I wanted to share some of my favorite tried-and-true products that I always have on hand – my vegetarian pantry must-haves!
Having a well-stocked pantry and fridge makes cooking so much easier – and enjoyable! There are several things that I like to keep on hand because I use them ALL THE TIME. Like, seriously.
Like many others, when I first became vegetarian I had no idea what I was doing. I just felt strongly about changing my diet, and made the jump before really learning what to eat. I was anemic for many years before I really figured out how to nourish (and satisfy!) my body with the right vitamins and nutrients. Yes, multivitamins are awesome, but I have a really hard time swallowing pills – this was before the gummies were available! I knew I could get everything I needed from the food I was eating, I just needed to eat the right things.
The biggest thing for me was iron. Did you know that a packet of grits has nearly half of your daily iron requirement? Being from the southeast, this was revolutionary. Cereals are often fortified with iron, too. And some of my favorite greens – spinach and broccoli – are excellent sources of iron as well.
So, here’s a list of my favorite foods to keep on hand. If you’re looking for even more ideas, check out my post Meal Planning 101 to learn about my tips for planning your weekly meals!
Canned & Boxed Goods
- Black beans
- Cannellini beans
- Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
- Diced tomatoes
- Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- Diced green chiles
- Artichoke hearts
- Vegetable broth
- Active dry yeast packets
- Long and short dried pasta varieties
- Short- or medium-grain rice
- Nut butter – peanut, almond, etc!
- Quinoa
- Chia seeds
- Flaxseed meal
Oils & Seasonings
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Italian seasoning
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Garlic salt
- Dried basil
- Black peppercorns
Freezer
- Boca soy “beef” crumbles
- Morningstar breakfast sausage – seriously, try this if you haven’t!
- Frozen spinach
- Frozen corn
Produce
- Fresh spinach
- Avocados
- Onions
- Garlic
- Red or russet potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
If you’re new to the land of vegetarianism, or just looking for another perspective, I hope this is helpful. I’d love to hear some of your favorite pantry must-haves, too!
Enjoy!
