Thanks to Walmart, a brand I love and trust, for sponsoring this post. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make The Fox & She possible!
I always love the start of a new year! There’s something so exciting and hopeful about it, isn’t there? I shared earlier this month that I’m excited to be diving more into my passion for living a healthier, happier life and for us, a big part of that is how we eat.
Think about a car, when you put the best fuel and oil into it, clean it regularly inside and out, it functions optimally and looks brand new! But, if you’re fueling it with junk, skipping the oil changes and never clean it, it starts functioning and looking, well not so great.
Our bodies are similar—when we fuel them with the best stuff and take care of them both inside and out, we look and feel our best! And that feeling is priceless.
The key to making healthy eating easier, is keeping your pantry stocked with good healthy stuff that you can easily use to make dinners in a pinch or whip up a quick snack. Walmart has been my go-to for stocking up on pantry essentials lately. They have a huge selection of products that are organic, sugar free and totally natural.
With our Walmart+ membership, we get free delivery and shipping, which saves me time and money. I love anything that makes everyday life simpler!
Here are some of my tips and favorite items we keep our pantry stocked with:
How to Stock a Healthy Pantry
Make Healthy Food Swaps
We love pasta as much as the next person, but now there are so many amazing, better for you options than plain ole pasta. One of our favorites is Banza Pasta—it’s made from chickpeas and has much more fiber and protein than normal pasta.
Another easy place to make a healthy swap is chips. I have a weakness for potato chips, there’s just something about the crunch. I’ve been buying these Terra Chips that are made from a variety of root vegetables. At the end of the day, they are chips, so don’t go overboard, but definitely a healthier option!
Another swap I’ve made is oatmeal in place of granola. I know, it’s not totally the same, but they are both made from oats! The main difference from a health perspective is that granola has tons of added sugar, and oatmeal doesn’t. I love Bob’s Red Mill, which has a gluten-free version. It’s packed with fiber and helps improve digestion while keeping you full all morning.
I also keep beans on hand as a great source of protein. I prefer canned because most days I don’t have time for the whole soaking process. Owen loves chickpeas and I love black beans—both an amazing source of fiber and plant protein.
Ditch the Processed Sugar
It’s pretty wild how much sugar is added so things you would never guess needed sugar—salad dressings, ketchup, tomato sauce, juices and other drinks—just to name a few.
Instead of buying pre-made salad dressing, opt for oil and vinegar where you control what you add to your food, or use a brand like Tessamae’s that has no added sugar. Swap your ketchup for a sugar-free variety.
As for tomato sauce, a favorite with Owen, we LOVE Rao’s Homemade Marinara. I swear it is the best marinara I’ve ever eaten, and it has 0g of added sugar!
Lastly, ditch the sodas and sugary juices. Instead try La Croix or some herbal teas—peppermint and Bengal Spice (drinking it as I write this!) are two of my favorites, and bonus, peppermint can aid in digestion.
Snack Smarter
We used to never have snacks around, but with kids, it’s a must! I keep our pantry stocked with healthy things like nuts, seeds and dried fruits. I also love Skinny Pop which has lots of fiber, but no added sugar.
Some favorites are pistachios, prunes, cashews, dates and dried mango. Owen would probably eat a whole bag of dried mango if I let him, haha! Again, with all these things, I always check labels to avoid added sugar. Fruit is sweet enough on it’s own and simply doesn’t need it!
Stock Up on Superfoods
As you guys know, we love our morning smoothie tradition. In my opinion, it’s the best way to get a serving of fruits, veggies and superfoods first thing in the morning. Whenever I start my morning with something good for me, it makes it easier to make healthy choices throughout the day.
We keep our pantry stocked with chia seeds, flaxseed, cacao, hemp seeds and pepitas. A few other superfood favorites are turmeric powder, moringa powder, açaí powder and maca powder. I always add a couple of scoops of Collagen Peptides too for all of the hair, nail and skin benefits. All of these are great for mixing into smoothies too.
Boost Wellness with Supplements
When thinking about your health, good, whole foods should be the first thing you think of, but adding in different supplements can help boost your wellness and immunity and support you in areas where you need it. Since I’m still pretty newly postpartum, I take a multivitamin everyday.
I also keep vitamin C & Zinc on hand to boost immunity, especially important during the winter months. If you live somewhere that doesn’t have a lot of sunshine, make sure you’re taking a vitamin D supplement, most people are deficient in this essential vitamin!
Wellness and good health starts at home with what we fuel our bodies. When you’re feeding your body nutrient-dense whole foods, you will feel better and that feeling will quickly pour over into other areas of your life. Getting healthy can start with simply making changes at home, and stocking your pantry with healthy items should be top of your list!
What healthy items do you keep your pantry stocked with?
BTW, chia seed pudding recipe, and how to organize your food pantry.
