Top 10 Must-Have Foods We Always Have at Home

We are creatures of habit after all! These are the 10 foods we always keep on us at all times. Some we buy weekly. Others are more on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Regardless, these are great foundational items if you’re looking to stock your kitchen with the necessities!

1. Beans: We usually keep a couple different types. Typically, we have black beans and chickpeas. If we’re going to make a soup, then I’ll pick up some kidney beans and white beans, too! These are great for adding into a dish for some extra fiber!
2. Oats: One of the easiest things to make. It’s so quick to throw some oats in a pot with a little milk and water for a quick and filling breakfast!
3. Green tea: We have been going through green tea so quickly! I have green tea about twice a day. Josh loves his tea, too, but he branches out into others (chamomile mostly). If you love flavored water, but not all the additives, green tea is a fantastic alternative. I’ve been trying to kick coffee more because it’s been staining my teeth.
4. Almond milk: We are officially a dairy-free household! After years of Josh swearing he wasn’t lactose intolerant, he finally caved. I wasn’t big on dairy to begin with, but he’s feeling much better now that there’s no dairy in his diet. We usually get unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but I love the unsweetened regular almond milk for cooking.
5. Quinoa: We go through quinoa like crazy! It’s so easy to throw together a quick dinner dish with some quinoa, beans, and fresh veg!
6. Bananas: I have one every morning. When I wake up, my sweet tooth usually greets me, so I love having bananas around.
7. Peanut butter: Josh is more of a peanut butter fanatic than I am. It makes for a great snack on celery or a banana when we feel like munching on something! I will also stir it into oatmeal for some added flavor.
8. Active dry yeast: Sometimes, I just really want bread. I find it cheapest and easiest to make this quick bread. It only has 3 ingredients plus some water and voila!, you have the best bread you’ve ever tasted and there’s no weird stuff in it.
9. Spices: The main spices we use are cinnamon (for sweeter dishes), turmeric, cumin, and cayenne. As long as I have those spices, I can make pretty much any dish and have it taste great!
10. Diced tomatoes: We throw diced tomatoes into everything. They’re a great addition to many a dish and help heighten the flavor!

Some other kitchen staples we have are garlic, vanilla extract, and at least one onion in the house at all times!