for more recipes in the near future that include these items.

CONDIMENTS
ORGANIC KETCHUP AND MUSTARD
BRAGGS LIQUID AMINO ACIDS - A wonderful flavor enhancer for salad dressings, marinades, and also is a great replacement for soy sauce.
NAMO SHOYU UNPASTEURIZED SOY SAUCE OR ORGANIC WHEAT FREE TAMARI
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR - The best vinegar to use in salad dressings.
NUTRITIONAL YEAST - A rich source of vitamins and a tasty topping for vegetables or popcorn.
CELTIC SEA SALT OR PINK HIMALAYAN SALT
HONEY - Must be raw and local is best.
ASSORTED DRIED HERBS - Basil, Cumin, Thyme, Cinnamon, Ginger, Rosemary, Mint, Turmeric, Paprika, and Pepper.
KELP FLAKES - A good source of iodine and can be sprinkled on your vegetables or salads for a little extra flavor.

COOKING AND BAKING

ORGANIC OLIVE OIL
ORGANIC GRAPESEED OIL - Grapeseed oil replaces your genetically engineered (GMO) oils such as soybean, corn, canola and vegetable oil.  Unlike olive oil, grape seed oil can be heated at high temperatures and is good for sautéing, roasting, or baking.

COCONUT OIL - A wonderful oil to use for baking and also for stir frys.
COCONUT MILK - A very tasty addition to sautéed vegetables
REDUCED SODIUM VEGETABLE STOCK - Rather than using abundant amounts of oil or butter when cooking on a stove top, add vegetable stock for flavor and to reduce the amount of oil.
RICE, ALMOND, OR HEMP MILK - Replaces milk and is very useful for smoothies and baking.
MIRIN - A Japanese rice wine that is excellent to add to dressings and sauces and also to sautéed vegetables.
NORI - Nori makes for a great crunchy snack on its own or wrap it with some vegetables inside like cucumber, avocado, and peppers and you have a fast vegetable sushi roll.
KOMBU - A Japanese sea vegetable that should be added when cooking beans and grains for aiding in the digestibility of the grains or beans and also adds minerals to the food.
ORGANIC TOMATO SAUCE

ORGANIC RAW CACAO - Cacao is chocolate in it's natural state.  In the winter, warm some cacao with honey and rice milk and you have a delicious and nutritious hot chocolate.

ORGANIC APPLE SAUCE - Very useful in baking.  Buy apple sauce with NO sugar added.  

ORGANIC BAKING SODA AND ALUMINUM FREE BAKING POWDER

ORGANIC WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR

ORGANIC GLUTEN FREE ALL PURPOSE FLOUR

RAW AGAVE NECTAR

MAPLE SYRUP

GRAINS, NUTS, SEEDS AND BEANS
RAW SESAME TAHINI - Tahini is great when added to salad dressings, stir frys, and hummus.
RAW ALMOND BUTTER - I can eat this by the spoonful.
BROWN RICE
QUINOA - Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wah) is gaining popularity.  It makes for a great side dish or main dish.  It cooks easily like rice with 1 cup of quinoa to two cups of water.  Quinoa is also Gluten and wheat free.
WILD RICE
BROWN RICE PASTA or QUINOA PASTA- We all want pasta once in a while and I highly recommend you try these options as a healthier alternative to regular white or even whole wheat pasta.
ORGANIC ROLLED OATS
GROUND FLAX SEEDS

CHIA SEEDS - A superfood, chia seeds are high in vitamins and minerals, protein, omega 3's, and fiber.  Add chia seeds to your yogurt and smoothies.
HEMP SEEDS - A delicious add on to salads.
SUNFLOWER SEEDS
PUMPKIN SEEDS
GOJI BERRIES - Goji berries are a wonderful replacement for cranberries in a salad or are delicious on their own as a snack.
RAW VEGETABLE OR RICE BASED PROTEIN POWDER
BLACK BEANS (dry or canned)
GARBANZO BEANS (dry or canned)
LENTILS (dry or canned)