Essential Quarantine Pantry Items

Intuitive eating
Healthy eating
pantry, food, lockdown, dried goods

We can’t avoid it, the current situation definitely perplexes our daily life. That being said, it’s still possible to keep up our balanced diet even if the way of doing so may change a bit. Flexibility and indulgence are two important aspects to keep in mind. There may not be as much of a variety of food offered at the grocery store, and we might need to adjust our recipes accordingly. Also, since our schedule is likely to change and the urge to eat is present more often, we have to be indulgent with ourselves.

Since we want to reduce our trips to the grocery store, it may be relevant to organize our pantry and have essentials on hand that will keep for a long time.

It’s important to keep in mind that there is no point in stocking large amounts of food in our pantry in anticipation of any shortage. It’s important to be organized and prepared, but it’s not necessary to overflow our pantry.

Canned or Bulk Legumes

They are rich in protein and fibre. Canned legumes, once rinsed well, are very interesting to include in your dishes. The advantage of the canned legumes is that they are already cooked. However, it’s also possible to purchase them dry and soak them before cooking if it applies.

Whole Grains

It’s interesting to stock our pantry with a nice variety of grains to ensure our plate is not too redundant! Wild rice, quinoa, couscous, millet, buckwheat, and many more!

Canned Tomatoes

If all of a sudden you feel like making a spaghetti sauce or macaroni with meat, canned tomatoes are a must have in your pantry.

Canned Fish

I love using tuna to make a sandwich, to spread on crackers, to make fish cakes, to serve with wild rice or in a pasta salad! It’s so versatile! You can get canned tuna, canned salmon, or even canned seafood. Once again, variety is key!

Oatmeal

Whether it’s to make homemade granola, overnight oats, or to bake homemade cookies, oatmeal is very interesting, especially for its soluble fibre content. Plus, the possibilities for cooking oats are endless.

Oil or Flavoured Oil 

I love having flavoured oils on hand to enhance the flavour of my dishes. A great essential to have.

With all of these foods in your pantry, you are ready to stay home with ease of mind. Now, all that's left to do is to buy some fresh produce!

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in Montreal