The items in my kitchen change with the seasons. In other words, I’m literally eating bowls of raw heirloom tomatoes for dinner for the remainder of summer (local bell peppers, too, at 2/$1) and my oven roasts root vegetables all winter until I’m orange in the face.
Part of my personal food philosophy is to eat as locally and seasonally as possible. By doing this, you benefit from higher nutrient density and the flavor is maximized. So, you will not find me buying pink, Mexico-grown tomatoes at the grocery store in February, and apples are absent in my fridge until autumn.
That said, there are many staple items in my kitchen that I can’t function without. That is an exaggeration I’ll admit, but these 10 items are a part of my daily/weekly “diet” that I would rather not do without.
10 Foods That Are Always in My Kitchen
1 // Unsweetened Almond Milk – specifically for my morning iced coffee, late night cereal bowls, and baking recipes. I’ve been buying Silk unsweetened vanilla almond milk for quite a while now, as it doesn’t contain carrageenan.
2 // Nut Butter(s) – all day, every day. I often have 2-3 jars on hand. Lately, I can’t get enough creamy cashew buttah!
3 // Avocados – healthy fats for the win! What is avocado not good with?
4 // Bananas – Undeniably, the most versatile and convenient fruit. What I don’t eat for breakfast via 3-Minute Banana PB Oatmeal or Almond Butter Banana Coconut Pancakes, ends up in the freezer for smoothies and banana soft serve.
5 // Chia and Hemp Seeds – I go through so much that I hit up Costco for these. Lately, I’ve been heavy-handed with the hemp hearts… but I don’t discriminate against any seed.
6 // Local Honey – For PB toast and recipes like Apple Dijon Vinaigrette, and to keep the spring allergies at bay.
7 // Something Green – And when the fridge isn’t bare bones, the more the green, the merrier. From dark leafies like spinach, kale, chard to broccoli, Brussels, and zucchini – a day doesn’t feel complete without a dose of chlorophyll.
Triple Coconut Energizing Green Smoothie
8 // Mary’s Gone Crackers – to satisfy my savory cravings, paired with thinly-sliced Dubliner cheese or hummus; I also purchase a jumbo box of these from Costco. Yay for their organic section!
9 // Ghirardelli 60% Dark Chocolate Chips – I have had a love affair with these particular chips for some time due to their plump size. They find their way into recipes such as Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups and Dark Chocolate Cherry Pistachio Cookies, and more often than not, are enjoyed by the tablespoon. I store mine in the freezer.
10 // Iced Coffee – As of late, it has been homemade, cold-brewed half-caffeinated coffee with a splash of aforementioned almond milk. Whether it is a balmy mid-July day or a nippy Fall morning, I crave it first thing in the AM.
