The Essentials of a "Natural" Pantry
People ask us all the time, what are the foods you always have on hand? What products do you love? What are your go-to recipes? So today we'll take you through the Lawrence Family Kitchen and share our favorite things we keep stocked in our dairy-free, grain-free, and sugar-free pantry.
ALWAYS IN OUR FRIDGE:
Lemons/limes
Root vegetables: carrots and beets
Greens: celery, lettuce, spinach or spring mix
Cauliflower or broccoli
Ripe avocados
RECIPE STAPLES ALWAYS ON HAND:
Onion
Fresh garlic
Fresh ginger
Fresh or dried herbs
Farm fresh eggs
ALWAYS IN OUR FREEZER:
Frozen wild-caught fish
Frozen ground turkey
Frozen chicken: whole/breasts/tenders
Frozen homemade bone broth
Frozen peas and sweet corn
Frozen "riced" cauliflower
Frozen bananas (for smoothies and homemade banana ice cream)
Greens powders: Spirulina, Aloe Life Greens, Wheat Grass Powder
MUST-HAVE MUNCHIES:
Olives in olive oil
Easy Dips: Salsa, Guacamole, homemade dressings, almond butter
Grab and go veggies: sliced carrots, celery & cucumber
Grab and go fruit: oranges, grapefruit, grapes, apples (usually whatever is in season)
GO-TO PROTEINS:
Scrambled or boiled eggs
Soaked and seasoned nuts & seeds: Almonds, walnuts, sunflower, or pumpkin seeds
Almond butter & carrots or apples
Smoothies with plant-based protein powder: Vibrant Health, VEGA, Bone Broth Protein Powder
NON-DAIRY FAVES:
Homemade almond or coconut milk sweetened with stevia
Chia pudding with coconut milk
Homemade dairy free ranch dressing (great on salads, veggies, chicken fingers, tacos, etc.)
Nutritional Yeast for that "cheesy" flavor
MUST-HAVE PANTRY STAPLES:
Raw apple cider vinegar
Almond or coconut flour
Coconut milk in BPA-free cans
Coconut flakes
OCCASIONAL SWEETS & OTHER INDULGENCES:
Dates or other dried fruits (figs, apricots, ginger, mango)
Trail Mix with dried fruit and dark chocolate pieces
Coconut ice-cream (store-bought or Homemade with maple syrup)
Baked apple crisp with coconut whip cream
Baked apples stuffed with dates and chopped nuts with coconut whip cream
FAVE VEGGIE & WHAT WE MAKE WITH IT:
Cucumber (really a fruit!): sliced for mini-sandwiches, dipped in homemade ranch, juiced or peeled and blended in smoothies
SIMPLE GO-TO RECIPE:
Green Smoothie: 1 frozen banana, 1/4 avocado, 1 cup coconut milk, 1 scoop plant-based protein powder, 1 Tbsp Almond Butter and 1 Tbsp greens powder
FOR LAST MINUTE ENTERTAINING:
Sliced veggies and fresh fruit with a homemade dip
Assorted teas with homemade almond milk
BEST SHOPPING TIPS:
Stay on the outside of the grocery store and avoid the aisles with boxed & bagged items
Eat produce that is in season (usually found on sale)
Aim to buy items with thin skin (strawberries, bell peppers, etc.) as organic, and for economical savings choose produce with thick skins (banana, avocado, oranges) as conventional. Familiarize yourself with the dirty dozen list of heavily sprayed foods and buy them organic.
BEST LABEL-READING TIP:
If it says "enriched" that means it has been stripped of all viable nutrients and then fortified with synthetic vitamins (which are coal tar "petroleum" based ingredients). These fake-synthetic vitamins and ingredients deplete the body of minerals, are easily trapped in vital organs and cause toxicity in the body.
If purchasing any items with soy or corn (except sweet corn) assume it is GMO. 90% of conventional soy and corn on the market is GMO. Always choose organic if buying items containing soy or corn.
FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP:
Spirit of Health, of course :)
Farmer's Markets
Local CO-OP
Trader Joe's
Sprouts
Costco
MY TYPICAL SHOPPING BAG:
Oranges
Grapefruit
Apples
Seasonal fruit (berries, grapes, cherries)
Lemon/limes
Cucumber
Salad greens
Cauliflower
Onions
Carrots
Beets
Sweet potatoes
Cherry tomatoes
Celery
Avocado
Eggs
Nuts/seeds.