Staples for a Well-Stocked Pantry

by Emily Richards

Looking for a quick dinner that doesn’t include picking up the phone? Well, are you ready for the secret? Stock your pantry!

Keeping your pantry stocked will give you the ability to create a weeknight’s worth of dinners without running to the grocery store! Think outside of the cupboards, too. Pantry staples exist in your refrigerator, freezer and of course your cupboards. Keeping ingredients on hand helps meal planning go smooth and quick and keeps your family ready to help to prepare a delicious and fulfilling meal.

Spending time with family during dinner is the perfect time to hear about everyone’s day and slow down to enjoy real food. When sit-down dinners are not viable, there are still wonderful pantry items to keep on hand for quick on-the-run dinners. Teaching our children to have food on hand at home to make dinner or family meals is also an easy step to help create a healthy lifestyle and life skill for them.

Cooking dinner can increase your family time together but also help your family, young and old, keep a healthy lifestyle. Take the time to cook dinner, which doesn’t need to be fancy, and spend time with your family. This life skill will be beneficial for your children and yourself as the teacher.

Take this list of pantry staples to the grocery store on your next shopping trip to create delicious meals that will only take about 30 minutes to prepare. Just enough time to fill the hunger gap quickly!

Quick dinner ideas with these pantry basics:

1. Pork chops, rice and mixed vegetables
2. Breaded chicken breasts, mashed potatoes and salad
3. Spaghetti with meatballs and sauce
4. Chili and whole wheat buns
5. Sausage and cheese pizza
6. Salmon burgers with veggies and dip
7. Bacon and eggs (breakfast for supper)
8. Fish tacos
9. Pasta with vegetables and pesto
10. Chicken noodle soup

Pantry Staple Items:

Or perhaps this list will give you inspiration to create your own pantry staples of favourites to fill your refrigerator and freezer so you are never caught with a bare-cupboard!